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Post by dudleyhatter on Jun 5, 2017 21:20:31 GMT
Great stuff Downy. Just imagine how well it would go if you didn't have to play on a Sunday (or more accurately after a Saturday night...)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2017 14:26:16 GMT
Nothing to report from training, all amicable.
Looking forward to Sunday's game now, although the Scotland v England game kicking off at midnight could be a problem...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2017 14:27:17 GMT
Great stuff Downy. Just imagine how well it would go if you didn't have to play on a Sunday (or more accurately after a Saturday night...) I used to play better after a big Saturday night. Too old for that now though.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2017 13:16:28 GMT
Another Sunday, another bad head.
We started off the brighter team and even went 1-0 up. A header from a corner at the back post meant it was 1-1 at half time.
A bad start from us in the second half and they beat our offside trap to make it 1-2. A bizarre 30 yard lob from our right back made it 1-3.
I was dead on my feet after 65 minutes and was subbed off.
Another free header from a corner finished the game off at 1-4.
Onwards to last Sunday for a 6-pointer.
4-4-2 hasn't been working so we decided to go back to last season's 3-4-1-2 formation. We now have two wing-backs fit enough to play 90 minutes. Unfortunately both are right-footed.
With our usual sweeper stuck in traffic the makeshift back 3 were still deciding who would sweep as we kicked off. We decided that I would do it as I've done ok there in a back 4.
We were all over the place for the first 20 minutes. Then I made the mistake of attacking a massive goal kick instead of sweeping. I lost it in the sun, accidentally flicked it on to one of their strikers and we found ourselves 1-0 down. A freak shot about 10 minutes later somehow found its way into the top corner made it 2-0 at half time.
We started well in the second half and were rewarded with a goal when a free-kick from inside our half (taken by me) wasn't cleared and one of our midfielders hit a shot which cannoned back off the crossbar. One of the wing-backs chested it down and placed it for 2-1.
We equalised after about an hour when a perfect through ball teased the goalkeeper into no man's land and a tidy header and neat finish made it 2-2.
The game opened up and I was really enjoying myself having one of my better games until a chase to the corner flag to make a slide tackle really took it out of me. I was struggling to defend the corner and we couldn't push out as my legs had gone. I lasted another 5 minutes but I was holding the team back and needed to come off.
We saw out the final 13 minutes to earn a hard earned point which almost felt like a win.
No game this week as it's a cup week again but the amateur reserves may be looking for a keeper again as theirs is cup-tied.
I'm on standby...
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Post by gazz on Jun 20, 2017 13:28:34 GMT
Another excellent read, Downy. Sorry to hear you lost the first game, but it sounds like you more than made up for it with a much better performance in the 2-2 draw. I know you'll be disappointed in having run out of steam towards the end, but as I've always said - it's a minor miracle that you're able to kick a ball at all. My knees are so bad that squatting down to pick something up is something I really do struggle to do without supporting myself on something. I really wish I could do what you're doing again. Whatever the results are for you, the mental strength you showed to get back out there makes you the winner every time in my book. Onwards and upwards!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jun 20, 2017 16:36:52 GMT
Great report, as ever, Downy - and well done on having fought back to earn a draw in the second game. What was your right-back playing at in the first one, though?!
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Post by gazz on Jun 20, 2017 18:02:49 GMT
What was your right-back playing at in the first one, though?! Lee Dixon, probably!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jun 21, 2017 20:39:53 GMT
Great report Downey.
Onward and upward.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 13:48:13 GMT
Another Sunday and another cup week. So no game for the 45s but both the amateur firsts and reserves had games.
After a couple of pints last Sunday I asked the manager of the amateurs who he had lined up to go in goal for the reserves as I knew their new keeper was cup-tied. "It could be you" was the reply.
When I'd sobered up on Monday I decided to send him a text offering to step aside if a better keeper could be found.
He confirmed on Friday night that I was the chosen one. As the reserves are in Division 2 and the team we had drawn are in the Premier Division to say that I was a bit nervous is an understatement. I was also out at a 40th on Saturday night so I wasn't sure what sort of condition I'd be in yesterday morning.
