This year, the fixture list threw up the same opening day match up.
Our last outing saw us lose 5-1 against the team in black, and whilst we won on the opening day last year 2-1, we couldn't buy a win for a while afterwards!
But this is where history won't repeat on us.
A very new TP kicked off the season with no less than 3 starting debutants - Steve (Pinto), Rowan & Darryl (not including Sam Ranthe & Arsan who hardly featured last year) and 2 debutants on the bench - Gareth & Frankie.
Oh, and a modified kit to remind us of last years achievements and our ultimate aim for this season!
TP started strongly and spent the first 20mins camped in the Ecclesia half. There were nice spells of football and some strong individual play, especially from Nathaneal.
TP were looking dangerous. Through balls were being played into dangerous areas that, when relationships are more established, would have led to goals on a plate for the highly regarded Steve P, and whilst shots were not raining down on the Ecclesia goal, the pressure was building and corners were being won.
But whilst last season we needed what at times felt like dozens of chances to get a goal (unless Ferris was sniffing about!), Darryl whipped a ball in and it eventually fell to Sam B (right back!) to bury, despite calls for offside (which the Ref waved away due to the ball falling into Sam's path via an Ecclesia defender).
But, in TP style, we all switched off and made life hard, especially in the face of the wind which made its expected return to the Flats. Ecclesia took confidence from their pressure but some die hard defending in and around the box, as well as a fine one on one save from our own Green Giant kept TP going in at half time a goal to the good.
A couple of half time changes saw Trevor replace an excellent Sam R at left back and debutant goal provider Darryl make way for debutant Gareth, who moved up front with Nathaneal moving to the wide right position where he spent most of last season.
But Ecclesia started the stronger and oddly still were taking advantage of the wind that was now against them, with a hopeful shot hanging in the air before dropping onto the top of the bar.
Their pressure paid off when a good cross was put in for the Ecclesia striker to leap highest and bury. Even if marking had been tighter it would have been difficult to stop.
But this is where the new faces paid dividends, as while the old boys had been in this positon many times before, the new boys weren't affected and drove the team onwards.
TP picked up the pace and, as in the first half, took the game back to the opposition down the wings. Corners and throws were being won in dangerous area's and Ecclesia were beginning to get rattled again, to the extent of an Ecclesia player saying their formation of 4-2-1 wasn't working! No wonder, they felt like they were 4 players short - but they were all sitting in the middle of midfield.
2 more substitutions were made, and the tireless physical work of Steve and Nathaneal - both of whom caused endless problems for the opposition when on the ball, made way for Dan Spin and Frankie.
The football and pressure continued, but it was a strike from out of the blue that caught everyone - even his teammates - off guard! Gareth had very much kept himself to himself before the game and no-one knew what to expect from him - we know now! The ball dropped to Gareth some 40 yards plus from goal, and with one touch for control and a swing of his right boot, the ball flew goal bound so fast the goalkeeper shrunk into himself and was beaten. What have Walthamstow let go?
Moments later, a delicate but perfect through ball from Dan Spin found Calvin from the left wing, who showed great pace, strength and finishing to beat the goalkeeper.
A couple more chances fell, but Ecclesia still thought there was a way back and nearly found it but for Steve sprawling 6ft plus across his goal to save a clear cut chance with his head, which must have been enjoyable compared to the pain he experienced in the first half when he saved with another part of his anatomy (think just below the waist!).
Some more die hard defending after a physical encounter against a big team (that all in Orange relished) made sure TP got off to another winning start.
The challenge now is to keep the form going against new boys Tower Hamlets next week.
Team:
S. Speroni;S. Balogun (1), I. Howard, R. Clift, S. Ranthe (T. Lindsay);
C. Lindsay (1), A. Aryanpour, N. Speroni (c), D. Passfield (G. Goodhew (1));
S. Pinto (D. Spinola), N. Field (F. Dooknah);
Blog Writer Man of the Match:
A few outstanding performances (Steve S, Arsan, Nathaneal), but Rowan - on his debut - dominated the back line. Always encouraging, directing and getting to where he needed to be as well as ensuring TP played football from the back out.
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