Winchmore 1s vs Poly 1s
SAL Div 1
11 January
Mood: Absolutely Gutted
Winchmore were denied a result in the 92nd minute in a cruel game that we deserved more from. Too often this season we’ve been on the end of a loss and come off saying ‘but we played well for most of the game. This game we grafted, threw everything at it against an experienced team challenging for the title and sadly came off second best.
The journey to Chiswick, although long, is straight forwards. At the request of the referee we brought KO forward half an hour to 1.30.
The open fields of University of Westminster Sports Ground provides little protection from the wind and the recent inclement weather meant the playing conditions were just below perfect.
We won the toss. A choice of kicking with or against the wind was ours. Looking to give ourselves some support clearing our lines in the closing stages of the game we chose to kick into the wind first half.
We knew what this would mean. We’d be under the cosh for the first 45. We were off the back of a good performance the previous week though so we had an air of confidence about us. The formation was the same as the week before but with Tom Corfe unavailable Chris Chapman returned to the fold and slotted straight in at left back. Will Deamer back in nets.
Poly could have taken the lead several times in the first 10 minutes. A series of corners, assisted by the gale force wind were ‘in-swung’ (it’s a word, I checked) again and again. The Beaver met every challenge and got first to everything near him. A couple of good reaction saves and some resolute defending and the first exchanges of the game went without a goal.
Once this initial barrage had settled we looked to move the ball up the pitch. Tommy K Tom King and Doyle on the wings are starting to influence games more and more and the steady balance of Kieran, Bex and Sam Russel were once again winning second balls and keeping the ball well. We found it hard to fashion chances however but looked a team not prepared to panic just yet.
The first incident of note in the game came 20 minutes in. An innocuous challenge in no man’s land and Branners hit the deck. Somehow, a stud had found it’s way inside his leg. Above his kneecap showed a flap of skin that wouldn’t have looked out of place as a bullet wound on the film set of the recently released 1917 film.
Despite his heroic cries to simply ‘clean the wound, put the skin back over it, tape it and put me back on the field’ he was removed from play for the physio to have a proper look.
This brought Lewis on in his favoured left back position. A role he plays with aplomb. Chappers came inside next to Weaver and proceeded to have one of the most mature and impressive performances of the season.
Sadly, as the adrenaline wore off, it became clear that he was done for the day and he watched the remainder of the game from the sidelines.
The first half remained goalless. Not only were we in the game, we had shown that the intensity levels of the previous week could be repeated against one of the better teams in our league.
Second half. You’ll remember the plan from earlier – have the wind second half. Keep the pressure on them and make it hard to get out.
We went outside.
No wind. Bugger.
Time in this second period seem to move quickly. 5 mins in. 10 minutes in. 15 gone. Still 0-0. And we weren’t ‘hanging on’ as we had at the start of the season. We were calm. We were organised. We didn’t give them any joy. Weaver and Chappers covered ground at the back to snuff everything out. Runners were chased down and not given an easy pass. The work rate of the midfield 3 was superb and with 20 minutes to go we looked like we were going to come out on top.
The front three started linking up well and we were starting to get the ball into the box. We had three or four good half chances but sadly couldn’t trouble their keeper into making a mistake and couldn’t quite find the back of the net.
10 minutes to go. The season going the way it is this could be a huge result. Away to Poly. Not many teams come here and get anything. We were looking like we might nick it or at the least, get a well deserved point.
5 to go. No sign of let up. Both teams refusing to give any ground. Both teams dug in.
90 on the clock. The ref has a flight to catch. There won’t be much added on…. 4 minutes. 4 minutes between us and our reward.
4 minutes too many.
With their final attack of the game a long throw went into the box. We dealt with the first, dealt with the second… the ball had to go clear but a poor shout of ‘time’ meant one touch too many. The ball was floated one more time into the box and a point blank header was pushed towards goal.
Will Deamer saved!! Parried back into the box and the ensuing scramble saw the ball bobbled onto the floor and up and over the sprawl of legs to put Poly 1-0 up at the death.
The game had little left. It ended.
The Poly celebrated. They knew their luck. Another day and we get that luck. The almost apologetic handshakes from the oppo at the end told us everything about the respect we’d earnt in that hour and half of football.
And rightly so.
The last 2 weeks have been a stark contrast to 2019. We look and feel like a team. We played as a team. We fought, as a team.
That game is done. It means nothing unless we recognise the levels of individual effort that carved out the performance.
We are rightly gutted. We deserved more. We come back stronger.
MOM – Alex Bex. A notable mention though for Chappers who missed out by 1 point in his return to the first XI
DOD – it was recorded but frankly, no one gets it this week. Superb performances all round.