Match Reports April 2010

Sunday 18th April 2010

Leonard Vase Semi-Final, Ashburton Playing Fields

Maple Tree 3 - 0 Banter Central FC

Team: Wuker; Boma (Ridders, 65), Doc, Vidic, Cling; Wilkes (J-Dot, 70), Hughes, Adkins, Baird; Wommy, Brownie (Tino, 75)

It will always be the day that wasn’t for Banter Central. The rhythm wasn’t there and many players just never got going. Maple Tree were harder, better, faster, stronger, as Daft Punk might say and as Kanye might rap all over to spoil it.

Banter started the stronger in the opening 10 minutes and had the first chance of the game when Adkins threaded a ball beyond Maple Tree’s backline for Wommy to chase, he did so and from the right hand side hit his shot across goal and just past the far post. It would have been a dream start. But as it was, Banter barely troubled Maple Tree’s goal for the following 80 minutes.

With a firm surface which was home to stones and plenty of divots throughout, everybody knew that there would be difficult bouncing balls to control all game, but it was here that Maple Tree excelled and Banter did not. The home side still managed to find space in wide areas, still managed to pick out their forwards and in the middle of the park they still moved the ball better and were more of a threat aerially too. Banter resorted to lots of arms on shoulders when challenging, but for the most part you couldn’t argue with the desire and fight that was being put up.

Maple Tree’s best chance early on came when an attack on their left broke down and was half cleared but with time to control and pass, the centre-midfielder stormed in and smashed a half volley towards goal with real conviction, but it went past Wuker’s far post and out for a goal kick.
Wuker judged a long ball well soon after, it was lofted over the Banter backline and with only Cling coming across to deal with it, the big man took no chances and raced from out of his box to thump the ball to safety.

Baird had arguably Banter’s best chance of the half, a throw-in from the left was flicked on by Adkins well for the Banter youngster to chase, take a touch toward goalkeeper and strike, but Maple Tree’s goalkeeper was out bravely, not letting the ball pass as the two collided and went down. He appeared hurt initially but recovered soon after and carried on.

With the ball down Maple Tree’s right, Cling put in a tackle on the edge of his own area, but when Baird was caught in possession, the captain was forced into making another challenge, which this time was adjudged to have been a foul. Fintan certainly didn’t think it was, but whether it was or wasn’t, the resulting kick was not dealt with well at all. Swung in toward the far post, it was nodded in with ease to give Maple Tree a 1-0 lead.
To look at, Banter didn’t look as rattled as they have been when going a goal down, which was initially a positive, but no sooner had the first gone in than a second followed. An out swinging corner from Banter’s left was well delivered and also well met, if a little easily, for another header to fall between goalkeeper and Cling on the post and go in to make the scores 2-0. With around 10 minutes of the half remaining, it was a crushing blow when it seemed like it could remain all level at the break but for two set pieces.

Banter remained at 4-4-2 to begin the second half and seemed prepared to fight for their place in the final. By conceding half as many goals in the second half as the first, it means Banter were twice as good. Despite this, the ball seemed to spend a lot of time in the air, where Banter were equals and often winners when it came to a 50-50, but too often lost out as a result of no challenge at all. Maple Tree continued to flood forward in numbers and continued to get long range efforts on Wuker’s goal. One drew an outstanding save, possibly his best of the season. It certainly kept the game alive, albeit briefly, when a shot was powerfully struck from the edge of the area and sailing top left, Wuker got across well and tipped it over the crossbar with an outstretched arm.

But 3-0 came from defending another corner, when not properly cleared it was hammered in by the #9 and it felt like game over even with 35 minutes remaining. It certainly didn’t have to be, because by moving to a more attacking formation, Banter stretched the game and made it a lot more open, but still did not create chances.

