- DATE 6th Feb 05
- OPPOSITION Redfield Rangers
- GROUND Away
The
team known as The Argonauts Reserves turned up bright and early at Hanham High
School ready for the days fixture against Redfield Rangers, looking to avenge a
6-2 defeat earlier in the season and looking to build on the previous weeks 8
– 0 win over Fusion City. The full compliment of 14 players waited in the car
park for a bit, and then in the changing rooms for a little bit more before the
kit arrived with a mere 10 minutes before KO. A few changes were made from the
previous week, with Paul Asensio starting up front and hoping to add to his two
goals against Fusion. After impressing last week Paul White had a chance to make
the Right Wing back position his own, with Ian Jay taking up the Left Wing back
position. Another alteration was the call up of Mark Niblett to replace Neil
Gardiner in goal.
Due
to the presence of youngsters on adjacent pitches, we were warned to keep our
language in check and the game duly began on a muddy, but not unplayable pitch.
Unfortunately we didn’t appear to link the referees whistle with the game
starting and within twenty minutes we found ourselves 3 down due basically to
not really passing very much, or defending very much. Paul Asensio repaid the
managers faith by getting one back finishing from a tight angle, and it was
hoped that that would be the catalyst for a come back. Not so. A rasping
Redfield free kick stung Niblett's hands and in context with the rest of the
game their striker was first to react and slotted home. Half time, 4 –1 down,
it looked a tough task but in keeping with the renewed spirit within the camp,
and a few tough words from Pete and Tom we headed out determined to at least
show what we can do.
The
Argonauts started brightly and played some neat football, but in unfortunate
circumstances conceded the first goal of the 2nd half to Rangers. A
penalty was dispatched with keeper Niblett unable to keep it out despite getting
a hand on it. That was surely it. Or so you would think. From my position on the
field I couldn’t quite work out what happened in the next ten minutes or who
scored, but with 15 minutes to go it was 5 – 5. With Matt Scott rising like a
Salmon to claim his first Argo’s goal with his head, and a few other goals
from some other people we had clawed our way back into it. That was it. We’ll
sit in and make sure that we don’t concede and go home happy with a point.
However some people didn’t read that ‘defenders’ script (Cookey, Ian and
Locke being the ringleaders most likely) and pushed on for the victory. Somebody
else scored and in the final few minutes Ashley Locke coolly converted a penalty
making the final score 7 – 5.
Congratulations to Ashley Locke for his Hat-Trick (4 goals
in 2 games), Cookey for his brace (4 goals in 2 games) and Paul Asensio and Matt
Scott for getting the other two. Also well done to stand in Keeper Mark Niblett,
who in tricky conditions made some good stops, and at important times in the 2nd
half held firmly onto the ball ensuring that the deficit was kept to a minimum.
For the second week running Ashley Locke claimed the Man of the Match award,
with Matt Scott gaining votes for another true Roy Keane style performance in
Central Midfield. More importantly (arguably) after immense team spirit from
everybody (both on and off the pitch) we gained another valuable 3 points,
keeping our move up the table going, and pushing us away from the foot.
- The Game Ended Up 5-7
- Goal Scored by: Paul Asensio, Ashley Locke (3), Andy Cooke (2), Matt Scott
- Man Of The Match: Ashley Locke
- Starting Line Up:
Man of the match voted for by the players.
The
team known as The Argonauts Reserves turned up bright and early at Hanham High
School ready for the days fixture against Redfield Rangers, looking to avenge a
6-2 defeat earlier in the season and looking to build on the previous weeks 8
– 0 win over Fusion City. The full compliment of 14 players waited in the car
park for a bit, and then in the changing rooms for a little bit more before the
kit arrived with a mere 10 minutes before KO. A few changes were made from the
previous week, with Paul Asensio starting up front and hoping to add to his two
goals against Fusion. After impressing last week Paul White had a chance to make
the Right Wing back position his own, with Ian Jay taking up the Left Wing back
position. Another alteration was the call up of Mark Niblett to replace Neil
Gardiner in goal.
