EM95 1 v 1 Re-Union

12th November, 2023 CCSG

TEAM: Colonel, Teague, Jim, Drane, Rick, Alex, Elford, Duds, Ben C, Sheri, Stu SUBS: Morgs, Adams, Berridge

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MONDAY GET THEIR MOJO BACK

Before the game Stu had told Football focus… “Re-Union are tough competitors. They're well organised, physical and have some some good technical players too. They're strong at the back and play five in midfield so they're tough to break down. They have a good target man who holds it up well and links up with midfield runners. It's always a good game against them." And so it turned out to be.

Sir Lee was an uncustomary no show...we later found out he’d slipped down the stairs, put his back out and smashed his phone in the process...Life in the Over 50's league eh. Stu had a quiet word with Colonel and reminded him of his wish to see the Chairman play in every position on the pitch before he retires and asked if he would mind going in goal? The boss obliged accordingly so long as he could find some gloves…so that’s only centre- back now to complete Stu's wish.

The opposition keeper found some spare gloves in his kit bag as the 95ers went with the standard 4-4-2 and settled pretty well without dominating. Monday set out to play a higher line than normal, to try and play the game in their half. And that's mostly how it panned out. Knowing how much Jim loves to head the ball Re-Union wisely kept it on the ground. But there wasn't too much chance of being outpaced at the back with Draner (slipping into his super-sweeper mode) zipping across the line to mop up any loose balls. But Re-Union played a high line too. A proper one – an offside trap! Their lino was well up for it, raising his flag with a military flourish when he could. The game was really compressed in the middle for most of the first half. Marcus and Rick let their opposite numbers know that they were in a game. Al and Ben C made some nice combination moves down the right but it was hard to create much, and Re-Union looked dangerous breaking from midfield. Overall both teams were feeling each other out with goal efforts at a premium. But it was Re-Union who broke the deadlock when Terry their centre-back took the bull by the horns and went on a barn-storming run as far as our defensive line and then slipped in their left winger. A decent finish saw the ball fly over the stand-in keepers’ flailing arms (I reckon Sir lee would have saved it). 1-0 Re union. Stu told his millions of Tik Tok followers… “Their goal came after their centre-back gave me the eyes. I showed him to my right and he accepted the challenge. He was a lot quicker than I thought. Off he bombed, through midfield, which parted a bit, then he laid it off to his mate on the left who clipped it from a wide angle. I'm not convinced that it wasn't a sliced cross, but it sailed over Colonels head anyway, giving him no chance.”

The Blues responded well and gradually started to edge the half. New boy Ben Connelly down the right was getting plenty of ball as well as a good kicking. He had a few choice words for the offenders and needed to be reminded this was Corinthian football and we should take such abuse on the chin (as well as the shin).

With 5 minutes to go Monday got what they deserved. Centre back Jim went on one of his customary galloping rampages up the right flank, this time with a decent end product. His cross curled in behind their defence, who weren't sure if the keeper was coming. He wasn't and Stu nipped in and middled it with his knee. 1-1.

That's how the half ended which was about fair.

The half time chat was to reveal the Master Plan… to switch to 3-5-2! Rob came on to play wide right, with Ben switching to the left. Stu dropped into the middle and Morgs came on up top. As a result the 95ers totally bossed the half but were unable to put away the half dozen real chances they had. As Stu observed… “We dominated the second half, switching the ball well and pushing them down both sides. The rotation in our midfield pulled them around and we linked up patiently, looking for the gaps. It felt like the goal would come, but it didn't.” Elford had an effort drift agonisingly wide. Rob got in round the back and fired at the keeper from close range. There was some ping pong in the six-yard box and a header was blocked on the line with the keeper beaten. Credit to Re-Union's defence, which was well up for it and put in some last-ditch blocks and meaty tackles.

Colonel in the Monday goal had nothing to do apart from being constantly reminded by the ref that the ball needed to be stationary before he could take a goal kick.

With minutes to go a wonderful chance fell to Sheri when the ball broke loose after Rob had created some havoc. With the goal at his mercy and no defender in sight, he had enough time to (in his own words) “Make sure I didn’t miss the target” when out of nowhere their star defender Terry (again) flew into block the shot. As colonel told waiting reporters after the game… “From where I was stood I’m sure I heard a sonic boom as Terry slid in.” Stu added… “From where I stood it looked a dead cert. The keeper was out of position, the goal gaping. Sheri was standing centrally with the ball at his feet, about 6 yards(?) out. Some of us would panic, but not Pete. He lined it up like he was putting to win The Open. He stooped to clear some debris from the astroturf, lined it up again, and swung his favourite club. To be fair, nine times out of ten it would go in. This one time though, their defender threw himself athletically across the line, and somehow got his toe on it.”

1-1 final score. The game saw a return to form for the 95ers following a slow start to the season and probably did enough to grab all 3 points but as someone said "everyone played well against a good team that don't lose many." The last words went to Stu… “It was nice to see Berridge squeeze into his shirt on his return from a long injury lay-off and Colonel was really shouty.” MoM: Drane (his speed at the back meant that Colonel had very little to do in goal)