Wednesday, 17 December 2025
BFC 3-2 Leyton Orient, Saturday 13th December 2025
‘Look at all these people, staying in town to have fun.’
I was confident on Satdy. Confident in our inconsistency. Having been crushed by Lincoln in midweek, I firmly expected us to romp to victory today. After all, we’d lost at Lincoln having won at Posh. Won at Posh after being hammered at Port Vale. Hammered at Port Vale after 2 games in one at Stockport (won the 1st half, lost the 2nd). Etc etc. And...BONUS!...we even found a new way of conceding. THAT was unexpected. I thought we’d found every way possible of letting in a goal this season.Yes, so much for playing well, destroying the opposition, camping in the Ponty End. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE BALL IN THE NET. That we did once was paltry reward for how on top we’d been. Even then, it relied on a deflection from Cleary’s shot, but as Alan Shearer might have said, if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the raffle. Who’d have thunk HAVING A SHOT could bring reward? (It’s noticeable how, since Phillips has been injured, then forced to play the Bland role – standing on the halfway line – we’ve no-one to try a pot shot.) Sterling work in the build up from DKD and Kelly too.
The only other worthwhile effort before we somehow found ourselves a goal down at half-time was Kelly’s cut inside...then cut inside...then cut in a bit more...losing defenders here there and everywhere, before another defender (the left back? They’re ran out of other defenders) threw himself across to block it. ‘Should’ve shot earlier’ said folk who’ve never hit the net in their lives. Listen, idiots, you cut in COS there’s a defender about to block your shot. It just so happened that there was more than one defender to dummy. Cracking effort.
Then our midfield intervene. I have seen some backpasses in my time, but Phillips’ ROCKET at Cooper’s FACE takes the biscuit. In hindsight, Coops should’ve just moved out the way of it (and what? Taken the wrath of the crowd for leaving it?) and letting it go for a throw-in. Instead, he attempts to control it, it pings off his phizog and their centre forward nips in. My only worry with the resultant foul is whether it’s inside or outside the box. (I couldn’t tell. Did I tell you I was in the Corner Stand exec, courtesy of P. Gallagher?) If it’s outside, we’re looking at a red card. Fortunately (!) the ref points to the spot. One-all. Hara kiri.
Then, before the 45 is out, Yoganathan falls over in possession / is muscled out of it and they have a clear run at goal. I guess it’s hard keeping your balance when you’re 8 foot tall and the width of a flagpole. (Come to think, his shirt DOES blow around like a flag.) And guess what? Their player evades our blocking defenders by calmly CUTTING INSIDE to slot into an empty net. Once again, the bet of the day is ‘BTTS’. (Both teams to score.)
Half-time and we’re a goal down in a match we have DOMINATED. How many times have we read this story? Still, it’s not all bad. Gally, Loko, Hicksy and I are very warm and cosy, thank you very much. Too cosy. Hicksy doesn’t bother with the second half.
After a rousing half-time teamtalk from Coach Conor, and an early shot off the post from Cleary (shoulda done better), it’s fairly apparent we’ve ran out of ideas. What minute will he send St. Jalo on? No, Super Jonny Russell gets the curly finger from the bench, on for Yoga, closely followed by Forgotten-Man Vickers, on for Can’t-Forget-Him-Fast-Enough Farrugia. We have half of a half to save this game.
A gentle chipped free kick has Cleary stretching and sending it across goal for Russell to ping in on the volley. Superb technique from a bloke who hit double figures last season but is ignored in favour of everyone else this season. Still, he should be fresh for the World Cup (should Jamaica chivvy New Caledonia out). Why does he never get picked (for the Super Reds)? ‘Because he’s a dogsh*t ba5tard’ retorted a A. Londontyke. (Not me. I’m a fan, though Russell attempts to throw away his good work by giving away cheap possession on the edge of our own box as we hang on.)
It's not over though. We have the bit between our teeth and go hunting. Or b) an aimless ball forward from Watson has their fullback airkicking it and Cleary nipping in. He lays it on a plate for DKD to have an open goal from 7 yards. WE HAVE WON IT!
Hold on tho. Russell gives them an opportunity before, in injury time, Coach Conor goes old skool and chucks on a centre half (Roberts) for a forward (Cleary). Inspired, as Orient put one last ball in the box, and who would have been able to stand and watch it as the Orient player runs in, jumps and powers in a header….were Roberts not on the pitch? Thankfully, it goes over, but Roberts’ studs didn’t even leave the ground.
Actually, as I think about it, he probably sent Roberts on just after Shepherd’s latest episode of ‘falling over cos there’s a forward right on my heels’ and getting a free kick. This is EVERY GAME and it really irks me. Although the resultant Orient equaliser was scrubbed for a free kick to us justifies Shepherd’s dive, is does nothing to placate my mood. It was EXACTLY the same as happened to Yoganathan. Why is Shepherd treated differently by refs?
Onwards and upwards!
*** Cleary. Scored, set 2 up. Can’t argue with the facts.
** Kelly. Or maybe you can. Another awesome game driving forward.
* DKD. Given we can’t defend, and 2 midfielders set up their goals, that leaves the match winner. Johnny-on-the-spot. Official MOTM: Kelly
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cleary 2. Kelly 3. DKD
Despatches:
Well, the excitement over drawing Liverpoo away lasted, didn’t it? It lasted approximately the amount of time it took television to realise Liverpoo were playing the Arse the previous Thursday, so the game HAD to be on Sun or Mon, so why not Monday, ruin many a Londontyke’s hopes of attending? Worse, we lose another Satdy home game (Wimbledon, Feb 14th) when we turn the Scousers over. Chelsea, home? I’m getting 2008 vibes! (Bring back Davey! Tohellwithit, bring back Odejayi!)
Meanwhile, on the exec balcony, I sat next to the Jonathan Bland Fan Club, which made a pleasant change. May I also say, I’ve never heard Ben be so quiet. I think he only piped up 5 times, which was nice. (It’s not that Bland was poor – he only messed up once, over-playing a ball to DKD who was stood too close to him anyway – it’s that he just doesn’t do anything. That’s his job. ‘Stand there. No, not there. There. Perfect.)
Drink du jour: Beartown Inception at Spiral.
Away: 590? 519? Should BFC sort out the PA system, or should I sort out my ear system? (My GCSE French listening result suggests the latter.) Cinque sonne quatre vingt dix au cinque sonne dix-neuf. Is any of that correct?
The Damage:
c.£7 petrol
= c.£7
I did have a snout around the club shop and quite fancy a retro ‘Dire’/Hignett shirt. (The lettering is coming off my original, hence why you never see it. But I like the actual shirt. Do you think the club shop has access to the same lettering/numbering fonts?)
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