Aldi don’t do Hollywood movie stars, but if they did they’d probably be called Kevin Divall – like a knock-off Robert Duvall Spartans 1 -1 Danson Albion Og 1-1 AET Spartans win 4-2 on pens It occurred to me during the week, that I am letting the power of relaying insignificant events, that happen in local parks on Sunday mornings get to my head. Like some sort of totalitarian despot, I am rewriting these snapshots of time to my desired outcome, much like the pig Napoleon in ‘Animal Farm’. Thus last week people may have thought that Kevin did nothing in the game and that Billy’s goal was a fluke. But knowledge is power and history is written by the winners – which explains why, as the old joke goes, all French history books are blank. It is also why few Englishmen, know about the disastrous attempt by Lawrence of Arabia to locate the mythical city of Wadi Al-Awi (Say that quickly with a cockney accent and you might get it). Yes I write these things so it’s my version that counts; don’t like it? Write your own. However, I will make one concession this week for the legions of people who log on to find out what Kevin got up to this Sunday morning. What follows is a comprehensive list of Kevin’s involvement in the game today; yes I really was writing it down throughout. Kevin made 6 catches and was forced to make 2 punches, there were 3 saves two of which were parried and one was caught. On 6 occasions Kevin had to tidy up long balls through that were over hit. Kevin kicked the ball from hand 12 times during the game, took 3 place kicks two of which were sent long and one was played short, he also threw the ball out once. Kevin received 3 back passes, 1 of which he scuffed and was under hit and two were dealt with appropriately. Kevin also swore at himself or other members of the team on 3 occasions and the one column that remained blank was fumbles, there were no fumbles. Plus in the penalty shoot out Kevin made a good save diving to his left. So Kevin you have nothing to moan about this week. What I will say is the relative lack of activity from Kevin this week shows just how much better Spartans were then their opponents, because the majority of those were chalked up in the first half. Anyway now that that’s out of the way let’s get down to the real business. After dispatching the B team last week in a comfortable, one sided victory, Spartans task in the Divisional Cup Quarter Finals was to face a Danson Albion side in bullish mood. From the very first whistle they were physical and offered plenty of verbal. All of the players lining up for Spartans could expect a stern examination of their courage and ability; that is all except Granger and Black who were up against Augustus Gloop, there was one point in the second half where his attempt to let the ball run across him saw the ball overtake him and leave him for dead, it was comedy gold. The opening exchanges were a gritty affair, neither side overly dominant in possession, with everything fiercely contested. Spartans perhaps edged the first twenty minutes, displaying a little more of an appetite to pass the ball around, but at times Cowling and Granger on the wings were a little guilty of overplaying and neither Phillips nor Roberts was provided with any decent ammunition. The only real opening came from a quick break that saw Roberts feed Phillips on the right hand side of the area, but the scrambling defence was good and Phillips’ effort was blocked and bounced kindly for the Danson keeper. There were also positive signs in the partnerships that are developing in all areas of the pitch. Granger and Roberts look to have a good understanding together, linking well on the right flank and D’Cruze and Read in the middle displayed great composure and an economical use of the ball. There is also much encouragement to be taken from the way Mizen has fitted in almost seamlessly at left back, providing a solid hand on the tiller in defence and valuable support going forward for Cowling. But it would be Spartans who would fall behind. Despite the only real chance for Danson up until that point being an opportunistic pounce on an under hit Divall clearance, which drew a fine tackle from the backtracking D’Cruze to save the day. The goal when it did come was rather fortuitous and certainly not intended. A left wing corner was swung in dangerously towards the near post, missed by everybody, defenders and attackers alike, it curled beyond Divall who was overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers in his six yard area. It was a cruel blow for Spartans and seemed to knock them off their stride for the following fifteen minute spell, a period of the game where they came close to falling further behind. Atoning for his error, Divall made a fine diving save to parry a low shot and also pushed over his cross bar a looping header. Danson would come to rue these wasted opportunities (Perhaps their tubby winger might read this and salivate at the word rue as he imagines a cheese sauce) as after weathering this torrid spell, during which Sandford and King had to marshal the defence stoically, Spartans would begin to take a stranglehold on proceedings. With Read and D’Cruze assuming control, Spartans were able to force the agenda more and more, but they would see good shooting chances squandered, inaccuracy being the Achilles heel of the attack as long range efforts went skewing off towards Sidcup and New Eltham. The best chance of then half would come to Phillips, who perhaps indecisive because of the awkward height of the ball, was caught in two minds as to whether to head or volley the ball did neither really and the chance was snuffed out. The second half would provide Spartans with the added bonus of shooting downhill and it was this