TP Join the Big Time!

With several players returning and several players being unavailable, it was a much changed team that took to the field against the defending champions.

Ian – birthday boy & skipper for the day - and Nick started as the centre back pairing, with Dan Ong making his second consecutive start at right back. A five man midfield saw Calvin, Nathaneal and Gareth partner up in the middle for the first time, with Darryl on the right hand side and David slotting in on the left to man mark the Blackhorse playmaker – training out all that way with Blackhorse has it’s advantages!

Some last minute alterations to the starting line up seemed to take the wind out of the TP sails for the opening period however, and it was backs to the wall from kick-off. And just as TP were settling down there was an early set back when a through ball was played leaving Blackhorse Road’s giant of a striker against our very own Green Giant. The striker made a complete hash of the finish, but so unexpected was it that it caught Steve off guard who couldn’t quite tip it round the post.

But rather than collapse, TP actually got a grip on the game. Whilst this did mean defending with everything and the kitchen sink, and Steve seemingly exchanging his hands for frying pans to get to at time a barrage of shots and crosses, Calvin in the holding position was starting to take some of the pressure of the back line by winning tackles and headers that were 70-30 in the Blackhorse players favour. This allowed Nat to play and start picking passes out into the Blackhorse half.

Such was the confidence in the team that the defending was looking increasing solid, the play worked its way closer and closer to the Blackhorse goal. Not that we needed to get too close with Calvin hammering shots off from 30-40yrds that had all in Black worried!

A change was needed midway through the first half, with an incredibly unfortunate Gareth suffering a heavy tackle which aggravated his only just recovered thigh injury. Frankie came on to join Ferris up front. This coincided wit a tactical change pushing Jesse on to left midfield and David to left back.

Unlike the first 15mins, TP were now playing closer to the half way line, winning tackles and starting attacks from there. Dan Ong got a taste for the action at right back, making full bodied tackles and chasing the ball down into the midfield, and Jesse was enjoying more room to play down the left. But, in spite of the missiles being unleashed from Calvin, TP couldn’t get close enough to the Blackhorse Road goal to increase our chances of getting a deserved goal.

For all the play and possession we were having, Blackhorse were still creating problems and a second goal did come before half time.

A re-group at half time was used to really drive home the positives from the half, and with fresh legs ready on the sidelines and raring to make an impact, there was real belief that the second half could be won by the Oranges.

Changes were made as the half progressed, Dan Ong was replaced by Dan Spin (Darryl moved to right back) and Trevor replaced Ferris.

Defending was still impeccable, with a standout tackle from Ian inside the penalty box and – as per standard – several glorious saves from Steve. But the attack was becoming more and more dangerous. David and Darryl were finding more room to break and start moves from the back into the midfield and beyond, Dan Spinola was pivotal in several spells on great one touch passing that resulted in Jesse and Calvin getting behind the Blackhorse Road defence, whilst Trevor was doing all the – in the most glamorous sense of the term – donkey work in hassling and tackling and suffocating the Blackhorse attacks. The highlights of the half being a sensational spell of passing down the left involving Dave, Dan, Frankie and Jesse and a thunderous volley from David after good play by Jesse down the left that – had it gone in – would have surely taken the title of TPs Greatest Ever Goal off of Dan Spinola.

A final throw of the dice saw an unfortunate Nat make way for Sam B. But, as per previous weeks, where earning a point wasn’t out of the question, the quest was blown apart by two breaks that put Blackhorse 4 goals to the good.

The post match analysis was dominated by one statement – the Blackhorse camp were asking themselves why the poor performance, to which the manager replied that it only seemed a poor performance because of the way TP took the game to them and played some of the best football we have ever seen in the Orange shirts.

Oh… but you are probably thinking how could we have joined the Big Time if we lost the game?

Well…
Ø all the Premier League clubs have one…
Ø the majority – if not all - of Football League clubs have one…
Ø no-one in the NELCEL has one…

What is it?

A Club Mascot in the shape of WigWam!

We’ve hit the big time now boys!
Samuel Howard – you will go down in history.

On a serious note – our thoughts and prayers remain with Rowan’s friend Jason’s family.

Team:

S. Speroni;
D. Ong (D. Spinola), I. Howard (c), N. Speroni, J. Middleweek;
D. Passfield, N. Field (S. Balogun), C. Lindsay, D. Hambridge;
F. Lindsay (T. Lindsay), G. Goodhew (F. Dooknah);

Blog Writers Man of the Match:

No question - Calvin Lindsay. Nuff said!