I think I'm going to have to make it my mission to play for every Latymer team this season after my latest call-up involved stepping into the 2nd eleven last Saturday. This means that I've now played for the Vets, the first's, second's and fifth's and so if the opportunity arises to turn out for the third's and fourth's I'll have a full house!
I'll keep it brief, as I need to go and but some last minute pressies for Christmas but both myself and Phil Hartley got the call on the Thursday before the game and as my usual Vets game had been postponed (again!) I was happy to squeeze in a final game before the "winter break."
Thankfully it was only in Edmonton so I arrived into the unknown in plenty of time before kick-off, knowing nobody at all and without Phil who had gone down sick. The Second's were very welcoming - something that is prominent through all the sides in the club and I got myself ready listening to funny banter between the lads as the Arsenal fans slagged of the United fans - and vice-versa.
The Second team can play football. They look to pass and move all the time and I was impressed with the short Geordie lad called Alan in the centre of Midfield who was lively and skillful in his play. Sadly though, they found it quite hard to be a force in front of goal and rarely created an opportunity to have a shot. The opponents were tough in the tackle but our boys gave as good as they got and the first half was a bit of a stalemate.
I had little to do except be on my toes to mop up through-balls but frustratingly we went one-nil down towards half-time as their striker was put through to slam home past me. It was a decent shot and I don't think there was any expectation that I should have stopped it. Even so, I did go to ground earlier than I usually would and it might have made a difference if I had stood tall.
We should have had a penalty but the Ref was having none of it as our lad was clipped down.
The second half was very bitty and again we lacked any real penetration. I grabbed a few balls out of the air and punched a free kick to safety but apart from that the play was centred around the middle of the pitch. Their second goal was a scrappy affair that saw a long range free kick lofted into the box. Our defender was out jumped as their striker nodded the ball down - it bounced and like a pin-ball for a few seconds before it went up in the air only for one of them to bloody overhead kick it with a looping shot into my net.
Disappointing.
I enjoyed the run out but I think the lack of fire power was the difference.
Looking forward to 2012 and the Vets kick-starting our season with a win or two.
Happy Christmas everyone and thanks for supporting this blog with your continual reading.
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