Oranges Peeled Apart

TPFC 1-5 Ecclesia

Saturday 12 January 2008 Wanstead Flats

Writer: Samuel Balogun

The oranges headed into this game full of confidence with 3 wins on the spin under their belts. TPFC fielded a strong line up but were missing their ever impressive although ageing striker Ferris ‘ Stanley Matthews’ Lindsay who is the teams leading goals scorer so far this season. Dwayne and Nathaniel were recalled to the starting line up having been on the bench the week before. We even had a newcomer in the form of Eddie's son Adam.

After the toss was taken team captain John Helm elected for us to take the kick-off. The game got underway and TPFC immediately began passing the ball about in confident mood like a team on a mission. Our defence was solid and our attack which consisted of Samuel and Dwayne were closing down opposition left right and centre and forcing them into clearing the ball out of play. Although creating a few half chances TPFC hardly tested the keeper in the early exchanges. Then all of a sudden the front pair and winger David Hambridge played a series of passes between each other resulting in Samuel laying the ball off to Dwayne who duly finished with the composure of one certain ex Man United number 10. TPFC were 1-0 up and rareing to go for the restart. They continued to keep it tight at the back an in midfield, despite being under a bit of pressure from Ecclesia, whose number 10 in particular was proving to be a menace.

With ten minutes of the 1st half remaining TPFC conceded what can only be described as a fortuitous goal. TPFC trudged back to the centre circle for the restart with cries of keep your heads up guys being heard from players. The game restarted with TPFC playing the ball about once again looking to regain the lead with Samuel in particular wasting several chances, one a superb through ball from Nathaniel field which Samuel just failed to latch onto and another a free header at the back post from a beautifully curled in corner from Dwayne.

With 5 minutes remaining of the 1st half TPFC conceded another goal, and this time there was nothing fortuitous about the goal, which was an excellent long range strike from the Ecclesia right winger. It seemed to knock the stuffing out of TPFC, who were glad to come in at half time and regroup. Words of encouragement were given by both the gaffer Ian and captain John. TPFC seemed like they were ready to go out in the second half and win the match. Before we restarted the game a substitution was made by the gaffer when he surprisingly decided to take off the hard working Nathaniel who had created numerous chances in the 1st half and replaced him with the more pacey Calvin.

The game restarted and immediately tpfc were under attack from ecclesia with their ever annoyingly gifted number 10 continuing to cause our defence to panic. It didn’t Ecclesia too long into the second half to get their 3rd goal. A simple ball over the top managed to elude all of TPFC’s defence and yes you guessed it their number 10 duly dispatched the chance. O what TPFC would do for a player of his pace and finishing in their team.

3-1 down and looking a little edgy at the back TPFC continued to harass their opponents into clearing the balls which midfield lynchpin Daniel Spinola would pick up an try and create opportunities. Again Samuel was guilty of wasteful finishing on 2 more occasions in the second half trying to lob the keeper twice with no success on both occasions, when maybe a square ball to a team mate may have been a better option. TPFC decided to make another substitution with the ever impressive Eddie coming off to be replaced by his debutant son Adam. Adam immediately made his mark on the game with some ferocious tackling designed to unsettle the opposition. For a while this worked.

TPFC were on top and dominating the game creating chance upon chance, but this is when Ecclesia hit us with the killer fourth goal which really should not have been allowed to get as far as the back post for that pesky number 10 to tap into an empty net.

Daniel Spinola continued to work hard in midfield with John Helm who had switched places with the solid debutant Adam and gone into centre midfield with Adam moving to centre back. Adam playing in this position on a regular basis as he was excellent once he moved their alongside Ian who wasn’t exactly having one of his better games for TPFC. And it was Daniel who created the opportunity for TPFC to try and get back into the game when he played a slide rule pass into Dwayne who was felled by the keeper, the ref immediately pointed to the spot and gave TPFC a penalty. Captain John Helm elected Dave Hambridge to take the penalty. Unfortunately Dave was not able to convert the penalty and beat the ground in frustration. But we can all agree that he has been a great example of a team player and someone to look to for how to play in the right spirit and attitude, so dave don’t beat yourself up about it!!

Sensing that the game was slipping away from them TPFC began losing their shape with players piling forward. This was what led to the amount of space that Ecclesia number 10 had to run onto a ball over the top and chip over a stranded Steve Speroni. This was the final nail in the coffin for TPFC and with the score now at 5-1 we just wanted to see the game out and get off the pitch. After an uneventful last few minutes the ref blew the final whistle. TPFC cheered Ecclesia and Ecclesia did likewise although the obviously walked off the pitch the happier team.

This game was a valuable lesson for TPFC as it showed that we must give 110% all the time if we are to succeed in this league.

Man of the match: Tim - gave a very solid performance at right back which was full of energy and commitment.

Goals: Dwayne Mitchell

Photographer: The ever reliable Linda

Supporters: Natalie, Sonia and Kez