Ridders came on to replace Boma, who’d had a steady game but was forfeited in order to send more attackers on. J-Dot replaced Wilkes, who’d covered briefly at right back. Banter’s equivalent of Rory Delap tried, but Arrow Ball was no-where near as effective for Banter as it is for Portland. Tino came on and Banter sent Vidic up front for one final change as the away side tried everything to mix it up but to no avail. Maple Tree’s #9 spotted the renegade tactic of Vidic up top and felt necessary to help out his own team mate by warning him, “The Rhino’s going up! Watch out for him!”. The er, Rhino, politely asked if perhaps he wanted to come up there with him to continue their one vs. one tussle. It was refused. #9 was more interested in being marked by Doc, whom he remarked was “one of the seven dwarves”. Very good indeed.

Banter sent plenty of set pieces into the box but it had little effect, whilst the one that did managed to drop to Brownie and it was Banter’s best chance of the match. At the back post and with seemingly everything to aim at, he snapped at it first time and sent it agonisingly wide.
Banter continued to get enough blocks in to ensure there was to be no forth goal, whilst Wuker made a decent stop by getting down well to his near post. 3-0 was the final score and a thoroughly deserved from Maple Tree’s point of view. A side that looked well organised and dare I say it, a side that wanted it that little bit more on the day.

Man of the match: Richard ‘Cling’ Clark.
Special mention to Ben Doc, who was excellent throughout and worked really bloody hard.

So as it was, the same team that eliminated Banter from the CMSFL 5-a-side tournament in the semi-final stage last August, have done the same again in the 11-a-side game too. Full credit to them and we all wish them the very best in the final, because they deserve it.

It was a disappointing result as well as performance and there are lessons to be learnt and plenty to work on, but on a frustrating morning it is worth noting that it could have been more than just 3-0. In years gone by, with 20-30 minutes remaining, it probably would have been 5, 6 or 7 nil. It was disappointing to not score or create enough chances, because that never gave us any real hope. But though we didn’t get goals, we did have some pride and didn’t take a total roasting.

You could look at it positively and say we lost to three set pieces which if we work on we’ll be able to eradicate that in future. Against another team, there was probably enough work rate to do better if we had more quality and composure. But it wasn’t another team and on the day we just did not pass the ball and play as a team or have that quality and composure. Not from the back, not through the middle, not from the front. We win together, we lose together. It was a team loss with few positives.

But that unbeaten run was no fluke and B*Witched once had this saying which back in the late 90’s when denim jackets were cool was, “C’est La Vie”. I’m pretty sure they made up this particular saying too and what it roughly translates as is, “Fuck it”. It’s always difficult to say it at the time but we really will have to come back next year and do it properly, making the final. We’re capable of it and have come on leaps and bounds this season, so let’s give ourselves credit for that, forget this very bad day at the office ever happened and see out the season by getting 3rd position in the league. You’ll feel very much happy with yourselves if you do. Two more wins from the final two games and lots of goals. Go on, it’ll be fun.

Thanks to all our supporters who came and made the effort to watch, we appreciate it. But what can I say, this particular weekend just isn’t that kind to us – it was almost two years to the day that we lost in that final. Ouch.

Sunday 11th April 2010
League, Trenham Drive

Banter Central FC 2 - 2 Maple Tree
Brownie (2)

Team: Wuker; Boma, Doc, Vidic, Fintan (J-Dot, 60); Ridders, Wilkes, Adkins, Cling; Brownie, Baird (Wommy, 80)

It was a result that leaves next weekend’s semi-final perfectly in the balance. Both sides scored twice, both sides won a half each and it remained a tight and well contested game throughout.

The term ‘Can we play you every week?’ is normally reserved for tongue in cheek remarks about an opponent you’ve dished out a bit of a thrashing to. So without wanting to speak too soon, the Banter games against Maple Tree so far this term have each been a pleasure. At no point easy, at every moment a challenge, but good enjoyable games of football nevertheless.

Banter didn’t really get out of second gear back in February, but Sunday’s draw was, from a Banter point of view, well earned and played in the right way by both sides. Hopefully more of the same to come.

Banter will hope for a similar start in the semi-final that they enjoyed in this league encounter. With pace, energy and quick to shut down their opponents on their first touch, it brought an early goal. The ball was pulled wide for Cling inside Maple Tree’s half, he checked back and laid the ball off for Fintan, who lofted it over as Wilkes made a darting run to the left, he beat his marker to get to the touch line and delivered a teasing cross in which Brownie hit first time on the volley into the bottom corner. Banter were one goal to the good.

