Saturday 27 October 2007
TP have the best behaviour but have the worst fortune! So much potential but it’s just not clicking yet. Having said that, the first half performance was right up there with the best. John Helm, the Captain, was out with an achilles injury, so in stepped Dan Spinola as captain. Andrew Owen, due to play at centre back, was also absent (apparently in bed!), so in stepped Dave Hambridge giving by far his best performance so far. TP started under pressure with a few long throws going into the box, which Ian and Dave cleared without much bother. Little Jon and Ben Cordle started supporting more down the flanks and TP started to dominate with Nat Field, Nick Speroni and Da
n pulling the strings. Eddie showed he still has strength in his right foot, smacking a long range effort about 10 yards wide. Calvin Lindsay’s pace was ripping their left back apart and he twice was played in only for the keeper to come out and smother the ball. Dwayne Mitchell sprang to life after some nice interplay between Nick and Dan and he streaked up the wing to win a dangerous free kick. Steve Speroni, in goal, didn’t have much to do in the way of shots, but he was solid, especially his distribution.The first goal was extremely unlucky. Ball played into the area, headed down by Ian to Dave, who cleared straight into a players hand, which was outstretched. Unbelievably, the ref played on and a striker converted a decent finish. For the rest of the half TP heads didn’t drop and they pressed on for an equaliser. Dave Hambridge played a dangerous ball in from a free kick which the opposite keeper came and claimed, taking out two of his own players. Then came the best and unluckiest effort of the game. Calvin’s curling corner was superb and Nat’s inhuman leap provided Nat with a header that looked destined for the top corner. Dave and Ian w
ere all ready celebrating when the keeper pulled off a really good save. Dwayne then passed back to Ben, who played a little chip back and Dwayne’s shot was well saved. Still, Dwayne kept his head up and kept going.At the break, the ‘Big men’ changed the formation, when maybe twenty minutes with the same formation would have sufficed. However, after the fi
rst five minutes TP were back on top. Nick Speroni hit a vicious free kick again brilliantly saved. Even the wind was against the Oranges and it blew against their defence in the second half. Ian found himself wide tracking back a skilful attacker, but the big man, always up for a challenge, comfortably knocked it out for a corner. They had quite a few set pieces, which is where John was missed, and from this corner TP were almost punished for not clearing. The header looped over Steve, who came and punched, but Dave on the line saved TP, but that wasn’t the end of the drama, because his header away was headed back over him and Ian took the shot bravely full in the face.However, from the next corne
r, the second goal was conceded. Similarly to the last corner Steve came and didn’t quite get as hard a punch as he would have liked and the header jus evaded Dave’s knee and Ian’s head bobbling into the net. Samuel, who came on at half time beat the offside trap and held the ball up and played a one-two with Dwayne, before whipping an inviting ball in. Little Jon ghosted in at the back post but his shot deflected wide, but the ref gave a corner. Then a skilful sub sprinted down the right and Steve ran out to him and forced him wide. He dived in putting the ball out of play but injuring himself, meaning he couldn’t continue. Dave Hambridge, who was the only keeper to have a clean sheet, was shaky in goal and ICC started having more shots. The third goal, anyone on
the pitch would have been proud of……….if the guy had meant it. He was obviously aiming for the top left corner, with his body shaped to hit it and his eyes fixed, yet he sliced it into the top right. To be fair, no goalie would have saved it. TP still persisted with Femi Oyeniran, making only his second appearance playing a good ball to Dwayne who found Calvin down the right who whipped a ball in, unfortunately no-one was at the back stick. The forth goal was so harsh, a free kick over the wall took a deflection and nestled in the bottom corner. Even the free kick taker looked stunned. But the first half performance was one of the best, and there were some outstanding individual performances for the team.Statistics
Man of the match: Ian Howard for his no-nonsense defending, clearances and fearless tackling.
Team: Steve Speroni (Femi Oyeniran), Little Jon, Ian Howard, David Hambridge, Ben Cordle, Eddie Campbell (Samuel Balogun), Dan Spinola (c), Nick Speroni, Nathaniel Field, Dwayne Mitchell, Calvin Lindsay
Crowd: a few of us - Natalie, Keziah, Naomi, Moses and Calvin's Dad?
Conditions: Windy in the second half, overcast
Photographer: Where was Natalie? Wasn’t at her best but came to life, yelling abuse, when one of their strikers wildly struck over!
Writer: David Hambridge
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