OK, the score wasn't really 10-11, that would be silly. It was actually the number of players that started the game for each team. Yes, we had only 10 men.
The actual score was 5-3 to West Totton but that in no way reflects how the game went. And, if I had somehow been able to film their goals to show you all just how terrible they were you would be able to understand why I feel this way.
First I have to start out by explaining how we ended only being able to start the game with 10 men...
In football 'management' at this level (very fucking low on the very large football league pyramid system) there is a lot to sort out past getting players ready for the game. If it was just a case of having a lovely training session every Tuesday night and come Saturday all I had to do was turn up with 11 names plus a few subs written on a Post-It note it would be almost too easy. Sadly, this is not the case.
Firstly the league did not allocate a referee for the game, cheers Southampton Saturday Football League so we had to sort one out ourselves ON THE DAY. Luckily the Referee we eventually got was a lovely rotund chap that I unfortunately saw naked in his shower after the game whilst trying to get him to sign the match card.
Aaaaanyway, enough about the officials' penis and I'll get onto the game...
We lined up in an original 4-4-1 formation (yes, it is just 4-4-2 with one less player, but I like to get excited about tactics to let me have this) with Nik in goal, a flat back 4 of Dan, Kev, Callum and Jon, a midfield of Guppy, Ralph, Myself and Phil with Wiko up front.
We started pretty poorly and conceded two early goals just as we were finding our feet playing with only 10. Luckily we were determined to not let our heads drop and managed to get the ball and play it about well. Callum blasted a long range free kick into the box that the opposition 'keeper let bounce over himself into the net to make it 2-1 and we started to really get a grip on the game.
Callum again got on the score sheet as he forced the ball into the net after another free kick wasn't dealt with by the opposition to make it 2-2 and we really started to feel that we had a chance in this game to cause an upset.
Towards the end of the first half we were playing well, putting our balls on the line and running our arses off to take the game to our opponents and more than match them for quality and desire.
Sadly the fairytale took a bit of a kick in the teeth as we conceded another two silly goals, one from an over-hit cross that buried itself in the top corner, and the second from a very soft penalty.
We went in at half time 4-2 down but we knew that with a bit of luck we could turn the game around if we played with the same guts as the first half.
The second half started well and Wilko made it 3-4 early on to give us a lot of hope. We spent a lot of time camped in the opposition half and almost made it count with two fucking stunning chances. Dan hit the post with a Scholes-esque drive that almost broke the goal, and later on Ralph was one-on-one with the keeper but couldn't sort his feet out to get enough power in the shot.
The time ticked on and we had to get more reckless in our attacks and we pushed higher up the field to pile pressure on the oppo. We created some decent chances down the flanks but we somehow couldn't convert our pressure into solid chances.
Finally the pressure let us down as a quick counter attack after a corner left us exposed at the back and we conceded the final goal. We drew the second half 1-1, just saying.
Next week we play West Totton again and with a full squad and the same passion as this week I can fully expect us to beat them. We played stupidly well and were so unlucky to not get a point from the game. I can't fault a single player today and I was immensely proud of the lads that were there.
The Man of The Match has to go to Callum (for the second time) if only for the drama. He scored two goals and conceded a penalty, he totally raped the air around him and made the game a joy to be a part off.
Adios for this week, next time I hope I can write a similarly positive match report but with a win to go with it too!
HHAFC x
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