BFC 2-2 Fleetwood Town, Saturday 28th October 2023

An ode to our home shirt: I feel so super In my shirt by Kid Super But what would be bestward Would be Vivienne Westwood And if I want to be dapper... ...it should be by Frank Zappa

I s’pose we should be grateful for the point. For great swathes of the second half, for all we enjoyed copious amounts of possession, shots and promising opportunities, we never looked like we’d score. I don’t know how many low crosses Cadden put in, our forwards were resolute in their refusal to run across defenders into space. And today of all days...against Little Lee. ‘POMO’ (Position of Maximum Opportunity) was pounded again, and again, and again...and no-one in a red shirt made a run. Cotter especially found himself in ‘bomb alley’ countless times, and countless times failed in his mission to ably cross a ball. I can’t remember the last time a player promised so much and delivered so little. His first touch was unbelievable, as he’d take it away from his marker and give himself time and space to...fail spectacularly. My favourite was the one in the first half where he cut inside with his first touch…and dragged it wide from 12 yards. Listen, Bazza, if you can’t kick it with your left foot, PASS IT. If you can’t pass it with your right foot, GET OFF THE PITCH. Otherwise, the amount of times he found himself free…and messed it up, was off the scale.

The shot count was 25-7 (8-4 on target). ‘High wide and not very handsome’ was our mantra. Russell toe poked it wide of an empty net from 3 yards. De Gevigny blazed over from 12. Watters headed a close range header wide. Cole missed a penalty (and tapped in the rebound, phew). Yet we were reliant on the ball of the century from Kane and a reserve right back (O’Keefe) steaming in to crash the header beyond the keeper. (It later transpired O’Keefe had told Kane he’d make this run; could our forwards not do something similar?) 88th minute it was, though that was to ignore the 10 minutes of injury time played. (Point of order, ref, but you didn’t see any need to add any extra time to the extra time? Not even considering their throw-in down in the right corner, which took the best part of a minute?)

But I can’t blame the ref. We’re at home to a side with untold off the field issues (owner banged up for 13 years), a small budget…and managed by Little Lee. Could they be more handicapped? Yet we concede two and need to rely on a pen and a right back to rescue ourselves. We went one down in the third minute, as a complacent defence allows an attack down their left. Ok, the cross got a lucky deflection off Russell that drops nice for Quitirna, but the keeper hardly covers himself in glory, standing still and staring instead of haring out of his goal Schmeichel-style. Their second is a wonderful free kick into the top corner by the same player. Get him signed.

Inbetween, we have our obligatory row over who takes the penalty. I say obligatory. We waited two and half years for a home pen, and now we’ve had 2 in 2 games. The other nite Kane, Cole and Styles needed to have a conversation (understandable; perhaps they never thought they’d see the day when we got another pen). Today, it’s Cole and Kane. Cole won the pen, nipping in front of the keeper (so he CAN make that run!) and being brought down, so he obvs thinks he should have it. But Kane took it the other nite and scored (not necessarily convincingly, IMHO). Anyway, Cole won’t let go of the ball and Kane is forced to retreat, putting the hex on our star striker. Luckily, the poor effort is palmed nicely back and it’s one-all. The Fleetwood lead has lasted all of 4 minutes and now we march on to inevitable victory.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Cadden. Endless supply.
** Kane. Kept the game moving, hit 2 excellent shots and created the equaliser with a sublime pass.
* McCart. Tidy (and ignored, what with the clamour for The Frenchman).

Official MOTM: McAtee

Londontykes’ POTY: 1= Cadden/Kane 3. McCart

Despatches:
Some interesting tactical decisions from the manager. O’Keefe for Cotter was standard (though how he made it to 63 minutes is anyone’s guess). No, what perplexed me was dragging off Cadden (and McAtee) with about 10 left, for Dodgson and Jalo. I couldn’t see Dodgson improving on Cadden’s output, but what’s this? Cole is now on the left wing (and actually getting into the game, I think he got 2 shots off, long range, no danger). Watters is already on (for Russell) and with Jalo and Cole, it looks like Collins is aimlessly chucking on forwards. And maybe he is. There’s that many forwards on the pitch, Fleetwood don’t notice O’Keefe sneaking in.

The players? I’ve not noticed him before, but I really enjoyed watching McCart today. Solid, covered well, good passing. Williams and The Frenchman were dominant (how DID we concede 2?). In midfield, Phillips had a couple of nice touches, but that was it (hauled off for the equally ineffectual Benson) while Russell...I dunno. He inadvertently set up their opener, but at half-time a few of us marvelled at Russell knocking it past an opponent, making a start towards the ball, then pulling up as he realised that however slowly the ball was rolling, it was too fast for him to make it before it went out for a throw-in. I felt for him. I’m that slow as well these days (but I’m a week or so off 50).

It was also good to see (hear?) the crowd get behind the team in that 2nd half, as Oakwell was a morgue the first. Yes, we were kicking towards the Ponty, trying to force an equaliser, but I’m sure everyone had a better time once we started making some noise. It was almost like it used to be. Ok, I’m exaggerating. It was nearly almost as good as it once was at home to a middling side on a Tuesday nite in February. But it was a vast improvement on the opening 45.

Oh, and the ref. When was the last time we had an official whose first and last names were homophones? Neil Hare. Kneel Hair? Yes, this is what I’m thinking about when I’m not thinking about Cadden’s crosses, Cotter’s attempts at crosses...and forwards who stare a gift horse straight in the mouth. We should’ve had 6 today.

Drink du jour: Whatever obscure pale ale I’ve never heard of in Spiral City. Very nice.

Away: 223

The Damage:
c.£30 petrol
= c.£30