Rose and Thistle FC 3 v 6 East Court             (Surrey Cup 1st Round)

WELL....WHAT A DAY !

Thursday night training threw up some some idea as to what to expect on Sunday when Holman, Gray, Jack, Goacher, Gadsen, all unavailable & Toni didn’t turn up. Forward wind to Sunday morning.

The team, only worked out 1 min before kick off, was ever changing. “Cup Cake “ Conetta still hadn’t turned up which meant Davison had to go in goal, and that was at 10:29. Winnard turned up around 10:25 and Graeme Bunce was no where to be seen. We had a new player, Pat, thank god, but he was not prepared for what was to happen in the match. The team this week Davison, Marsden, Lindley, Oakey, Winnard, Gadsen, Harris, Miller, Scales, Marshall, Waygood.

1st Half - Within the 1st minute of the game East Courts plan was to run at Thistle, this they did with great effect and forcing Davison to have his first touch of the ball in trying to keep out a corner. East Court had several 1 on 1 ‘s but Davison kept them at bay. First blood, surprisingly, came to Thistle. Build up on the right with Marshall ended up with a throw in. The throw was expertly placed onto Shinners head, and with a deft glance it ended up in the back of the net ,1-0 Thistle. East Court had several 1 on 1 ‘s but Davison kept them at bay. Second blood, surprisingly, came to Thistle. Build up on the right with Marshall ended up with a throw in. The throw was expertly placed onto Shinners head, and with a deft glance it ended up in the back of the net 2-0 Thistle.                    HOLD ON A MINUTE - Groundhog Day? YES.                           Other chances were made, with East Court on the back foot we could have extended the score, there was even a disallowed goal for offside. However, the small crack in the dam appeared with a corner coming over from the left and a player unmarked headed the ball past Davison. Really Davison should have got to it but didn’t - 2-1 Thistle. Marshall at this stage hobbling, Oakey complaining of a stiff leg and Gadsen looking out of sorts. Harris was also looking heavy legged...Was there a club party the night before as Winnard kept needing water every 10 mins?? Ref Blew , Half Time.

2nd Half - With Oakey and Marshall coming off it didn’t look good. We looked tired and the shape of play meant we were all over the shop...BUT more was to come.

Second half started, 2-1 up and looking nervous. East Court seemed to have realized that by running and shooting they might actually score goals...and this they duly did. 47th min a long shot from outside the area with two defenders looking at him pinged its way towards the inside of the post - 2-2. 49th Min a break down the left, cut in side a fired the ball past the Davison onto the right hand post, which it duly hit before sliding over the line 2-3. More to come... 50th min another shot from just inside the box Davison should have got it 2-4 !! Within 5 mins were were all over the place. But wait...there’s more, their 5th was a deflection, a shot from outside the box, Davison thought he had it covered until Winnard got his studs onto it and over it flew into the net 2-5. Must I go on??? yep. Now I think we scored next, we seemed to pick ourselves up and play football, Gadsen out of his trance, crossed the ball over and Scales slamming home the ball. WHAT, I hear you cry, did I read that right? You sure did, but just in case, here it is again....Scales slamming home the ball, 3-5. We had several more chances to close the gap, two big attempts cleared off the line but it was only time before another break on the right ended up with a volley, Davison just tipping it onto the cross bar only for the ball to bounce down and up, just into the net, 3-6 East Court. To round it off they hit another shot onto the post and it rolled back along the line and over 3-7. Someone once said we are Portsmouth in disgiuse..well actually more like Gillingham who always let 2 or 3 goals leads slip. 

It seems to me we always get spanked once in a season and for it to happen in the cup is good...anyway who wanted to travel to tooting in the next round?? Davison had a chat with the ref after who pointed out how unlucky with the crossbar and the posts he was, but was amazed we were 2-0 up at one point. He thought Davison kept them in it in the first half...Shame he didn’t in the second !

M.O.M - Well, with such an under par performance it has to be the Captain himself, wading in with 2 goals. Even more so considering they weren’t off his shin. Well done Shinner Waygood.

Bit disappointed, not about the result but more about the lack of knowing our starting 11 even at 10:25. Can I say, if you can’t make it or are turning up late LET ME KNOW. If you are playing, get to the ground at 10am, I have to complete the team sheet work out who’s here etc.. and it takes time... 

ROUND 2, YOU CAN KEEP IT, (Until next year that is)