Matchday Eight - 5-1 Loss VS Young GunzThe merciless Young Gunz had no problems in vanquishing a severely depleted TTFE side.At 5.55pm, things looked incredibly bleak. The sun was already beating down delivering that new climate of humidity we had increasingly been accustomed over the last few weeks and the Young Gunz looked like they were fully loaded with subs in excess. TTFE had struggled to get the bare five, with Dave Weller in goal, Joe Newbury and Pat Davies in defence, and returning players Jon Ridout and James Carling in attack. With Chris Phillips out and James Pugh still smarting from the last encounter, it was going to be a tough old game for the lads where survival was surely the only aim. What made this game even more intense in prospect was the fact that the Young Gunz had adopted an aggressive stance in the last game, which ended as a deserved 3-3 draw, but a draw that neither team wanted. The opposition therefore, judging from their proven 'enthusiasm' and renewed safety in numbers, were determined to get the three points in this return fixture.
As expected, the Young Gunz were just as quick as before, playing the one-two with a lot of pace and movement. At first they stood no chance against a rock hard defence of Newbury and Davies, but it wasn't long before this arrangement was to show the visable cracks of a weakened side. As the minutes dragged on, possession was being lost all over the field, mainly due to a lack of movement and pace. The passing was also just not crisp enough. Weller was able to hold his own for a while, but he did have to contend with many one-on-one situations which usually would be much more limited. Despite standing up well, Weller was beaten three times over the first ten minute period of the game. At 3-0 things looked grim, with little happening up front despite the best efforts of the attack and the wide spaces exposed to the opposition as the defending players supported pushing the ball forward. At that time Paul Preece arrived and instantly came on for an unusually drained Ridout, who seemed to have a chest problem which would effect him throughout the game and limit his performance and game time significantly. Paul added more energy into the team, but it was clear that at half time that in the search of finding that comeback we began to lose all shape and positioning. At this point though it was all or nothing, or as Chris Phillips would like to say, 'shit or bust'.
In the second half the game began a lot more evenly. Carling was taking more opprtunities where he could to shoot, as he was unlucky to score in the first half hitting the post. As expected we were confined to shots from afar, but it seemed it would take a lot more to beat their keeper. More opportunities fell to Ridout and Davies, the latter of which had found a nice, neat little pocket in the left opposing corner where he was able to roam freely. Davies was also typically savage and tenacious on the left wing, as on one occasion he did fight tooth and nail for the ball against the wall, taking no prisoners as normal. To add, he also did a sweet little flickover of the ball, which this writer sadly missed. Ridout took whatever chances he could but his condition did phase him out of the game as he looked a mere shell of his usual dynamic self. TTFE were finding their feet and creating opportunities with the ball. Yet we were only giving the keeper more reason to be nominated as the man of the match, as he calmly held and dealt with many of the TTFE efforts at goal. With all this pressure and no goal it was only time before the team were punished once again, this time caught in possession and resulted another goal for the young side. 4-0 now and it looked hopeless for TTFE - especially as the Young Gunz were contemplating easing on the gas to show off their boyish charm via various skills, tricks and stepovers. Already the support were cheering every nutmeg, every stepover and every smooth turn which could be pulled off at TTFE's expense. TTFE did however continue on and made sure that the dreaded scoring duck was not to return this season. TTFE have managed to score in every game this season (which I believe is an acheivement in itself) and Carling was relied upon to keep the dream of a comeback alive. It was perhaps his weakest effort of the game, but that strike was the most successful, as TTFE managed a goal at last. The Young Gunz did not look fazed and strived on to pelt the goal with shot after shot, with a Thierry Henry-esque arrogance and swagger. To the relief of Weller and the defence however, they limited their efforts to many long range strikes - something which wasn't to bother the TTFE ball stopper. He was to be beaten one last time as the defence was caught in possession again, but by now TTFE were trying to last ditch defend on every attack to minimise the threat.
As the game ended 5-1, Young Gunz claimed their second win of the season and put the heat on TTFE as now only a point lies between them. The young ones got what they came for and got what they deserved. In retrospect, this was a weakened TTFE side which realistically never looked like it would secure the win, but it was certainly not short on effort. There were flourishes of good football in there, with some fluid passing and solid defending, but it was a shame that the side were stretched so much that they had to admit defeat as the scoreline become 3-0. Luck was always being to the saviour of TTFE yesterday, but sadly it never shown its face and failed to materialise. For games like that, you have to pray that a massacre doesn't occur. Maybe there is some luck in there somewhere then.
Goals: Carling 1.
Goal Tally: Pugh 9, Carling 6, Phillips 3, Ridout 3, Newbury 2, Davies 1, Preece 1, Collins 1.