advantage that would help Spartans to force their weary, leaden legged opponents on to the back foot throughout the second 45. There was no attacking outlet for Danson and any long balls forward were dealt with by King and his 50p shaped head (Not my words their keepers, of course he failed to see that his right foot was something of a gamble in the accuracy stakes) and Sandford alongside him was never stretched. Indeed the time afforded to Sandford was almost exploited perfectly by Cowling, who latched on to a diagonal ball from Sandford but saw his low effort hit the side netting. But it was encouraging for Spartans as it became evident that the Danson back four, led by the psycho number 6 a la Jason Statham in Mean Machine, were ragged and were constantly panicking under pressure. And Spartans’ equaliser would come as a result of their inability to clear their lines effectively. Working the left flank Spartans forced a corner, after the clearance was hashed, Read sent a left footed cross back in to the danger area. Indecision between goal keeper and psycho saw a miscued header (And he reckoned Kingy had a 50p head) float over the keeper and into the net, the third time that Spartans have profited from an own goal this season. The equaliser should have heralded more goals and indeed on another day it may well have done but for a combination of wastefulness and good goal keeping. Cowling almost scored a worldy with a 30 yard chip that was turned wide by a backtracking keeper and Phillips and Roberts were denied by a number of last ditch tackles and blocks. Granger saw a couple of long range efforts fly off target and even D’Cruze, normally so shot shy, had a couple of efforts on goal, one of those a half volley that drew a good save from the keeper. Roberts was also denied by a fine save after Phillips teed him up on the edge of the area, Roberts’ low effort was somehow turned over for a corner. The closest Spartans would come was from a corner though, as Read attacking the ball with a soaring leap saw his goal ward header cleared off the line by a defender on the back post. Goals could have come from all sorts of unlikely sources. Even Mizen late on was rampaging down the left, nearly generating a shooting opportunity, and Black surging on from right full back squeezed round the outside only to be denied by desperate defending. It hardly seemed credible that the game should have gone to extra time considering the battering that the Danson defence had taken. Spartans introduced Selby for Black, perhaps to provide a greater source of delivery as well as an injection of fresh legs, as Danson were looking dead on their feet. And Selby too would have a good opportunity as a smartly worked free kick slipped Selby in behind the defence but his low effort was again turned away. A further substitution saw the introduction of Jakkari for Phillips, who trudged off for a well earned cigarette. The arrival of more pace created even more problems for Danson, with Jakkari committing defenders before slipping in Roberts whose tame finish looped up comfortably for the keeper. There was another good chance for Roberts in extra time as a Granger cross fell invitingly on to Roberts’ left foot, but the volley miraculously stayed out after another fine save and Cowling could not generate enough power on the header to follow up. One final chance would come for Jakkari who following D’Cruze’s precise pass fired his shot into the side netting. And so on to the dreaded penalty shoot out. It takes a man to step up to take a penalty, the sort of man who would go into the Australian Jungle and eat all sorts of weird shit. So it was just as well that Spartans had used their final substitution to bring on their Alfonso Ribeiro look alike, Lewis. I offered my best advice for this situation, which was” try not to hit it straight at the keeper” but ultimately it would come down to the five brave souls who put themselves forward. Spartans would have the first penalty and that responsibility fell on the shoulders of their founder Cowling. Heart beat. Tension. The peep of a whistle. Bang! Straight in to the top corner, an emphatic start for Spartans. Danson would also get off to a good start a low one beyond Divall’s dive. Next up Roberts, so often so cocksure, so often a cock, rolled it right in to the corner. Advantage Spartans. Next up: psycho number 6. Wide! He dragged it beyond the post; it now came down to D’Cruze to extend the advantage. Giving the eyes he calmly slotted it straight down the middle and the score was 3-1 Spartans. Making the long walk, or to be more accurate waddle forward was Gloop. After a less than memorable 120 minutes his next six seconds were just as bad. Saved by Divall, sprawling to his left he cemented the position for Spartans. And so captain Sandford would have the chance to put an end to it all, but it was saved and a glimmer of hope was handed to Danson. They maintained their chance with the conversion of their fourth penalty and so Lewis who hadn’t touched the ball in his brief substitute’s appearance would have the chance to send Spartans in to the semi finals. The tension was unbearable but unfazed his low effort cannoned in to the post, and in! Jubilation, as the players and fans swarmed on to the field, really how weird was that a bunch of kids joining in with it all. And so breathless and with nerves shredded Spartans could take stock and look forward to the next round. I tell a lie it wasn’t that tense and the victory was more than deserved. Man of the match is a tough choice again but Granger was tireless again and was pivotal in the majority of the attacks.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 15:40:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015