Ok - you are probably thinking when was the first time it turned out nice, but there have been perks in the history of TP, even though the result today wasn't one of the perks.
However, going through to the next round of the cup - massive perk!
The talk before the game was all about getting thrugh to the next round so that we could play 2 more games of football this season in the Quarters. To do that, a win would guaruntee TP being in the hat for the next round.
Going with the same formation that got the first leg win, the personnel did change, with Club Captain Helm returning to the fold and Nick reverting back to centre midfield.
But the most important factor in the game was a natural one - a week of rain! The Flats were in the poorest condition TP had ever seen them - it is fair to say that pigs would have been happier with the conditions!
But regardless, the game began and from the start the referee was quick on the whistle to prevent any serious injury. It wasnt going to be a game where any team could get a rhytm going and TP certainly weren't going to be able to repeat the good football that made them so dangerous in the first leg. And this caused TP problems.
ELT are a good team, and the last encounter was the first we had won and scored in - ELT wanted to avenge this and did with an early goal. ELT took advantage further and went 2-0 and 3-0 up before...
TP knew that a 2-0 down they were out of the cup, so the oranges (now in a new colour kit of mud brown!) began to up the ante. Pressure was now in the ELT half and a half clearance from the blues fell to Jesse - a player that in the early stages of his TP career told the coach he couldn't attack. Jesse picked up the ball in the ELT half from left back and surged forward into space. Seemingly unwisely, he took the ball inside onto his right foot, fooling us all into thinking any chance had passed. But with a swing of his right boot from 20yds the ball was buried in the far corner!
Hope sprung up in the TP ranks - one more goal would put us through on away goals but, not for the lack of trying, it didnt come.
A mad dash to the changing rooms at the full-time whistle to dry off and warm up Bear Grylls style ensued before word started to spead that TP may have been the 'best' loser behind Ecclesia or Harmony - the two teams being in the unenviable position of playing extra time.
It was a close call, but it was true - TP, by Jesse's one goal - were through to the Quarters.
Team:
S. Speroni;
D. Passfield, J. Helm (c), S. Balogun (T. Lindsay), J. Middleweek (1);
A. Aryanpour, C. Lindsay, N. Speroni;
N. Field, G. Goodhew (D. Spinola), F. Lindsay
Unused Sub:
C. Agbabiaka
Blog Writers Man of the Match:
No question - Jesse Middleweek - solid at the back, relished the conditions and scored a belter!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment