Matchday Three - 2-1 Loss VS HBFCDespite an early lead TTFE failed to beat fellow minnows HBFC.TTFE may have took all the luck they could get last week with an excellent win over Sheila's Wheels, but they were confident to add another victory to their belt last night against the current league bottom team HBFC. However in a this fierce encounter, which was the game to avoid bottom place last season, our lads learnt that 'what goes around, comes around' as they felt the swift and harsh hand of fate coldly slap them in the face. There was no arrogance in this game - TTFE knew that HBFC would be gunning for victory - and in the end, it was just a game that did not go their way.
From the kick-off HBFC began the better of the teams with a lot of possession and fluid passing. They made Dave Weller stretch for a few shots, but these efforts merely exercised him for what was to be a enchanting display from the shot stopper. Despite the pressure the defence stood up well, with Carling and Paul Preece forming a strong ring of protection around the goal. It was shortly after this pressure that Chris Phillips, on his season debut back from work commitments, broke the run of play and shot low and hard into the goal and put the game in their favour. It was a bobbly strike which the keeper had real difficulty with, but a shot the GK was probably disappointed not to get considering his outstanding display which almost rivalled Weller's antics. Now at 1-0, TTFE began to play with a renewed sense of confidence and started to launch several waves of attack. There were shots galore, but nothing was penetrating well enough to get that second goal. Despite taking the game to their opponents, TTFE couldn't really take control of the game by the scruff of the neck and they were punished by a HBFC equaliser not long afterwards. Then momentarily, the karma absent from last week started to kick in with a vengence. In a challenge which looked like TTFE earned a free kick, it resulted in the opposite and a temporary sending off for Carling, who lacked the mandatory shinpads to play at Gol. His attempts to find the equipment off the pitch were in vain, and he was forced not only to forfeit the game, he also had to watch the team whilst they fought with only four men. With only a few minutes to the half, TTFE had to hang on, but failed on a number of occasions to keep the ball away from their opponents whilst they were disadvantaged. When the referee ruled the sinbin period over on the next stoppage, the ball was given away cheaply from a throwout and HBFC pounded home for the lead. Once Phillips took the field, it was too late as the opponents capitalised from their precious moment to score. Half time rolled around and TTFE were down 2-1.
The second half was goalless, but was proabbly more exciting and pulsating than the first. TTFE were now effectively a player down after Carling's unfortunate suspension and fatigue crept in earlier than usual. With the bare five players involved, TTFE had to fight to survive the game first before any chance of winning, whilst on the other end of the pitch, HBFC had a mighty arsenal of playing feet at their disposal; in fact a rule breaking nine players. However with these facts and felonies aside, you could not take away a fine performance from HBFC, who peppered the goal with shot after shot, forcing Weller into playing one of the games of his life, even earning him applauds from those who aimed to beat him. It was an almost faultless game for him and if anything stopped him for having a ten out of ten, it was his ball distribution which may have earned him a good nine or nine and a half. It was a spirited effort from all TTFE players in general as in the face of a fresh and dominant opposition, they continued ragged and fatigued, with little direction but plenty of determination to still grab a draw. Even James Pugh, who was glowing from his 5 piece goal haul last week, was quiet and was forced to take shots from afar as HBFC continued to play defensively with a solid two at the back. Billy Collins was unlucky to score his first of the season after a few rocket shots at goal and Phillips continued to shoot from anywhere he could get space to unleash. Although the game was end to end with the keepers emerging as the heroes for both sides, TTFE never really looked like scoring from any build up play, and HBFC were just not goal hungry enough to boost their advantage in the game. TTFE were unlucky to lose an emerging key player such as Carling, but at least it is a lesson learned for future games in terms of adherence to the rules.
This result doesn't mean panic stations in the TTFE camp just yet. Already TTFE are excelling their expections of this season with only a single defeat in their first three games, not to mention a place in the top half of the table at 4th. The danger here is that TTFE have faltered to a side they have NEVER lost to previously and were dead last in the pecking order until their meeting.
TTFE must make sure they are going forwards, not backwards, before their next game against Brookes FC next week. If they fail to face forward, this could be another lost season which never got out of the starting blocks.
Goals: Chris 1.
Goal Tally: James 5, Joe 2, Pat 1, Paul 1, Chris 1.
Cards: Karl (improper equipment, 2 min sinbin).
