A Spring in the arm and a shot in the step. If King Arthur really did set forth for the Holy Grail, then surely if he set foot in modern times he would look no further than the Woolwich and Eltham Sunday Football Alliance. There are a plethora of cups, cups coming out of our ears; so many cups you could fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. I’m sure therefore, that old Artie would have doubtless found Jesus’ discarded coffee mug among them. This time it was the preliminary round of the Divisional Cup and the opponents were FC Kray. After a hotly contested game in the league, it seemed set to be a stern test for Spartans, resplendent in their new red kits; especially considering the heralding of Hurricane Barry (I think unlike Americans we should name our storms in a slightly understated truly English fashion like Barry or Ernie, maybe Simon, they seem good choices, unlike the Americans with their dramatic Katrina and Ivan – anti-Russian sentiments there?). Anyway, Spartans were greeted to a beautiful open field, soft green grass well trimmed, perfectly suited to a fast paced high intensity game. If the early exchanges were anything to go by it would be a tough game. Although no clear cut chances were created by either side, there was a fierce contest that ensued from the opening whistle. It was clear to see though where the main threat would be posed from Kray and down the wings it was not, although their main source of effort was being dealt with comfortably by Dilley who looked imperious in the air. From early viewing, it was also clear to garner the fact that their lack of pace and quality in wide positions could be their Achilles heel, leaving their centre backs exposed to the pace; it seemed counter intuitive then, that they should persist in playing such a high line. The first chance of any note to come was from Kray and it was more through grit than any craft or design. Working some space deep in midfield a diagonal ball was headed goalwards by their centre forward – who for me was their brightest player – thankfully for Spartans Divall, looking anything but pretty in pink (when does he ever look pretty?) snaffled the ball as it flew straight into his midriff. Spartans then began to show a little naivety in attack; early runs that could have been timed better cost them good opportunities. Both Amor and Roberts were guilty, with Roberts particularly culpable. It was criminal, given the exposed nature and the sluggish footfalls of the Kray rearguard, to be so profligate with their opportunities to wreak havoc. Atonement would come as surely as night follows day and it would be Roberts the architect of Spartans first chance and goal. A hopeful ball down the left hand side was not properly dealt with; Roberts not allowing his opponent to settle was on it in a flash of immaculately cropped hair, like a Fox at a Bantam meeting. Stealing possession he drove onwards to the box committing defenders all the time, then somewhat out of character in an act of complete selflessness Roberts squared to the onrushing Black, supporting well from the right hand side. Black was left with the simple task of side footing in from no more than ten yards and finished with no great fuss. From this point Spartans began to play like the English at Agincourt – 1415 if memory serves me correctly, it usually does – spurred onwards by this good fortune, they went onwards in to the breach in the spirit of St George (I think he is also the patron saint of Bosnia). A golden dawn to match the colour of the fading foliage on the touchline was upon them, a moment of greatness when the superlative is all that can be used to describe the grace and vim of the football on display. It would be Granger who would profit next from this tidal surge. A long free kick to the edge of the box was flicked on by Cowling, helped on further by Amor and Granger sneaking in round the back calmly finished with great precision settling the ball into the back of the net. Yet more was to come. Beginning to dominate in midfield, some neat play from Carrano allowed D’Cruze time to pick his pass. I hate the expression slide rule pass; much like instant control it doesn’t really describe the action. This pass however, was straight as an arrow and well weighted splitting the cumbersome defence like the Walls of Jericho (Refer to Deuteronomy somewhere or other). Roberts for once onside cruised through and with a sense of composure up until that point lacking, picked his spot and tucked the ball inside the post. Glorious like the sunshine, Spartans were cruising but perhaps the intensity dropped from that point. One too many liberties were being taken with Granger at left full back culpable. Here’s a piece of advice, when you’re up against a shit player the best way to make them look as shit as they are, is to play your normal game, that way you run them ragged and demoralise them. Kray then began to establish the closest they would come to a foothold on the mountain, no Edmund Hillary are they. Some long balls in to the box were not always dealt with in the