Our fourth game and Rob had said he wants us to win this game. To get our season going, even though, with our first three games lost, we weren’t bottom of the table. We haven’t let in as many as some other teams.
Rob had both his true left footers missing for today’s game, and Dave was still out with an injury. Rob had his doubts about the starting line up, as Rich had a knee problem, Neil a cold and Stu still carrying a knock on his ankle. Rob was still able to pick a good side - Andy & Nick up front, Neil and Paul-s in defence and Mike in goal, with Rich, Daren, Derrick, Rob, Mark and Matt playing too.
Again we had a real ref, he was to have a good game, with a lot to do. Early on Matt tackled their keeper, he went down, when he got back up, was hobbling. The ref gave Wedlocks a free kick. From where I was I thought the keeper managed to jump over Matt, but Matt confirmed after the game he just caught him with his shin pads. There were quite a few incidences like that, with the game being stopped. What with people tackling late. One such time was when Rich and Derrick both went for the same ball. Rich didn’t hear that Derrick had called for it – they clashed heads. Derrick was worst off, after a few minutes he was back on his feet. Mike also was spoken to by the ref as he and come out to collect the ball, and said ‘Mine’ or something, and the ref said he wanted to have a name next time.
There were quite a lot of corners, and about 20 minutes into the game Andy Scored his first of two headed goals from corners. About 10 minutes later, Nick hit a through ball through Wedlocks defence, which Andy was able to run onto, he then ran around the keeper and scored.
At half time we were 3-1 up, Rob asked Derrick if he was OK from his head clash, and asked everyone if any of them had any knocks, but the team were all OK.
We went out and continued to play, not great football, but team football. I think they scored, so we only had a one goal lead. Stu came on to replace Matt on the right wing, and unlike his normal game – he managed to get a touch of the ball straight away. During the game Wedlocks managed to hit the woodwork and the goalpost from a header and shot. Again like the first half there were a few corners, and on one Stu managed to get his foot to the ball, but not on target.
The funniest part of the game was once, when we were attacking, I think it was Andy he’d just got into the 18yd box, and a defender came at him. Tackled, but the tackle was too strong, and the ball flew off the defender, over the fencing and straight through a window.
Nick scored again, I think he too took it around the keeper. Rob had a shot – but none of the Argonauts really acknowledged it!