Maple Tree had a natural chemistry. They passed the ball well, they moved for one another and their communication was always loud and clear. They found space in wide areas and hit the box for their #10 to attack on numerous occasions. His results in the first half at least, were very few shots on target as Vidic the Rhino and Doc rose well and made life very difficult. Maple Tree could have had an equaliser though when the referee awarded a corner, having changed his mind initially giving a goal kick – which not only did Banter feel he was wrong to do, but the away side even seemed to agree – a good delivery was met very easily and with a clean connection, but the headed chance was cleared off the line by Fintan. Both he and Ridders occupied the posts and the latter was called to clear one off the line in similar circumstances shortly after, too.

There were let offs for the home side and Maple Tree made if difficult for Banter to clear their lines easily, but when they did, the home side broke quickly and efficiently. Ridders was sent racing down the right wing, he made space and delivered a dangerous ball in behind the Maple back line for Baird, only for a defender to nip in and clear it at the last moment. A long ball forward in search of Brownie was wonderfully flicked on soon after; Cling got in behind the defence and sliding for the ball, he got a touch but saw his effort well saved by the goalkeeper.

Banter doubled the lead though and it was that same goals scorer again. Fintan had been taking the most laboured throw-ins ever down the left hand side, with each one he either stalled too long or made a little noise to show his dissatisfaction in his team mates. I like Fintan's noises almost as much as his soft hair. But one he through half an hour in seemed to catch out everyone as the ball was floated in high and dropping towards Cling and a defender, the Banter captain got up to flick it in behind for Baird, who turned and played his strike partner Brownie through, who saw his first shot blocked from a similar angle to his first goal, but persevered well and followed up to tuck it away and make it 2-0.

A series of half chances were created by both sides before being cleared as the two teams went in at the break with Banter in the lead.

Maple Tree undoubtedly stepped their game up for the second period. They pushed higher up, they continued to bombard Banter’s penalty area but with 25 minutes of the second half gone, the scores had not changed. It allowed Banter to break well at times, Ridders was again slipped free down the right and with seemingly hours to kill he pressed forward right to the edge of the area before sliding Baird in, who this time he found without problem, but Baird could not find the target as Maple’s goalkeeper closed down the angle to make it difficult and The Icon could only spoon his chance agonisingly wide. Brownie made a similar run soon after, gloriously dribbling down the right hand touchline to the away sides back line, skinning one defender along the way and playing a pass into the centre for Baird, which was cut out well by an alert defender.

It had become end to end stuff and Maple Tree would finally find the key to unlock Banter’s stubborn defence. A run down the wing from the right winger went unchallenged as he skipped in past two or three players along the back line, he cut back a cross which was met without fuss or challenge and placed into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.

The away side continued to press forward, with runners through central midfield and crosses from wide areas. This with around 10 minutes remaining, allowed Maple Tree to strike again. Starting from a Banter attack, Maple Tree’s right back ventured forward and latching onto a return pass from inside, his cross eventually found its way for his team mate to fire in at the near post. It was 2-2 and Maple Tree were naturally elated. They had kept at it well and deserved their two well taken goals. Despite what could have felt like a collapse or throwing away of two points, there was no lack of effort or drive from Banter, just unfortunate that their opponents had put away their chances just as Banter had in the first half.

A late tackle from #8 gave Baird a nasty gash on his shin, ankle and foot; he was replaced by Wommy who came on up front. The hope is that the injury looked worse than it actually is, but only time will tell.

Both sides held what they had as Maple Tree took a vital point to draw level with Carlton at the top of the table, Banter extended their unbeaten run to eight games and both sides made the following week’s cup match a second leg where the winner takes all.

It should be fascinating, so long as you’re not Marie.

Man of the match: Chris Brown. Having put in a good shift in the double header the week before, Brownie continued on that this week by defending from the front, making a real nuisance of himself and playing team mates through on goal on more than one occasion. His two goals were both very well taken and took his tally in 2010 to four.