SIZE DOESN'T MATTER

20th September 2016 - Stockport Town 2 v 3 FC Oswestry Town - A day at work and home for tea and out to the footy - how ruddy exciting I must say.  My good lady dropped me off at the ground and I entered, picked up a much needed cuppa and chatted to a face I had met several times before at Northwich Manchester Villa and Daisy Hill.  His son was in the nets for the home side tonight, hence his presence.  Nice chap and we chatted about many football items, one of which was the shutdown of the NMV team - tis a struggle for sure at this perilous and financially tight level.  

To the match and the 1st half opened with Stockport straight at it and having an instantaneous effort cleared off the line after what surely must be the leagues shortest goalkeeper was left stranded.  No sooner had the threat been dealt with and Oswestry produced the goods after a defence slicing pass was latched onto, duly turned into a smooth low cross and tapped in with easy aplomb - fluid indeed and oh so simple and effective.  Stockport were unsettled during the opening period, were  blatantly struggling to gain any adhesion and, after a defender was robbed and another fine pass was made, it was lucky for Stockport that the away teams striker shot over and didn't put them 2-0 up.  Equilibrium swayed slightly over the next few minutes but a quick break, a ludicrous foul and an ensuing penalty led to a justifiable two goal cushion and one couldn't help feeling the match was slipping away from any realm of competitiveness.  Oswestry were a constant threat with searching balls forcing the home side to live on a perilous knife edge - one mistake and the cut in the score line would become dangerously deeper.  As is usually the case with football though the unpredictable seems to paradoxically happen more often than not and after Stockport hit a couple of driving shots one of them found the back of the net and a slight power shift was had.  The Stockport squad pushed and if it wasn't for a couple of good saves by the O's No 1 then things could have easily been all square.  In fact, things could have readily changed completely had not an Oswestry defender produce a stunning goal line clearance that defied the odds and lifted the excitement levels no end.  A very interesting first half to say the least.

Polly put the kettle on, oh you have - another tea please - slurp, slurp.

The 2nd half and Stockport were now pushing with their No 3 urging well and forcing many an issue.  The Oswestry goalie was called into action again and duly produced the save with fast reactions highly evident.  The half seemed evenly matched, that is until the two No 8's pushed each other several times and the home team player lashed out with a kick and justifiably received a red card - the silly, silly sod - talk about dropping your side in the shite!  As is the norm the 10 men upped their game and although lacking in the final third they took the game to their opponents and made them work damned hard to gain any sight of goal.  A few mistakes though offered a glimmer of a securing winner for the away birds but over eagerness and tight off-side decisions kept the game at 2-1.  At this stage I was tossing up for the games best player, Oswestry's No 1 or Stockport's No 4 (Lee O' Brien), and when this latter player popped up and got his shining bald crust on the orb of leather to hit home an equaliser I was left with a very difficult choice indeed.  The game became aflame (ooh poetry) and Stockport looked likely winners and then, as though Fate was more twisted than we deemed her, a fine cross ball was struck and a sweet finish was had and...surprise, surprise (add own Cilla Black voice)...Oswestry pilfered the result.  Cripes, crap, cor blimey guv'nor - and that was that!  Man of the Match - yes, the away side protector of the net (George Austin), 5 solid saves, 3 of which were cracking reflex efforts that made sure his team took all 3 points back home.  Good man!

FINAL THOUGHT - Size doesn't matter, so proveth the goalie tonight as did Tommy the Todge when coming up against Samson the Snake in a Penis Press-Up competition held in Timbuktoo (oh I do digress).  You see, application rather that appearance is what matters and if one works hard, has an eye for the game and has certain spring loaded equipment the day can be saved and a hero had.  Cracking game tonight and good to see the potentially overlooked rise above and earn the points.