This was a dominant Reds performance, up there with Crawley away. Only a cynic would suggest that Shrewsbury and Crawley will be leaving this division downwards before we get promoted, and thank goodness I’m not one of those. Indeed, what kind of person would point out that the Super Reds only win against absolutely dreadful opposition? (5 wins against the bottom 9, 1 win against the top 15, a flukey away win at Lincoln.)
We murdered Shrewsbury, and yet, as half-time loomed, it was goalless. Watters had spurned the best chance, going clean through and miscuing it wide. But, cometh injury time, cometh the man, as Super-dooper party pooper Jonny Russell let’s Connell’s hook back go over his shoulder before swinging a leg and putting it in the top corner. Plattyesque. (Belgium, Italia 90, though Molly disagrees with my hyperbole. But at the very least, a 3rd division version of that Three Lions classic.) The Shrews response is a 25 yarder beaten away by Kilip, in for the dropped Slow Nina.
Second half was more of the same. Late arrivals from half time pints missed it, as Watters cut inside and neatly buried it in the bottom right corner from 12 yards. Quality finish. Then Connell pings a ball to Watters that the latter takes magnificently in his stride and he’s clean through. Not sure he needed the extra touch though, and the keeper saves. DKD misses another chance and, as a Shrews fan said to us later, ‘Youse never get out of 1st gear, did you?’ It was THAT comfortable.
Mind, we still gave them 2 potshots at our goal, which I think may have beaten Kilip had they not smashed into our defenders’ heads (one was certainly Roberts). Jalo came on too, and managed to get himself injured within a minute. I shouldn’t laugh.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Russell. Instrumental in many a move as his touches continually found Reds players going forward. Oh, and he scored. It was like Platty for England in the World Cup. Did I mention it!?
** Connell. The game was won in central midfield, Luca breaking with the ball.
* Roberts. Sound defensively.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Russell 2. Gent 3= Connell/Humphreys/Roberts/Watters
Despatches:
I try not to bury the ref too much, but when he has words with a couple of pairs of jostling players at a corner, then keeps said pair of players right under his eyeballs, and STILL manages to miss one of them completely rugby tackling an attacking player to the ground (Roberts) I despair. For the record, it happened at every corner 1st half (cos it was right in front of us) but the first was the most blatant.
Kilip justified his pick, and it was nice to see POTY Cotter encourage the keeper to lead the fans at the end. MdG brought the ball out well. After a slow start, O’Keefe improved as the game went on. I still don’t understand why POTY Cotter doesn’t start, but he came on and went on a trademark 30 yard run. Gent continues to improve, and might yet make a left wingback (if we play Shrewsbury every week). For a 9ft bloke, Pines wasn’t as dominant as he ought to be. Needs not to misjudge where the ball actually is. I didn’t really notice Humphreys, very quiet, while DKD flitted in and out but showed some sublime touches. And Watters. If we ignore the 2 misses when he was clean through, he was outstanding. More please.
Oh, and the Remembrance Day bugler. What is it about the Remembrance Day buglers in division 3? The most solemn two minutes of the season (every season) shouldn’t end up in a ground full of smirks as the bugler bugles like Les Dawson used to play piano. (Quick bit of maths) If there’s 92 league teams, that’s 46 matches. If they all kicked off simultaneously (which they don’t) we need a MAXIMUM of 46 people able (and willing) to play a bugle. How can we not manage that? A nation OBSESSED with honouring our fighting forces. As it is, with games spread over a weekend, you probably don’t need more than 30. We don’t have 30. I understand that there’s pressure involved…there’s thousands of spectators at Shrewsbury versus Barnsley FC (6, to be precise) but if you can’t find a buglar to hit the right notes in homage to The Fallen, don’t bother. Just press play on a recording. Cos I shouldn’t be hearing the sound of sniggering. I shouldn’t.
Drink du jour: Bodega Bay West Coast IPA in the Henry Tudor. What a FANTASTIC pub this is.
Away: 713
The Damage:
£25 ent
c.£22 petrol (a £65 tank divided by 3 games, TNS with Moll on Thurs, Colwyn Bay Fri, and today.)
= £47
No comments:
Post a Comment