And so we're back.
Finally...
The importance of getting our season off on a good foot meant that we were determined to have at least one friendly match in the close season. Going in cold did us no favours last season when we were thumped 6-2 away to Maccabi Lions and so it was pleasing to actually end up playing two warm-up games this time round.
I had hoped to publish a little pre-season report but it has been busy at work so I'll briefly bring everyone up to speed. Both games were against non-vets teams and although we lost the matches, both were very worthwhile run-outs. The first game against a team I organised called Thundridge United, saw me pitted against an old foe of mine in the form of their number ten - a guy called Gary. My former team used to play against Thundridge in the East Herts League and it was Gary who infamously did me from the halfway line, which in turn led to the title of this blog (see my very first post for more...) A super striker to be fair and he always scores and did so in the friendly which we lost 5-0. Sounds bad but we actually played some great football at times and as the cob-webs were being shaken off and that first touch came back to the lads I think we all realised how much we'd missed playing.
Our second friendly against Hazlewood saw us go down 3-2 with Nippereli dazzling us all with another stunning left-footed strike. Lots of regulars were unavailable for this fixture so it gave the gaffer a chance to have a look at a few new signings, including (finally) my pal Damien. He'd toyed with the idea of playing all last season so it was good to get him involved.
The first round of the AFA London Vets Cup was our first competitive fixture of the season and this is a competition that is played on a Saturday. I'll go straight to the punch-line...WE WON!!!
Yes Constant Reader, last season you had to wait for about twenty-odd blog posts before you read those immortal words, but this time round there you go - BANG! Our first win already. Superb.
I subtitled this blog 'The Highs & Lows of a Sunday Morning Vets Goalkeeper' a year ago thinking that that would be what I could write about. Well, yes, there were plenty of highs for me personally last season but in terms of results, far too many lows. It's two days since the game passed on Saturday and yep I'm still fucking floating. I'm gonna ride that crest of a victory wave all chuffing week if I can and hell, I'll even drag it into next week too.
The game itself showed to me and anybody involved or watching just how good a team the Vets can be. Make no mistake, we have that shoot-ourselves-in-the-foot gene still, but on Saturday I thought my name was Julio Cesar because I thought I was playing for bloody Brazil!
A strong line-up to start the game looked like this:
Yours Truly
Adam Codz Swailsey Wrexy
Pete Jonesy Meakin Damien
Reuben Sully
So as you can see, adopting the old 4-4-2 with Swailsey dropping back to act as the Sweeper. I know he really doesn't want the job and was doing it as Mark Nicol had to arrive late, but unsurprisingly, he was flaming great in this role. I've got used to looking for him to drop the ball to as soon as I pick it up and having that outlet for us makes a massive difference. His link-up play across the back four meant that we kept the ball so well that Polytechnic hardly had any possession for the first twenty minutes. Coupled with Jonesy and Meakin operating in the middle of the park we had three outstanding players who not only played off each other but who bought others in the game as much as possible meaning that Pete and Damien on the flanks were getting involved and the ball was going forwards a lot to our front two.
I think most of lads already know Tony Meakin but as he wasn't around at all last season I had no idea who he was when we met at the Thundridge game. I think every good side has to have a token Scouser to even stand a chance of doing well and I think all the lads would agree that Tony has made a really positive impact on the team already. Nippy, chirpy and great on the ball, I look forward to the games ahead and seeing more from him.
On a personal note, I was really pleased that Damien got a start on Saturday. We go back nearly thirty years and were Best Man at each others wedding so, of course, I want him to do well. What I should have done though was introduce him to the team under his usual nickname of Macca. We've always called him Macca and Macca is easier on the pitch than Damien so from now on I think it's gotta be Macca. Having said that he went through a few years of being called Scholesy cos he's small and ginger and played centre midfield - just like Paul Scholes...
Up top Reuben was seeing a lot of the ball and got in behind there back four with relative ease on a couple of occasions early on. Again, another new face for me as Reuben also wasn't around last season, but again, what a good player he is too! All these hidden gems have thankfully come out of the woodwork - fingers crossed we can reap the benefits.
It was good to see Wrexy again. Wrex wasn't around for any of the friendlies but Mr. Dependable was back to his cavalier best.
So lots of possession and loads of neat one and two touch passes. I was feeling really confident going into the game and for most of the opening spell I was more of a spectator.
