Sunday Mar 2nd, 2025

BAWA

TEAM: - Tim, Ben C, Craig, Andy M, Jason L, Pills, Tim B, Tim Morris, Jamie, Morgs, Matt. SUBS: - Arron

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY Monday went into this fixture the firm underdogs.  Not only did Cowboys turn up with enough players to fill 2 teams, but the horribly bobbly, muddy and slopey pitch at BAWA - would definitely not suite Monday's usual passing game.  Not to mention that once again recruitment for the fixture was an issue leaving Monday with just 12 men!

The game got off to a worrying start.  Within 90 seconds Ben C got what seemed like a very worrying injury.  He was completely by himself, and it was not a bad challenge.  Just a change of direction.  What seemed at first like a dislocated knee, turned out to a torn patella tendon.  Season over.  Wishing you a speedy recovery Ben.

After a long break getting Ben off the pitch, Cowboys kindly offered to run both lines as Arron had to come off the bench.  

The game was not flowing and neither side were finding much of breakthrough.  Cowboys had slightly more possession than Monday, but it was all in the middle of the park.  Monday managed to get the ball forward a few times, but the link up play between the forwards was difficult on the pitch.

Cowboys had a couple of corners that were a potential danger for Monday, especially with their centre back TJ towering above most!  But Monday handled the threat well.

Finally, some link up play up top worked.  The ball seemingly went from the back to the front, touching nearly every player before Morgs played it across to Arron running in from the right.  He turned in left and went right leaving the defender on his arse before slotting home past the keeper.  Th Cowboys manager commented after the game - 'that was the only bit of quality in the whole game'.  0-1 to Monday

The half time team talk was mainly focussed on Ben's injury so not much of a team talk.  We were doing well in defence and the midfield were getting stuck in preventing Cowboys from playing through the lines as much as possible.

Straight after half time - Monday went 2 up from a free kick.  A cross came in from Jamie and it got the slightest of touches off Arron's 'hair' allowing Matt to bumble home from 1 inch out.  0-2 to Monday

From that moment on - it was all Cowboys.  Monday were pegged back way into their half and had to deal with corner after long throw after corner after long throw.  They must have had between 30-40 crosses into the box.  

15 minutes before the end of the game, Cowboys finally got a breakthrough.  A nothing shot from the edge of the box managed to find its way through every Monday player and dribble slowly into the bottom corner.  A gutting feeling having resisted for so long but Monday were still leading.

Then came the final corner.  The ref said there were seconds left to play and up came the Cowboys keeper.  With now 100-200 people watching from the sidelines (a junior girls club and their parents were waiting to use the pitch), as if in slow motion - the ball swung in, and the keeper got u highest and headed home.  2-2.  And the ref blew the whistle.  Cowboys celebrated like they had won the league!  The premier league!

A heart-breaking end to a gallant effort from the whole squad.  Jason and Andy were man mountains in defence once again.  It's amazing they didn't score from a header before they did.  Arron and Craig also played their parts, particularly in the 2nd half.  Tim Bat and Pills on the wings, held the ball up well and got up and down.  Jamie and Tim Morris ran until their legs nearly fell off on a very difficult pitch.  And Morgs and Matt played their part up top.

Chin up and onwards to the next game.

MOM - Arron Godfrey