STREET HEAT

6th April 2019 - Street FC 3 v 1 Melksham Town - The time of year when we wander in earnest and try and keep pace with the comings and goings of the ever capricious natural world.  We were down Bristol for 4 days and due to spending an absolutely splendid morning at RSPB Ham Wall we decided the best location to get a footballing fix would be Street FC.  We have been to Street before, that time it was on an excursion to see a rare butterfly which was successful in many ways.  We also burned down the local YHA due to it holding a hippy convention and then went to Stone Henge and drew a willy on the said sacred slabs - and why not, my punk nerves do get a little tetchy at times.  So, arriving at the ground in good time, acquiring a teamsheet and some chips (thank you to the chip creator for his extra helping due to us having a lengthy wait) we parked our rear ends and took in the atmosphere.  The chips were bang on, the seats more comfortable than normal but the ruddy draught a real spiteful git that sent its tendrils up my trouser leg, around the conker-based crevices and back out down the other leg - my wife was wearing bicycle clips by the way, she is a lovely lady after all.  If wind was to be personified I am sure it would be bent double, adorned in trews with permanently open flies and sporting a pair of mitts with the longest fingers ever noted.  The icy breath, spiteful, aquiline nose and shifty, perverted eyes are a matter of course as well as the crooked bulge in the aforementioned kecks.  I resisted the urge to shiver, one has to show some sort of backbone when being accosted by the climactic perverts, and peeled the peepers to take in the following kick about.

The initial action came about after some unplanned defensive dawdling that allowed a gratis kick to the visiting ranks. The ball was boomed straight out of play - I hoped it wasn't going to be one of those days.  Street started to apply themselves with a ball deflected into the box that No 3 (Lewis Waldy) headed forth rather weakly.  A Melksham clearance was taken with great haste, No 9 (Gary Higden) was ahead of the rear pack and galloped forth with only the home No 1 (Liam Kingston) to beat.  The protector of the net blocked well for a corner that was ultimately wasted with Street having a rapid counter attack of their own.  A low cross was had, No 9 (Steve Murray) received, rotated and released but the shot lacked spite and the keeper easily gathered.  At the other end a corner was won, in and out it went, No 7 (Billy Gleed) was out wide, No 8 (Luke Ballinger) accepted the ball and placed a shot straight at the keeper - surely a goal was imminent! 

Street advanced after a Melks move dissolved.  Some superb link-up play outside the box was duly applauded, Murray was an integral part - passing and dragging players this way and that before a ball into the red alert zone was played.  No 10 (Harry Foster) found the ball at his feet, worked a sliver of space, released with adequate power and neatly found the inside of the far post, much to his comrades' delight.  From this icebreaker a dry period ensued as both teams strove for a firmer grip.  Melksham had done well to recover their senses, Street looked the more threatening side but were just kept at bay by some stout defending.  The next goal looked to be a critically decisive factor with Street having a thrust with Murray letting a shot go but again one that lacked true bite.  The hosts were now upping the ante, No 2 (Josh Bennett) had been waiting out wide for some time and when, he was eventually served, he delivered first time with Murray on the end of it but clattering the globe over the horizontal  - it was a sweet move deserved of a final flourish.  Murray had another crack soon after, again with too much uplift.  In return all that The Melksmen could offer was a free-kick from a rather acute angle that was clattered straight out of play. The closing minutes looked to be leading to the break with Street in command when suddenly the home 'erberts were caught.  A ball came from nowhere and found Ballinger who took it on his chest, whacked on the volley with sugar-sweet potency and bulged the net with supreme gusto.  It was a wonder strike, a fitting equaliser and a real kick in the cobblers for the, ahem...Cobblers.  Half-time followed soon after, the game was precariously balanced and left for we onlooking fans to ponder - ooh the thrill of it all.

We moved out into the sun for half-time, stretched the old boiled eggs (legs) and released some tension from the aching Brian Clough (chuff).  The wind was still being an utter bastard and chilled any worthwhile solar power that adorned our Brian Jacks (backs).  Talking of Brian Jacks, I once attanmpted to beat his Superstars feat of Parallel Bar Dips and ended up with a prolapsed rectum, arthritic elbows and a high pitched voice.  I did perm my hair beforehand and bleached it blonde - it didn't help whatsoever...and back to the match!

Street blazed from the blocks, No 11 (Craig Herrod) sent in a cross that was deflected away with Melksham bursting back on the break and only stopped by some stupendous tackling by the home No 4 (Ben Amghar).  Street built at once, the attack was quick, forthright and focused with a cross ball touched homeward by the right man, in the right place, at the right time, take a bow Mr Foster.  No sooner had the ball been placed back on the centre spot than Street were marauding again with the impressive Herrod a roaming menace, collecting, beating two men and shooting. The ball seemed to catch the flesh of a defending bod, went off at a different angle and somehow found the inside of the post - to be honest, the move deserved the end triumph.  At 3 - 1 up the resident pack were now playing some irresistible football and moving the ball around like a well-oiled kipper on the back of a sweating pig (it does happen you know).  Herrod had another dig that was deflected off-line and then he provided a ball for Murray to flick across the goal which was too firm for the incoming executioners.  

As Street continued to play some convincing possession football, the diluted Melksham team ran themselves ragged, kept themselves in this one and with a chance of nicking a goal back or maybe a prized point.  In fact the away team cultivated a chance not long after I had put these thoughts to paper with a shot hammered in, pinged out and then returned via No 11 (Jordan Croad) whose touch was slightly off the target zone.  The Melks were soon at it again, No 14 (Jack Baker) captured the globe high up the park, turned his marker inside out (ooh what a mess) and belted forth a solid strike that was equalled by a low save that pushed the ball on the post and back into the sprawling keepers grateful mitts.  The tide had turned, once again the guests flowed, a cute back flick, one touch and Ballinger boomed a blisterer that went inches over the bar.  We now entered the closing period, applause for the away teams efforts was worthy, all they needed was a clinical touch in the final third to put the cat amongst the pigeons.  Ballinger came on, played to Baker who rattled one away that was disappointingly off target - it was last chance saloon but Street had the final crack with No 12 (Oscar Latas) producing a great strike that was saved and put behind for the corner.  The ball came in from the angle, was dealt with, seconds later the game was done. The 3 points had gone the right way, Street's No 5 (Ross McErlain), before being substituted, was absolutely outstanding at the back and put his head on everything, stayed calm and was the quintessential pivot that any good team works around - a pleasure to witness.

FINAL THOUGHT - The title of today's piece was named after a song by The Vibrators frontman Knox.  Street generated good heat today and for me are a team very much better than what their league position suggests.  Some of the quick thinking football and general team awareness was top notch indeed and with a little extra luck up front a few more goals could have easily been added.  I thought Herrod was a particularly noteworthy player and he looked like a real swine to actually keep tabs on as he wandered here and there like a vagabond on acid.  Overall there were no weaknesses in the ranks and I reckon I'll be keeping an eye on this lot in future and hopefully catch them again sooner rather than later.  Melkhsam, I was informed, are a side in transition after a few players had left the fold and some young reserves had been thrown into the fray.  To be fair, taking this into consideration, I thought the lads did bloody well and put in a tremendous stint that holds much positive potential for the future.  The key is to now preserve squad consistency, keep the players totally unified and to maintain the belief they exhibited today.  The next time we are down Bristol I reckon me and the missus will do some wildlife hunting close to Melksham and then visit their ground - it would be rude not to and if there are any Youth Hostels and ancient relics nearby I am sure I could bring a box of Swan Vesta and a marker just for the extra thrill - hot-nob-tastic I say!