Despite 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.
James Pugh's five goal frenzy inspired TTFE in an astonishing comeback to beat title chasers Sheila's Wheels.
Perceptions in football often have more power than people give them credit for. Points clearly state the winners from the losers, but it is not often that Watford can challenge Manchester United for the Premiership, so perceptions keep battles relative and more on an even keel. If Watford can secure a draw against the Mancunian giants, that is most definitely a point earned not two points lost. Last week, whilst it might have been fair to grab a point, we could look back and see it as two points most definitely lost because we competed to win, and the points were there for the taking. Perceptions bring realism into the game plan, give hope for another day on deserved hammerings and bring shame when points are lost to teams which should never conquered you.
On the approach to the game, the opposition were on fire in their first game and took the league top spot. A point in this game might have been appreciated on the basis of this game. As the game began however, it was anybody's game. Perceptions are then thrown out of the window - thoughts of 'we are holding them this long' make you think that a win is on the cards. The game was full of nerves and completely unattractive to the crowd, as it consisted of long shots, heavy defensive play and limited risk-taking. When TTFE began to play some better football, including some 1-2 passes and positive runs, especially from temporary player Karl, it was this which became their undoing. They conceded after a sloppy error, but then soon after conceded once more, after being caught out on a good move on the break. Sheila's Wheels then piled on the pressure, getting nearer and nearer to the goal now they had a foot in the door, and TTFE fought to get back into the game. Although the defence were above average in their defending and some good saves were forced, it was 2-0 at the break and the lads were in trouble. Mainly because they just didn't look like scoring.
After the interval the lads tried to up their game but straight away were left breathless as immediately the opposition struck from the halfway line and scored. TTFE claimed that they hadn't heard a whistle and that they were not ready. Firstly the referee was in two minds whether to give us the benefit of the doubt, but he eventually decided that he did indeed fail to open the game and the goal was disallowed. A lucky escape for TTFE who, despite the error of the referee, looked nowhere near ready to resume the game. After that moment of chance, TTFE fell victim to the attack once more in chasing the scoreline. They left a man unmarked, and he gave Dave Weller no chance in hell with a fierce shot at goal. 3-0 now and TTFE must have thought that a point in this game would have been the best they could do. But after some dogged play and stick-at-it-edness Pugh found the breakthrough to make it 3-1. It seemed like a goal to spare the blushes of a side who just couldn't find the net that night. But it actually opened the floodgates to a goal bonanza, courtesy of the same man, James Pugh. The opposition just lost all shape and defence after the first, and Pugh continued to appear in dangerous places unmarked and slotted home with a cool head. Pugh even scored on a single run on one occasion, to give an example of this transformation. Sheila's Wheels replied again, but by this point no-one at all knew what was going on. We thought we were fighting for pride, but Pugh just kept scoring. After a controversial goal to nick it however, we just didn't know whether the referee was going to announce TTFE as the victors. The opposition called a sub and went ahead with it, but the referee did not acknowledge it all. Weller throw the ball as normal and Pugh picked up as normal. Pugh was thinking of stopping (as most of us were) but soon we realised no whistle had been blown, so then TTFE screamed 'Play on', so we did. Pugh virtually walked the ball to the net past a protesting Sheila's Wheels side who were adamant of their call for a substitution. With the goal given (and in my personal recollection, only a draw secured when actually we were winning) we shut up shop. With a tense few moments left, we held on for the win.
So with that remarkable victory in mind, maybe next week we can only expect a win. Next week TTFE face HBFC, the bottom side who we have a 100% record against, not to mention a side who differ in form drastically to ours. The perception here is that 3 points here is a must. But we must also air with caution, for as we learnt on the pitch - perception is left on the sidelines as you take the pitch. When you get down to the game and all the nitty-gritty of it, its anyone's for the taking. HBFC will know that this Sunday.
A deserved stalemate was the result of this explosive opening game between TTFE and DafBoots.
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 4th 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 TTFEstrengthened 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! :)
What is going on in the TTFE social scene this Spring?
Now that the shackles of winter have been cast off so that we can all begin to frolic in the sun, TTFE has been at the forefront in the queue for a brand new pair of sexy sunglasses. Thats right, our fantastic community is showing no signs of slowing down now that we near Summer 2007.
The end of 2006 and the birth of 2007 was filled with typical TTFE random activity, from meal get-togethers to singing our nation's anthem. First of all, Plasmo organised a Karting evening in November where his Michael Schumacher antics were on show for all to see, as he.. ahem... took a medal, but only after his "legal pass" on a fellow competitor. He didn't mind tho, he took his prize with little regret! Dale also got a medal, but TTFE failed to get the gold this time around. At Xmas, we celebrated with a traditional TTFE meal, complete with WAGs, carved turkey and a few drinks. It was a shame that we were all on separate tables, but we had a good time nonetheless! In the new year, I hosted the second pool tournament, dubbed Poolmania II. Greg once more grabbed the silverware, but this time he had to fight against improved competition, not to mention the newbies Karl, Jon Pride, Mikey Pinto, Dave Weller and Pat. It was Pat who eventually forced him to play to his best in a climatic final and he also received a generous cash prize. And finally, over the past month Plasmo got us all out on a 'Stay-out-or-don't-bother' evening into Cardiff town, where we all had a good time and all stayed out until after midnight as proposed! Despite the weather a good TTFE crowd came along and witnessed the now infamous 'Weller Wiggle', which is YouTube's latest video hit!
As for the games, player partcipiation is now at it's peak. Everyone is taking turns to pick the teams every week and come up with unique team names. Not only have the games been fairer, but they have been a lot closer and hellava lot more competitive. And with the stats for every single variant available courtesy of Dale, TTFE have now given OPTA a real run for their money.
Now we look to the future, there are many more things to do and take part in. Word on the street is that Karl is in the process of organising a poker night in the next months to come, whilst my new baby, TTFE Pub Golf, is in the pipeline and will be underway on a Friday night sometime in May. I am also partly organising the next Poolmania, which I hope to get sorted for sometime in May/June judging on availability. Remember if you do have any ideas which you can bring into fruition either by yourself or with a little help, please just post into the forum and we'll see what we can do. No matter how zany some ideas are, just put them up - we have seen some mad ones in our time! I think Plasmo's surfing idea has still gone unnoticed.....
