Matchday Seven - 3-3 Draw VS Young GunzTTFE were denied their third win of the season after a late equalizer from the Young Gunz.As the season nears the half way mark TTFE faced a real tes as they were to be without Jon Ridout and James Carling, who both have proved to be valuable assets in the season so far. James Pugh led the attack with Chris Phillips whilst Pat Davies, Joe Newbury and Paul Preece had covered the defensive line. Utility player Billy Collins was to make a surprise appearance in what has been a part time season for him at Gol. The opponents have only won once this season and despite their lowly position in the league, their fitness and skill was something was not to be sniffed at. Young Gunz are not an irregular breed in 5-a-side football - they are a typical bunch of young lads who have pace and can show good footwork, but their excellent individualism is often the reason why the team ethic is affected, not to mention the scoreline.
One other aspect of their game is the teenage angst which usually accompanies such a side. Young Gunz were more aggressive than most sides at Gol, and it was clear that this factor was what retailers like to call their 'unique selling point'. It was this side to their game which set the tone to the game and pretty much explained each key event which was to occur.
As the game started both sides did enough to get by; there was no attractive football as both sides were a bit nervous and tested each other with what they could get away with. TTFE seemed to struggle with the pace of the Young Gunz, but at the same time, TTFE did seem to exploit the defence a good number of times. After a brief 'kicking over' of the ball TTFE soon opted for a more attacking set up and pushed on the pressure. However they were unable to get many shots on goal, despite having the space when on the ball. Collins took two good swipes at goal but sadly his efforts went wide. Young Gunz did manage to see a lot of the ball, but they just seemed to falter at the final hurdle and falling short of the finish. They did however, after a period of heavy pressure, take the lead with a good finish which David Weller had almost a chance of getting. It was to end 1-0 at half time, but at least TTFE had started to look more lively and moved off the ball with a lot more passion and vision than in previous games.
After the interval TTFE had to score first to get a hold back into this game, as their usual game plan was not to have an effect in this game dominated by 'strong arm' tactics. The referee was being unhelpful in some instances where TTFE may have been given the benefit of the doubt and Young Gunz could really have been pulled up for a number of misdemeanors. Once again Paul Preece was cautioned by the official for his challenges, but to be impartial here, this must have been the least illegal (not to say in anyway the least tame) he has been in regards to his approach to tackling. Therefore TTFE knew that they had to raise their game above and beyond if they were to have a chance of taking the three points. The second half however began in disaster, as Young Gunz furthered their lead with a promising run and well hit attempt from one of their attackers. At 2-0 the stakes were raised and doubled efforts were required. So in response TTFE took the game the back to their opponents with their own style of aggressive play. Phillips was the first to dish out the ill treatment back to his opposite number, as he bemoaned a certain blow to his ribcage inflicted by the Young Gunz as the half opened. Preece soon became involved in a heated tangle and chose to leave the field before his own tempers flared. After Phillips left the field to re-cooperate he returned to inflicit his own brand of punishment. However when he was continuely being pulled up by the referee for the upping of his aggression, the referee issued TTFE's first blue card of the season and banished him to the sinbin for a short period.
With a player down TTFE had to make sure they held their own in a game where they already looked to be dead and buried. But as the wise commentator Greg Davies observed, the momentum of the team soon picked up after that spirited surge inspired by Phillips before his dismissal. It seemed to continue throughout that sinbin period as TTFE suffered the slings and arrows of a strong attacking Young Gunz side, but did not concide at all. When Phillips was re-admitted to the pitch, a four man attack proved to be too much in this new wave of momentum, and Billy Collins romped home with a fine strike. As the Young Gunz side regrouped they tried to stem the flow of this new revitalised TTFE side, but it could not James Pugh, who was eager to add to his already impressive goal tally this season. Pugh took his chances and shot past the keeper to make it 2-2. Now that TTFE were back into the game and were rubbing shoulders with the opposition, they were not going to stop there. As the defender was caught in possession James Pugh soon grabbed his brace and put TTFE ahead for the first time and finished a wonderful comeback from the dead. At 3-2 it now looked like TTFE had the points in the bag, but the Young Gunz were always going to the Energizer bunnies of this contest, and their fatigue was certainly a small patch on what TTFE were going through. The Gunz started to bombard the TTFE goal with shot after shot, which each tested Weller to his usual best. However it took a lucky goal to finally settle this exciting second half, as the equalizing shot rebounded off Pugh's foot and bounced happily into the net past an already committed Weller. As a result Pugh suffered an injury on his ankle and hopefully, considering his previous history of ankle problems, we can welcome him back for the away fixture of this tie next week.
Well in retrospect, this writer did raise a criticism that TTFE got too much involved in the strong arm tactics and failed to get ahold of the game when they could have gone on to win with a renewed sense of confidence. I also raised the thought that this was definitely a game where two precious points were lost against a side which has struggled this season. Whilst I still stand by those remarks, I take real heart at least that TTFE did have the passion to stand up, be counted and take the game to their opponents when they things weren't going to plan. It was a real battle this week - only the team who wanted the game enough was going to take the whole three points. However in this deserved stalemate the only winner was the audience, who beared witness to a thrilling encounter which could have easily gone either way.
Goals: Pugh 2, Collins 1.
Offences: Phillips (Bluecard - dangerous challenge)
Goal Tally: Pugh 9, Carling 5, Phillips 3, Ridout 3, Newbury 2, Davies 1, Preece 1, Collins 1.
