Matchday Fourteen - 8-2 Win VS HBFCTTFE finished the season in style with a comprehensive demolition of fellow mid-tablers HBFC.It was a game which came to represent very little after the disappointing second half of the season for both teams. HBFC did look to have mounted a serious title challenge early on in the year, after beating the top two teams and getting a credible third place for a long period of the campaign. However a poor run of form and a lack of winning key games has cost them dearly and had even threatened to put them in the bottom half of the table. With Almeider defeating TTFE last week and assuring themselves third place, this game was a real scrap for the top half of the table in that psychologically important fourth place slot. TTFE had relied this week on Chris Phillips, James Carling, Dave Weller, James Pugh, Paul Preece and Joe Newbury to bring home the bacon and avenge the 2-1 defeat suffered to their opponents earlier this season.
It was a familar strike partnership then for this game, with both Carling and Pugh leading the way for goals this season. Carling has been particularly effective on poaching and winning the goal near the goal, captialising well from this clever game of 'waiting for the mistake'. Not only that, he has bossed the centre and brought a new link between defence and attack that TTFE couldn't integrate previously. On the other wing, Pugh has seriously upped the gear on the targeting aspect of his game, bordering on the audacious and seemingly outragous with his attempts. This is not to discredit Mr. Pugh - as for all the cracks at goal he has had, he has perfected his shot to a sweet tee; creating a deadly striker's foot which finds the bottom corner at even the tightest of angles. His goal count will speak volumes for his season and will truly reflect his hard work and determination to change his game from a runaround Savage-esque type to an effective, clinical finisher. It is these two who once again gave shape to the game and led a confident front. Carling found it all too easy finishing his attempts in front of goal and the keeper's constant parrying was an early Christmas present for our new cool-as-you-like playmaking sensation. For Pugh a quick substitution rectified what was deemed to be a 'nightmare minute' for him, for as soon he left the field and quickly returned, his play was exceptional. At half time I believe the score was 3-1 or so and at this stage although TTFE dictated play they did not do enough to win this outright.
After half time, TTFE now needed to do something bold and new if they were to earn their first ever hammering - thats a hammering of another team, of course. They would have to battle against fatigue and continue the good run of '3 up, 3 back', which shown such promise in the first half. With three men leading the attack and a strong three men defence when the ball was going the other way TTFE looked confident. It was at this point that everything fell into place, whilst everything for HBFC fell apart. Phillips played an excellent game in moving on and off the ball and creating space, not to mention to playing intelligent balls onto the wingers beside him. He was instrumental in bringing about the gaps which TTFE exploited and he led by his usual example. In defence, Preece can stand even taller than usual with what was a towering performance. He may have been disappointed with himself in previous games but here his head never lowered, his game never faltered and was in the right place at the right time. Preece also made challenging runs whilst being covered adequately at the back, which has made this game the nearest TTFE have ever come towards playing a form of successul free-flowing, total football. Dave Weller was called upon in this game, despite the domination that TTFE enjoyed, and he did make some important saves at point blank range which once again won him some acclaim from his opposite number, in addition to the rest of the opposing team. Carling rounded off the game scoring the only penalty awarded to TTFE all season, for an infringement which did seem a little harsh on HBFC, who by this point were trying to salvage something meaningful from this game. The match ended 8-2.
I may hear you cry that this review resonates more of a glowing vindication of the TTFE players rather than a detailed analysis of what actually happened in the game. To address that claim, I can merely reply that this game was the embodiment of everything TTFE tried to do this season. More passing, more possession, more movement on and off the ball, more belief that the team can succeed. It was a game which finally moulded the raw talent of this bunch of lads and transformed it into a disciplined and confident team unit. HBFC had to accept fifth place and will be kicking themselves after their poor end to the season. Look out for their revenge when they next encounter TTFE! Here is to season five and a realistic objective of achieving promotion to Division Three.
Goals: Carling 3, Pugh 2, Phillips 2, Newbury 1.
Final Goal Tally: James Pugh takes this season's golden boot! Well done!James Pugh - 21
James Carling - 12
Chris Phillips - 9
Jon Ridout - 3
Joe Newbury - 3
Billy Collins - 2
Pat Davies - 1
Paul Preece - 1