One part of my game that really needed to improve from last season is my kicking. I reminded myself during pre-season that I actually have operated more as an outfield player between the ages of 13 and 30 playing for several teams as a centre-back or centre-midfielder and, for fucks sake - I can actually play football!! The way we play means that if I pull my finger out and become more of a Sweeper/Keeper when we have the ball then that safety pass back to me should be more of an option in our efforts to keep hold of the football. Too many times last year I didn't want it, stayed just far enough back so the pass back wasn't a good option and so stayed out of trouble. Well, I can't promise I'll be brilliant but my aim is to be more available this season for a simple pass back when someone is under pressure. AND to chuffing kick it properly.
I think that on Saturday I did all of the above well and certainly I was confident to come looking for the ball from any of the lads where appropriate. Not perfect but better than many previous games. Goal Kicks are still a bit of a no-no. I'll get there but in Adam and Wrexy we've got a couple of launchers so I'll leave it to them...
All we were missing was a goal. It came after a delicious cross was lofted over from the left to find Sully storming into the six yard box to nod home. Sully had been working hard all game and had not taken a couple of other half chances earlier in the game so it was good to see him rewarded.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0. A good cross field ball was played right left which landed just in front of their player in the middle of their half. Macca came into the tackle strong and won the ball really well and it just broke to his right perfectly. I instantly thought to myself just fucking hit it, and he did just that, unleashing a superb arrow strike from at least twenty five yards. It seemed like slow-motion had kicked in as the ball flew to the Keepers left and as the ball smacked the back of the net Macca turned and ran off, arm in the air, with a look of pure delight. It was a brilliant strike and I was well chuffed for him.
Two minutes later and he nearly bloody did it again!! This time Macca was on the left flank and when the ball was laid back to him he just hit a powerful, high looping effort that just flew over the stranded Keeper's head and crashed back off the bar. I think he would have exploded if that had gone in!
We definitely should have grabbed more goals in the first half and we were approaching half time when I had my own moment of glory. I had already done pretty well minutes before to palm away a deflected cross that had hit Swailsey and sailed in on my goal and so I knew I had my alert button firmly on.
This time, my goal was under a bit of pressure as Polytechnic probed down their left flank and attempted to get the ball into the box. It got headed clear only to find one of their lads who to be fair teed up his mate perfectly. I knew he was gonna smash it and that it was probably going to be on target. The ball flew to my top right corner and was definitely going just inside the post. A rather spectacular dive and finger tip turn around the upright would be a highlight of any Goal Keeper's game and while it was one for the cameras, I felt great. It's great to contribute if called upon so I'll make no apologies for being pleased with that one.
Macca pulled up with a calf problem so was replaced by Mim on left just before half time and as the second half got under way Mark arrived to go to left back meaning Wrexy slid across into the middle and Swailsey pushed into midfield and Meakin went out to the right.
We certainly found the second half tougher as Polytechnic stepped their game right up. Even so the chances we had on their goal should have seen us go out of sight but again we struggled to finish. I even managed to kick it long a few times seeing Reuben lose his man and go one on one with the Keeper who did well to get several saving blocks in.
I had my eye on my first Vets clean sheet but sadly it wasn't to be. I'd done really well to come out and claim and catch a few high balls or crosses through the second half but when their man floated a free kick over from my right it seemed as if the ball was going to land plum on Codz head for him to clear. Out of nowhere their striker popped up inside the six yard box to score an easy header at the far post and it was 2-1.
More pressure from Polytechnic saw a superb header from their big man cleared off the line by Meakin and all of a sudden extra time looked likely.
Frustratingly there were several rows and arguments that crept in as we felt the pressure. I won't comment too much but surely being positive to each other rather than digging someone out is the better option isn't it?
Thankfully, our endless string of chances finally gained us a third and decisive goal when Jonesy swept in a right footed strike and our nerves settled enough for us to see the game out.
It was a well deserved win, and in the club house after the beer tasted that bit sweeter.
I hope that this blog is as well received this season as it was through the last. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who offered thanks and encouragement and I promise to try to keep it a bit shorter where possible (I know I can go on a bit!)
I'll attempt to continue the look-a-like section this season so to get us started I'll pick an easy one.
My mate Macca, scorer of a super goal - one that Paul Scholes would definitely have been proud of!
