25th October 2016 - Abbey Hey 4 v 0 Cammell Laird 1907 FC - 2 pork chops, 2 episodes of On The Buses, 2 Buzzocks songs over the loud hailer, 2 teas and 2 choccy bars - now that is a good build up to some mid-week football. The air was calm and the temperature mild, now all we needed was a good match to enjoy.
The start was zesty with some good pace and keen runs displayed by both units who were looking to shake off any muscle tightness and get themselves straight into some kind of groove. Early action saw Abbey Hey take a vague sort of charge and their No 9 broke, provided a tidy cross which unfortunately was not buried away as it should have been. A long shot came close soon after and then the home team broke again, this time forcing the keeper to leave his line and make a sliding save from the foot of the striker which duly left his net gaping. The shot by the No 8 (Ben McNamara) was rattled home with good power and the lead was had and there to be built on. The match took a turn, the Hey brigade took charge with a far better industry and commitment shown which led to a long ball being knocked wide to the cool No 9 (Omar McKenzie) who wormed and weaved inwards, left the defenders on their back feet and after a dink and a dabble slapped home a quite delightful 2nd goal. Despite the shift in ascendancy Cammell Laird had a shot cleared off the line and could have easily scummed a goal back. A few innocuous challenges hindered Hey's flow but still they came forth in impressive waves and all the lads of the Laird could do was hope Lady Luck's Knickers held firm and they would get another glimpse at the goal hole. They hung in well and they had a couple more shots that could have altered the whole dynamics of the game but the end result was too weak and failed to threaten the keeper's clean sheet. They paid the price for this wastage not long after with the move of the match created by the home squad that saw the No 7 play a succulent ball through the heart of the floundering defence which allowed the No 11 to weave inwards and fire home for a 3 - 0 lead. This, I felt, was a genuine body blow to Cammell Laird and put pay to any hopes they might have of getting a result tonight.
A piddle and a Kit-Kat and back on the touchline.
The second half came and initially had more equilibrium to the affair. Cammell Laird though spent too much time griping and instead of being fully in the zone they lost concentration and gave away several corners. Almost every decision was being bitched about which does nothing for morale thus one of the corners metamorphed into an unnecessary scramble whereupon Abbey Hey snatched a fourth and put the game well and truly to bed. In truth Abbey Hey deserved this and even the wafting pot fumes that came our way failed to douse the player's passion for the game at hand. In fact almost minutes later a fifth goal could have been added and a hat-trick hero had but the ball fizzed wide and we stayed as we were. Abbey stayed in command, the No 13 substitute was an eager beaver, the No 11 maintained a supporting role and although the tide was flowing one way Cammell Laird hung in and kept the damage limited which, in its own way, must be looked at as a positive on which to build. A couple of saucy tackles brought out the opportunists amongst the players with the ref keeping his head and only displaying yellow cards and not the begged for reds (I hate this aspect of football, the attempted swaying of the referee - not good form at all). The final whistle was nearly upon us and one last shot should have made it a quintet of quality finishes but we had to settle for 4 and I am sure no Abbey Hey fan could complain. Man of the Match - well in truth several players from the home team could have had this as they were a really impressive unit tonight but it would be rude, and indeed wrong, not to give it to No 11 (Jonathon Hardy). This dude played well at the rear, in the middle of the park and at the front and he read the game with insight, supported fellow players in many areas and went about his business quietly and most effectively. His 2 goals were well taken and to be honest he deserved another - maybe next time bro.
FINAL THOUGHT - A case of a whizzed up Great Dane against a wanked off Jack Russell tonight - something akin to a mis-match in many respects but when one examines more closely there is very little difference between the two soccer dogs. One though is on a roll and running well whilst the other is down in the doldrums and perhaps spending too much time looking for the bone rather than going out and biting some ass. Cammell Laird may be bottom of the heap, and if they play like this will stay there, but with a greater belief and more focus on encouraging each other they can get out of the kennel of despair and howl with pride. Abbey Hey, on the 3 occasions I have seen them this year, have good potential, the only thing now is to get some consistency and chase down the leaders of the pack.
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