A bit rough is the answer to that one. I arrived early enough and had a good warm up but I needed plenty of water to stop my mouth drying out and replace the amount of sweat I was losing.
The game kicked-off and we were keeping the ball quite well for the first few minutes. We conceded a free-kick about 10 yards from the halfway line out on the right. The ball was knocked in and carried a lot further than I'd anticipated. It cleared the back four into keeper territory but I'd decided to stick to my line so it bounced in the box straight to their striker. I think it took him by surprise and luckily he missed the target.
I was thinking that they'd be thinking "dodgy keeper" and start shooting from anywhere. And that's what they did about 2 minutes later. A guy cut inside on the right onto his right foot. He wasn't closed down (one centre-back was struggling with an injury) and he hit it hard and low towards the bottom corner. I got down and got my hand to it but it bounced just in front and I only managed to push it upwards instead of around the post. 0-1.
I felt like sh*t and could only see what little confidence I've got disintegrating as they racked up a cricket score.
The next shot that came in was closer to the middle of the net and I got down and even managed to keep hold of it (more luck than judgement). I also got to an inswinging corner first taking out one of the centre-backs in the process. My confidence was slowly coming back but that horrible feeling that I was only a couple of minutes from a calamity was still there.
We'd settled into the game by now and managed to score an equaliser with a cracking header on about the half hour mark. Nothing else really happened of any note and we saw the half out to go in at 1-1.
We started the second half as the better team. It was really sticking up front and they were getting more and more frustrated giving away niggly fouls.
With about 25 minutes to go one of those fouls proved costly as a great ball was knocked into the box and one of our centre-backs glanced it in. 2-1.
Our tactics then were to press the ball and not let them settle. It was working well until they brought on their first team striker who had plenty of pace with about 15 minutes to go.
They sprung the offside trap to set up a one on one. He tried to beat me with pace but it came to me at a nice height and I managed to get a strong hand to it, pushing it off for a corner. They were applying all the pressure but we were defending well and I even managed to come out and catch a cross!
With 7 minutes to go they sprung the offside trap again. This time he made no mistake, hitting it hard and low into the bottom corner. 2-2.
3 minutes to go and with penalties looming I ended up in a one on one with the substitute striker. I did my best to stay up as long as possible and do the Schmeichel starfish. It was another low shot which I almost got down to but it made its way agonisingly into the net. 2-3.
We had a couple of chances to take the game to penalties but our final free-kick cleared the bar by inches.
A pretty decent game but a great performance, just not enough to cause an upset.
We left that to the first team who won 1-0 straight after our game.
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Post by gazz on Jun 26, 2017 14:21:26 GMT
That was a really enjoyable read, Downy, you really pushed them all the way - I knew you'd do yourself justice, mate! It's especially impressive because you were out on the sauce the previous night! I'm also glad to hear that, after that early setback, you managed to compose yourself and enjoy the game - pulling off some good saves and catches in the process! Was there a great deal of difference in the overall quality? Also, if asked, would you turn out for them again? The reason I ask is because, going off your report, you really didn't sound out of your depth in the slightest. Very well played, mate and thanks as always for taking the time to write the excellent report for us!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 14:42:39 GMT
Thanks for the kind words.
From the two games I've played for them they look a good side. I think they raised it even more for this game and the opposition may have been a bit complacent.
I'm happy with the fact they had to bring on a first team player to get past a 47 year old, over 45s centre-back playing in goal!
Their keeper works shifts and misses one game every month. If they need me again and it doesn't leave the 45s short of players then it would be difficult to say no.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jun 26, 2017 16:18:02 GMT
Playing well in goal, with a hangover. Respect is due... Good stuff, Downy - both on the pitch, and in the words afterwards!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jun 26, 2017 18:37:04 GMT
Well done from the Goal Keeper's Union.
Keep up the good work.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2017 22:20:16 GMT
Thanks guys.
As an update, I ache a lot more (and in different places) playing 90 minutes in goal for the reserves than the 60/70 minutes playing at centre-back for the 45s.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jun 27, 2017 10:06:17 GMT
We suffer for our cause, Downey.
Pernaton is brilliant for aching joints (green lipped mussel jel).
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