utmost comfort by King or Sandford and Divall himself was called in to action to punch clear. D’Cruze also made a fine covering tackle, that was both crucial and had it been mistimed would have been a game changer. There was also a Bobby Moore-esque challenge from Sandford that was pleasing to watch. And so the moment that provided the first Kray goal, Kevin if you want to skip the next paragraph I understand. I had been remarking on the sidelines with both Dawson and Read about how much Divall has improved in the time since I have been at this club. How much more confident and assured he is and the punch previously described was testament to that. But this, this was something else and drew some embarrassed looks all round. Kray’s only real attacking weapon was pumped through from a free kick around halfway. Arcing nicely into the cold October air it was if anything over hit. “Keeper’s Ball!” Was the cry, the exclamation from the sweeping numero uno. He flopped on it secure in his midriff the ball rested and danger averted… I began to think; until squirming like a greased up Filipino at Bar GAY, it wriggled free of his clutches and chaos ensued, allowing the grateful and doubtless bemused Kray forward to sot home the goal. Kevin you are in good company so here’s something that might cheer you up; or just compound the misery, I hope it’s the latter youtube/watch?v=IyDaPd9gA-8. Half time was gratefully received shortly afterwards and allowed Spartans time to regroup and concentrate on what they had excelled at in the first half. It had been encouraging how the link between the full backs and their wingers had provided a good platform for Spartans in attack and it was obvious the way to exploit the Kray frailties. Cowling for one was playing with an energy that had been lacking in some previous performances this season and was beginning to really show his class, the hunger and drive that was in combination on the right between Dilley and Black was also hugely encouraging and there was no need for panic in the Spartan ranks going in to the second half. They would though receive the most ridiculous of helping hands shortly after the interval. After an innocuous challenge from Cowling, fury and rage were spat out by the Kray centre half. One yellow card was forthcoming from the referee, then bizarrely the verbal onslaught continued and within twenty seconds he was given his marching orders. Perhaps it takes longer for such a Neanderthal to compute that shouting at the ref gets yellow, continuing to shout gets second yellow Oh! That makes red! Bravo, now my petulance in the earlier meeting between the two sides doesn’t seem so daft. Spartans would capitalise in ruthless fashion and it would be Carrano who would join Black in making the score sheet for the first time this season. Quick thinking from a free kick inside their own half, Spartans played the ball quickly and crisply forward and it was Roberts who flicked an intelligent ball into the path of the swashbuckling Carrano, who showed poise and deftness with his lob over the goal keeper. At 4-1 the game was in the bag, but Kray to their credit were a game bunch and never stopped fighting and they would exploit some lazy tackling from King in the right back area to reduce the deficit once more. Although game efforts by Divall to block the initial close range effort and almost stop the subsequent follow up the ball was scrambled over the line and the score pegged back to 4-2. But Spartans were not finished and with Kray sending men forward they could be picked off at ease and it was the rampaging Granger at left back who would provide the coup de grace for Spartans. After Cowling diligently tracked back he was able to launch a probing counter attack down the right hand side, working the ball on to Roberts who in turn found Granger, who showed us all how to finish in textbook style, calm, precise and accurate 5-2 and should have been more afterwards. Roberts missed a good opportunity when one on one and Amor was guilty of the worst miss on the follow up, allowing the defender time to make a last ditch tackle. There were times when Amor was unplayable in the game but all too often the final decision let him down. Thankfully it would not prove costly. Spartans were guilty thereafter of not timing their runs properly and for the last five minutes the linesman showcased his semaphore skills. Including a couple of gems: “he wasn’t in his own half” after Roberts had been standing on the line and “all three of them were offside”, including the man who played the pass? It will take some much head scratching to work that one out that I’ll be down to the skull and touching brain by seven this evening. So Spartans advance. Man of the match today for me was Divall, only joking, D’Cruze looked good in midfield and his screening at times was impressive, plus the bonus of an assist and goal saving tackle. Shout out for Roberts, Granger and Cowling all impressive in attack.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:08:11 +0000
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