November 2009 Match Reports

Sunday 22nd November 2009

League Challenge Cup Round 2, John Ruskin Playing Fields

Portland 3 - 2 Banter Central FC
  Wommy, Brownie

Team: Wuker; L.Dancer, Boma, Vidic, Cling; Ridders, Hughes, Adkins, Wilkes; Wommy, Brownie

Nobody likes to lose, but Banter can take plenty from this game and use it to really progress as a club in their three remaining competitions this season.

Though it marked a forth Portland victory over Banter in as many meetings, this was a marked improvement from the 4-0 league thrashing just a few weeks ago. Banter started particularly brightly, had a very specific game plan and it brought an early goal and plenty of hope, when Wommy took advantage of some sloppy defending to race through and slide the ball into the bottom left corner. It was the type of finish that was so regularly tucked away in 08/09 from one chance in a split second of chaos. It gave the away side hope and shooting “down hill”, to press on for a second.

Portland responded in due course and had chances from long range and set pieces, though clearly frustration was beginning to set in. The #8 thought best to take his anger out on Cling by hugging him and screaming in his ear, whilst regular kick-outs were not unusual. The referee controlled it with reasonable comfort and nothing went over the edge, though Banter had quite noticeably rattled Portland for the first time. Wuker was called into action a few times, one memorable parry over the crossbar kept Banter in the lead, whilst coming out to the touchline to shield the ball out for a throw was less effective, he managed to get away with it.

Vidic had a header from a Cling corner cleared off the line, but Portland’s goalkeeper was largely untroubled as the blues took a 1-0 lead in at half time. It was an important moment to regroup and discuss the second half game plan, because there were no secrets about what was coming – with such a heavy slope, boggy surface and playing area of approximately 12 ft x 6 ft, Portland would do exactly what they’d done in the league game late last month and that’s hit long ball after long ball after long ball and long throws until they got what they needed. The tactics were known and they were ready to be stopped but the awful weather and regularity with which their throw-ins would come at us could not be predicted. These throws of course, are the one’s that even when taken from on the half way line manage to soar deep into the opposition goal mouth. It’s a destructive weapon to have in your armory, so critcise and laugh we might, but wouldn’t we all use it?

The onslaught began from the moment the second half kicked off and Banter found it rather difficult to get any kind of rhythm going when in possession. Brownie and Wommy were largely spectators, as defence and midfield spent the majority of the half clearing danger. It was working though, and there were some real fight going into it to try and get everything away. Vidic was given a free role during all Portland set pieces and did a fantastic job coming and clearing, whilst Hughes seemed to be able to get his head on just about everything – in his own penalty area and on goal kicks. It was a different side to the central midfielder’s game we were seeing; usually it’s eye catching passes having trapped a 40mph pass, or an outrageous piece of skill to see off 3 defenders, but today he was asked to work from first whistle to last and he didn’t disappoint. He worked hard like all across the midfield, Adkins made slide tackles and aerial challenges aplenty whilst Wilkes and Ridders got firmly stuck in at wide positions, knowing full well that in the second half it was what they were doing off the ball that would count for more than anything they did on it.

Legend Dancer was having an assured game at right-back, whilst Cling was having difficulty dealing with his marker on the other side – though a shoulder saw one cross nip over the bar and a blocked shot miss the far post by a matter of millimeters: he was either being let off in a big way or just very assured about his boundaries.

Wuker came and collected everything in an assured manner throughout the second half. It was time to stand up and be counted and nobody could say Banter’s goalkeeper disappointed on the day. Under slippery conditions he kept hold of everything thrown (literally, of course) into the penalty area that he could. 70 minutes had passed, the rain was coming down at an unbelievable rate and Portland had now had close to 20 long throw-ins on the Banter goal. Hughes commented when clearing a ball long out to the touchline that he should really be belting it out for a corner because they’re less dangerous. Sadly, having defended so well for so long, it was this route that got Portland their equaliser – it came in and was nodded on at the near post with the slightest of touches to make the scores 1-1.

Banter’s fighting spirit continued, though the home side clearly had the advantage and desire to press further. They did when a run was cut in from the right, shot at goal which appeared to be covered by Wuker but took a wicked deflection from Boma and ended up being diverted to the other side of the goal to give Portland the lead. It was harsh, though it wasn’t entirely surprising. It meant Banter had to press up the field more and take more risks. Adkins asked if he could take the first of those by shooting from kick off whilst wild celebrations were going on. He was denied, though that rule along with a couple more should perhaps be looked into! A few more risks nearly brought an equaliser when Wilkes’ cross/shot fell to Wommy with just the goalkeeper to beat, but he was stopped for offside, which he clearly was.

Portland caught Banter on the break when Adkins’ pass failed to find Ridders wide left, the home side’s centre-forward was put through and though Wuker closed the angle to make it difficult, he calmly finished into the bottom corner to make it 3-1 and with 5 minutes remaining, pretty much seal the tie. But it was made interesting further when Wommy flicked on a header into the 6-yard box for Brownie to slide in and pull a goal back to make it 3-2. Banter’s top scorer went close again shortly after when his free kick was spilled by the goalkeeper and on another day, a good day, it would’ve dropped to a blue shirt for the equaliser, but a yellow one was found and the danger cleared. The final chance of the game fell to Portland when a ferocious shot was hammered right into Banter’s near post, only for Wuker to spring down and palm around the up right. It finished at 3-2 and Portland advanced to the 3rd round.

Man of the match: Parin ‘Boma’ Patel. I doubt he’d admit that it was his best ever game for Banter or anything, but it was certainly a solid display with not a moment’s lapse in either concentration or quality from defending set pieces and clearing the ball in a sweeper’s role during the first half. His work rate was matched by everyone in the team, but I couldn’t find fault in anything he did.

When you play a game of Arrow Ball (I prefer Throw Ball, Adkins prefers Arrow, but I’m happy with either), a sport played on a ¾ length pitch where your hands are as important as your feet (for throw-ins, not hugging or shirt pulling), you’re unlikely to get a victory out of Portland. Being fair, they're difficult to break down, with a big work ethic and good team spirit - Banter gave everything but were just unable to hold on.

It leaves us with three competitions to play for and though it sounds obvious, it will be nice to get back to league action next week. It’s important we get back to winning ways in this and bounce back quickly, particularly with one of those three competitions, the Surrey Cup, hanging on us needing our 3rd round game to be moved. Stats can be deceptive – in this case when games are called off and cup matches fall inbetween too, but run with this anyway – we haven’t won a league match in 6 weeks. Seven by the time we play Santos. But with today’s work rate, coupled with our own game plan and football (we don’t have to play Arrow Ball again until after September 2010 now), we’ll be a match for anyone. We know that. We also know Santos will be a tough game, a team who finished above us in the league last season of course. Which is why it’s so crucial that we take today’s mentality and attitude into it and this time grind out the win. I know it might not come as much of a consolation to those who played, but well done on the day anyway, I could barely have asked for much more and at least we feel we’ve taken something from the game this time.