Southend 1st XI 9 (Nine!) - 3 Old Southendians 1st XI
"Officially the best team in Southend"
From the start of last season when we were promoted and Old Boys relegated, this was the fixture we were looking forward to the most. Old Boys versus ourselves, in the league (with no ringers back from university!), a chance to find out who was the best team in Southend.
Following last weeks game the team talk was easy and the Captain laid down the law. "No more chat to umpires and we need to keep our discipline" (We'll come back to this later). As a punishment for last weeks misdemeanour, Gareth Ingram as well as doing the teas for the second time this season, was demoted from taking the short corners and Strawbs was given the job. As always the look on Gareths face was priceless at this news.
To the game. We started with an unchanged line up from last week and a full squad to choose from apart from James Lockwood who returning from injury got a run out in the second team. Everyone was psyched up for the game as you would expect with a fixture like this, but for some reason we started slowly and it was Old Boys who took the lead and had the better of the early exchanges. An outrageous piece of umpiring, and a goalkeeping mistake allowed Old Boys to capitilize at the start of the game. Southend managed to score from Gareth Ingram and also Ian "Puppy" Crompton who managed to emulate Barry Punchers goal from a couple of weeks ago and score wth a turn! However, some inspired goalkeeping (I can't believe I am praising Mr Cawcutt) and some good play from Old Boys meant they managed to somehow hold a three - two advantage. From the sideline I thought this was going to be a classic Old Boys performance againt us where they manage to spoil everything and sneak a win. Some advice from the wise old sages Poulain and Tetley on the sideline to the captain and it was time for a substitution. It was decided that the gobby fat one would make way and on came Keith (Please note the score at this point).
Southend were by then already dominating the game and eventually the pressure told and goals from Neil Utton and then Gareth Ingram again, meant that Southend were back in the lead. Then some more contentious umpiring led to star youngster Stuart Jones looking like he was going to argue his way into a yellow card and Keith decided to bring Rich back on to protect his star player. Now Mr Jones, let me tell you. I am right up there as your biggest fan and the only chance you ever have of being substituted is if I think you are going to get sent off or if you are injured. I much prefer to have you on the pitch rather than off it. Having said at the start that this would happen if anyone did it, and having already subbed Strawbs, Gareth and Christian this season (come to think of it do you have to be stroppy to be good or even if I became stroppy would that make me a better player?) Stuart you had to go.
Half time - 4- 3. It's in our hands. As it happened, with a much less talented midfield, there was much less dribbling, and we reverted to a great passing style of hockey which meant with the skill we possess we were at times devastating. The goals came thick and fast and i'll try to remember them.
Stress - a tap in after shouting at Strawbs that it was his ball. Nicely done but remember the senior players have priority over 17 year olds (especially if you are going to steal any of my goals).
Ingram - Tap in after great passing move.
Ingram - Well taken drag flick down low. If I didn't know better I would say he was in a strop for not having the short corners from the start.
Ingram - Not so well taken drag flick that lobbed right into the top corner (you could almost say it was lucky apart from the fact that just to be able to do it is a great skill).
Ingram - absolutely magic drag flick that pinged the top of the bar.
We even managed to miss yet another one on one with the keeper (are they really that difficult to score? I can't remember the last person to score one!!!) and still manage to score nine.
My favourite part of the game was when we even managed to win 1 - 0 when down to 10 men after Steve Hayman was sin binned having threatened to "take someones head off" within hearing distance of he umpire. Actually I have sympathy with Mr Hayman as the person involved was trying to put his stick in his nuts and is a far better player than the consistent dirtiness he resorts to (you know who you are and at your age you should be setting an example not resorting to stupid niggly fouls).
Hopefully we have learned a few lessons today.
When we pass the ball we are magic.
We must keep our composure.
We can play well without even our best players.
And most importantly WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN SOUTHEND!!!!
To any Old Boys reading our website:
Unfortunately I think this is going to be a long hard season for you as I think you were the worst team we have played so far. If you want to jump ship and come and play for the best team in Southend we would love to have you.
If you would have asked me honestly at the start of the season I would have taken any win against them so to win and score nine was unbelievable.
At the start of the season I set the team the objective of finishing higher than Old Boys and staying up. After the first six games of the sason we need to raise our standards. Staying up is the minimum we should expect and if we can maintain these standards and keep our discipline and availability each week we should be aiming for promotion.
Team - McCann, Styles, Hayman, Harvey, Jones, Hill, Crompton, Ingram, Needham, Jenkins, Utton, Arnold.
Goals - Ingram 6, Utton, Needham, Crompton
Man of the Match - Jenkins
Burberry - Johnny 5 - For his goal assist. |
