What's the word?... Bouncebackability!

Going into the game against Walthamstow, confidence was surprisingly high coming off the back of 3 defeats.

The Gaffer was not present, nor was his right hand man Trevor, although thier instructions had been passed on and Trevor’s “First 3” mantra was beginning to stick!

Jesse, Darryl and Gareth all started with a point to prove against the club that had loaned them out.

The Oranges – this week in the navy of Springfield – began the stronger, with what could have been the most historic moment in their brief (but long enough!) history…
A corner was won on the right by TP and the ball fell to Dan Spin at the edge of the box. Nick - at centre back so safely out of the way of any goal scoring opportunities - wandered forward in to a position to create an option for Dan, which Dan took.
With one touch to tee and a swing of the left boot… CROSSBAR! And down… Over the line? Who knows! A case will be put to the NELECL for goal line technology.

The game balanced out and slowly – with a returning wind to the Flats – Walthamstow started to apply constant pressure from a dangerous throw-in assault. With the ball being flung to the back post on each occasion, there was hardly any let up or defence, just an ugly scrap to get it away on each occasion. There were many calls for fouls, pushing, flaying arms but a watching Ref always ensured that 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other meant there was no advantage to either team.

But it was always coming and it was 0–1 with a long throw to back post and bundled in.

But was that the spur needed for TP? The style of play was exact opposite of Walthamstow, and a spell of awesome short passing involving Dan, Ferris and Darryl was finished by Greg on his starting debut. It was a deserved equaliser.

An unfortunate moment followed when Gareth pulled up with a thigh injury. He was replaced by Nat Field, who had been incredibly unfortunate not to start.

The wind continued to be a factor, and whilst we had finally come to terms with the throws, a freak punt from just inside the TP half off of a clearance by Steve bounced perfectly between John and Steve to loop over the stranded man in green.

Half Time, and defensively not overly tested bar the throw-ins. Surely with the wind against these wouldn’t be effective in the second half?

Another change made at half time saw Arsan come on for an impressive Greg.

The half again started positively and more direct, and it wasn’t too long before a dummied shot by Ferris (we know that was the plan all along!) was actually an inch perfect pass to Nathaneal to bury to make it 2-2.

The 3rd change of the game saw Calvin for Ferris.

Just when we thought we had seen the end of the aerial barrage… Penalty! The Ref was always going to give one, and it was Steve that conceded. It was harsh, and this only riled the giant further, and with a word from an un-named Walthamstow defector, Steve – even though wrong footed at first – recovered with a Gordon Banks-esqe save, diving to his bottom left to tip the ball up and round the post. Not stopping there, Steve then made another sprawling save to his left, this time keeping out a pile driver from a well worked corner. Could this be the turning point?

In form reminiscent of a former Swedish England manager, David replaced Nick in the 4th change of the match, and made an energetic start to rile the opposition and stir his team-mates into action… but… Penalty! This time Arsan conceded while defending a counter attack. There were few complaints, and a new penalty taker only just beat Steve, who guessed right and so nearly successfully. 2-3 – TP were behind for the 3rd time.

With the aforementioned Gaffer and right hand man absent, it fell to the Coach to make the call to go all out to get back into the game, going with a tactical change to 3-4-3, with the front line being made up of Calvin, Nat & Sam B.

And it paid off, with pressure leading to several corners and finally a corner from Arsan to the back post, which was met by Dave and put back into the mix for the Wanderer Balogun to bury… 3-3!

With only 15mins left, TP reverted back to a more solid Back to basics of 4-4-2.

The final change was made for TP, with Dan Ong coming on for a hard working Frankie on the left wing. And the first thing he did was rough up a couple of the Walthamstow big guys with some solid, full bodied tackles.

And then it happened…

4-3! TP took the lead for the first time in the game and it truly was deserved for a grafting, yet at times gorgeous, display. Nat Field, in classic Football Bloopers style, rounded (or was it went through?) the fumbling goalkeeper and took an eternity to put the ball away – but away it went!

It was sealed in the dying moments from another Aryanpour corner and this time it was Sideshow Dan taking the main stage, thumping home from close range.


Team:

S. Speroni;
S. Balogun (1), J. Helm, N. Speroni (c) (D. Hambridge), J. Middleweek;
D. Passfield, D. Spinola (1), G. Perkins (1) (A. Aryanpour), F. Dooknah (D. Ong);
G. Goodhew (N. Field (2)), F. Lindsay (C. Lindsay);


Blog Writer Man of the Match:

Take your pick from penalty hero Steve, 2 goal hero Nathaneal, inspirational club captain John Helm, supersub Arsan (forgetting the penalty!).
My pick... a sterling, solid and passionate display from Jesse Middleweek. Never in awe of those he knows so well and inside out, he stood up to be counted and was praised by team-mates, opposition and supporters alike.