Buxton 2
First time I've had to type something up about my feelings towards how the seconds did today.
And I'm chuffed with every one of them.
I said before the game, this game is for Steve today, look at the amount of effort he's put in for this game, and then just look at where we're playing, and look at your shirts. I think this was all the motivation the lads needed.
The team lined-up:
Tom
Yatesy - Me - Gaz - Dave Barlow
Stuart - Rick - Rob - Peschi
Allan - Des
Subs: Maudy, Wacker (Duffy), Dan McGuire, Will, Cottam
We started well, and although oh paper it looked like we could get completely hammered we seemed to have a work ethic and commitment to the cause which was great to see for some lads who had never played with us before. And as a result of this hard work I think it was Des who closed down the Buxton striker and following a great corner Gareth got up and nodded home.
However shortly afterwards a quite decieving long-throw threw me and Gaz and their lad was in and it became one a-piece. Was a poor goal for us to concede in my opinion and it had us on the back-foot. Minutes later Buxton forced a good save out of Tom with a 25 yard rasper destined for the corner, and until the second goal came we were a bit on the back-foot ten minutes before half-time.
A long-throw by myself was taken expertly by Allan and he got a corner from this. After a bit of a scramble, Des nodded home from literally six feet out to make it 2-1, cue pandamonium with Des going mental, but to be fair to Des I thought he was superb today, he put in a bloody good shift. It remained that way until half-time. Shortly before half-time the impressive Rob came off and was replaced by Cottam, with a bit of a switch around on the park meaning Stuart came to play in centre of midfield.
Now second half we were playing into the wind, and up the hill in pretty dreadful weather. We came straight out of the blocks which was all credit to the lads and had Buxton on the back-foot straight away. We played some pretty good football for a team which some of us hadnt ever played together before. I took Des and Yatesy off just before we scored our third, with Dan McGuire and Maudinho coming on for them. The third goal came from another long-throw by myself and good work by Allan resulted in another Preston corner which was superbly delievered and Cottam netted his first goal for the team. At 3-1 i was pretty nervous to be honest because I feel a two-goal lead is the most dangerous in football.
And it proved to be, with us giving away a free-kick about 25 yards out, Tom only wanted three in the wall and when it went through the gap where the fourth man should of been and into the net I thought we'd blown it. But we came back, and after more great work by the Preston midfield and forwards we got our fourth, courtosy of Rick, after the miss of the year by Peschi, which even, how i've no idea, eclipsed mine against Sheff Utd. One yard out, and hit his knee which meant it came back across goal for Rick to smash home. No way was that an assist!!
I brought on WackPNE, who impressed me for Dave Barlow who put in a good shift as well and moved things around so Rick, who had a great game in the centre of the park, moved to his normal left-back position, and meant we basically shuffled the pack. With 10 to go I re-introduced Des, and also Dave Barlow's younger brother Will, replacing myself and Rick who I gave a breather to because he'd worked his socks off. Will hit the post in the last five minutes after great work by himself. Maudy and Wacker were given Buxton the run around with Stuart instrumental in the midfield. Chuffed to fuck with all the teams performance to be honest because no-one can have a go or slate anyones performances, all of you were superb. Thought everyone was a credit to the shirt today which was brilliant, and shows how having a team ethic can have such a positive effect on the team. No snakes, no bullshit just 100% hard work and effort. Many thanks to Steve for booking the pitch and giving me some of the players, and for the previous three years of playing with you mate. Man of the match was Gaz. But special mentions to Peschi and Des who people have told me put in more than a good shift for lads with a 'lesser ability' than some of us. Well done boys. On a personal level, its a fucking hard job trying to manage, lead by example and attempt to play at centre-half all at the same time. How you've done it for three years Steve is beyond me, I felt like I aged 8 years in the 80minutes I played. I thought I got pretty much everything spot on, which I never thought would happen, I even managed to get subs off almost every player! Fuck me thats a first for this team surely. At midday yesterday I was in deep shit, no nets - no ref, and a huge selection dilemma. How the fuck near enough everything came off perfectly is beyond me. Also, one last thanks to Chris Chats for reffing. Its a fucking hard job aint it! But well done mate thought you did a stering job. Jobs a good 'un. Roll on the next time. Grimble