TP Win by TKO

Sat 9th February

TPFC 1 Walthamstow Parish 1

The battling performance from the previous week saw the same players rewarded and keeping their place. This meant that TP had the strongest bench in thier history, with the returning Captain, Tim and Femi.

Steve returned to the team and Nick found himself back on the left wing where he started his career many moons ago! It was the Gaffer that made way due to a toe injury – a lesser man would have retired from this (anyone remember some guy named Lineker?)

TP were facing the team with the ‘poorest’ behavioural record of 8+ (Ed’s note – 8? Poor? Shows the standard we have set!) and the motivating factor today was to maintain our composure and show this team how it should be done!

And that we did. A battling start saw TP take the lead. A cross from the left was met by Dan Spin’s head and the ensuing scramble saw Calvin bury the ball into the roof of the net.

Many more chances were made and had it not been for a soft (but technically correct) penalty decision which saw the WP player go over from a tackle from Sam the game would have remained in TPs favour going in at half time, especially with how rattled the WP players were getting.

The game remained fairly even and changes were made, with John debuting as Centre forward and Tim and Femi offering the fresh legs needed. TP remained strong and dangerous yet solid at the back and were buoyed by the return of Ferris to the side lines weeks after serious surgery. This drove the Oranges on and, with a little more time, a winner would have come.

But unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

But what about the win by TKO? That came from the Oranges response to a physical battle and a composure in the face of provocation. No-one (bar a few words after the penalty) did anything less than what our status as Behavioural League leaders would expect and everyone kept their mind focused on winning a football match in the way we go out to every week.

Man of the Match:
I’m writing this 3 weeks after the event, so can’t remember who stood out, so I’ll say me!

Joking!

My records show that I gave my own MoM award to Dave Hambridge.

Team:
S. Speroni,
D. Mitchell, S. Balogun, D. Hambridge, A. Owen;
C. Lindsay, A. Campbell, E. Campbell, D. Spinola, N. Speroni;
N. Field.

Subs:
J. Helm for C. Lindsay
T. Collier for A. Owen
F. Oyeniran for D. Mitchell