Matchday One - 4-4 Draw VS Daf BootsA deserved stalemate was the result of this explosive opening game between TTFE and Daf Boots.
This was a game where both sides were very keen to get last season off their backs and make real progress, especially now that another tier has been added to the
Gol league structure. Despite finishing a mid table 4
th at the death of last season,
TTFE have dropped a level into the new lowly Division Four for the new campaign.
Daf Boots also had a season where they looked to aspire to greatness and climb the leagues, but they failed to win crucial games; one in particular was against
TTFE in a 6-0 mauling of the red team. That in turn, was
TTFE's finest ever result and they claimed their first real hammering scalp, together with fitting revenge after 10-0 demolition handed to them by
Daf Boots only a few games earlier. So in retrospect, no-one really knew what to expect from the game.
It could be argued on the evidence of their previous encounters that without key players, Daf Boots had no structure and no real threat. But the side who did turn up was very balanced and well rehearsed in the basics. In addition
Daf Boots have been on hiatus since last season so they knew they were going to be rusty. Yet
TTFE, who have trained and have played in a friendly match against Jam Roll in that game, looked like they couldn't get out of second gear in this game. It was fair to say that
TTFE needed some
WD40 just as much as their opponents as their game lacked fluidity and real organisation.
TTFE made up for that however by making sure they caught
Daf Boots on the counter attack. After a tense ten minutes or so, Joe
Newbury, who has made his temporary return to the
TTFE lineup, struck home for the lead from a well
feeded pass from James Pugh. It wasn't long after that goal that
TTFE took advantage of a rattled
Daf Boots and Paul
Preece shot sweetly in open play to extend the score to 2-0. At this point
TTFE had a good grip of the game, exposing a weak defence even from throw outs from our own goal. Time and time again we had one-on-one situations where we had a good opportunity to score, but their keeper stood up well and prevented a greater goal aggregate. With this lead in mind however,
Daf Boots soon upped their pace and caught
TTFE off guard. Their shooting was proving not to be deadly, especially with David Weller in goal who played an excellent game, especially in the second half.
Daf Boots then began to catch
TTFE on the break and scored themselves back into the game at 2-2 before the interval.
In the second half
TTFE began to lose their dominance of the game and were pummelled by a more ball hungry team.
Daf Boots began to hold the ball a lot more and as
TTFE strengthened in defence, they
bided their game in looking for the opening. They continued to shoot from afar, but it was proving to be no problem for Weller. Then against the run of play, Pat Davies was able to break from his marker and slot the ball home giving the lead back to
TTFE.
Daf Boots, who had not been
infront of the game as of then, began to bombard the goal as fatigue set in on our lads. It was here that
TTFE really lost their flow in the game and were not thinking about they were doing. Passes were going astray and
Daf Boots began to ravage the exposed centre flank.
Daf were then able to equalise, and went one further by hitting a cheeky, low shot into the bottom corner of the net. With a well-worked first half completely blown to
smithereens with a lax second half display,
TTFE had to score to rescue a point in a game they once had the control of. It was nearing the end of the game and Jon
Ridout conceded a free kick in their half. He took a shot at goal only for the keeper to parry it out, where
Newbury was waiting for another rare tap-in and bring the game to its final score of 4-4.
This game was quite typical of the season's first fixture; full of nerves, full of hope and full of fight.
TTFE did well to contain Cristiano
Ronaldo's lost brother, not to mention to holding a side with seven players at their disposal compared to their own six. It was a defenders dream this week with all the goals coming from a predominately a defending clan. But this is no disrespect to either Pugh or
Ridout - they worked their socks off and were unlucky not to score themselves. In general however, rounded critics would say that
TTFE have to be a bit more cutting edge in front of goal if they look to be promoted this season.
Above all, a draw here in this opening game was not the best result for both sides, but it most certainly the fairest. If another goal was scored in this game it wouldn't have done justice to the losing team. But of course as a
TTFE follower all that is thrown out the window -
we were robbed! :)
Goals: Joe 2, Paul 1, Pat 1.
