I was quite late getting to the King and Miller meeting point, due to Bread doing his hair, and by the time we arrived, half the squad were already tucking into the 3rd plastic cob from the nearby McRip Offs. Luckily the convoy had waited for us, which was probably more annoying for them when they pulled out ready to head for Kirkby, for us to lose them straight away as we had to wait for Jay who had popped into McRip Offs for a high colestrial sandwich.
Even though we were 1 and a half hours behind the convoy, we somehow managed to get to the ground before them, god knows how that happened.
This away fixture is a particular favourite with supporters, just for the fact that the Cricketers Arms pub is situated right next to one of the corner flags, the only downside is that it doesn’t open until 12 noon. So with a wee while to wait before the pints could be brought, we went with the players as they changed in an Emmerdale style Barn ready for the big game. Quiche who was banned for the day agreed to referee the 1st half. Some thought controversial, but good on him I thought. With Lormor away on holiday in Russia, Bread was between the sticks and the line up was as follows:
Bread, Geary, Ashley, Kirk, Mellors, Clarkson, Jay, Danny, Gav, Tony, Gallagher
Subs were: Scott and Jim Carey (you work it out!)
True to form, as we had planned to stand outside the pub with pints in hands, and watching the big match, it pissed it down. Indeed I had even had the night off work so I could stay out afterwards and have some more liquid refreshment.
Kick Off was taken early as everyone wanted to get to the pub quicker, it was a bit wet and my notes were accordingly soaked, Ganna’s brolly was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. The home side had the 1st effort on Bread’s soaken net, but it went harmlessly wide. Meanwhile the 1st effort for the Bridge saw the keeper get well behind Danny’s shot, and turn away for a corner. The corner was well dealt with quite easily, and from the result the ball was pumped forward, but linesman Scott was on hand to wave the rampaging forward offside, even though he went on to finish into the bottom corner. Bread had his 1st bit of action soon after, when he dived full length to his left to tip round the post for a corner, which was easily dealt with by the stern defence. The game was quite open at this point, and Kirk was dealing a home attack, to which he cleared quite high into the air, which in turn was headed on by Gav, this in turn released the offside looking Gallagher, who found himself through on goal, his shot was well saved, but Manq was following up ( I say following up, he was probably still on the corner flag from the last attack), and his shot was heading out for a throw in before it hit Tony’s right shin and popped into the unguarded net for a vital breakthrough.
This seemed to spur the home side on though, and after a few half chances for either side, they were level, as a shot from the edge of the area zipped across the surface and through the arms of the outstretched Bread in goal, to level the scores up.
By now it was end to end though, and the Bridge didn’t have to wait long before regaining the lead, Geary came down the right hand side, and played the ball into Tony, who controlled well to lay it off to Jay, whose deft turn took him past the defender, before releasing a left foot shot that went in off the post for a 2-1 lead.
Mellors tried to get on the scoring sheet as well, but after rampaging through the midfield area, he required a taxi as his shot ended up in farmer giles field.
The home side nearly equalized shortly after, there was a free man on the far post, as a cross came in from the right hand side, but his header somehow didn’t find the target.
They were made to pay for the miss almost immediately, as a (Roger) Mellie in the middle of the park, somehow found it’s way to Gallagher on the left, he cut inside before crossing over into the area, only his cross somehow hit the far post and bounced in for 3-1 to the visitors. It was nearly all over as the home defence began to lose their shape on playing the offside trap, Manq swung a wind assisted cross over, which fell to Gallagher, who saw his effort crash back of the bar. It was to be 4-1 though just as half time approached, Gallagher took a quick throw to Gav, whose good cross was met by Tony’s knee to send the away support wild.
It was a total goal fest by now, and on the stroke of half time, it was 4-2, as the home number 10 (I think), pulled out a cracker to give Bread no chance, the ball nestling in the onion bag almost as soon as it had left his left foot.
Half Time 2-4
Manq’s half time team talk was the fact the home side would throw everything at the Bridge at the start of the second half, I’m not sure where in the legal terms of the rules, throwing bricks and such like, would fit in.
The game was much more even at the start, which was much to my advantage as I had one eye on the pub opening up. Ashley went down injured after about 10 minutes of the half, which was unfortunate on 2 counts, one was we were about to lose a central defender for the remainder of the half, and the other, Pirate the physio was half way to the pub, meaning no one could attend the injured man. Scott had to come on to replace Ashley, whilst just after Gav was also an injured man, as he went down with a little cut to his ankle. Now it may just be co-incidence that the pub had opened, but both injured and having to come off, it didn’t help the conspiracy theory when both were seen entering the pub with their kit and boots on, and coming back out with pints of lager.
Meanwhile out on the pitch, the home side were almost camped in the Bridge half, one effort was sent sky high, whilst only 2 yards out, Bread had trouble collecting the ball from the kiddies playground.
A freak accident happened mid way through the half when the referee clashed heads with a fellow home player, freakish to say the least, but we have since heard both parties are ok.
Bread pulled off two superb late saves to keep the score at 4-2, but was powerless to stop a third for the home side with just seconds left. A corner was not properly cleared and in the scramble, the ball was poked home.
There was just enough time to blow the final whistle.
And so a great three points, in very difficult circumstances, well done all. We went back into the pub for last sup, just as it stopped raining, sods law! A great venue for a football match, let’s hope to be back again pretty soon.
| Bread | 8 | 2 outstanding stops in the 2nd half and created the laugh of the day by falling arse over tit in the kiddies playground. |
| Geary | 8 | Marshaled the troops superbly throughout, especially in the 2nd half when moved into the centre of defence |
| Mellors | 7 | Storming 2nd half, where we thought he was the only one playing at one point, as he cleared everything. |
| Ashley | 7 | Came off injured, up to that point, formed a solid partnership with Kirk |
| Kirk | 7 | Not used to playing at centre back, but played well under pressure. |
| Gav | 7 | Came off injured, like Ashley as soon as the pub opened, set up one goal and could have scored himself. |
| Manq | 7 | One brilliant bit of skill, that had the crowd drooling, although in fairness that was more to do with the pub about to open |
| Jay | 8 | Great goal, and looked assured as ever on the ball |
| Danny | 9 | Dream Team Star Man, always running from box to box and involved with everything the Bridge did. |
| Gallagher | 7 | Caught offside a bit, even when the goal stood, but always looked a threat |
| Tony | 7 | Took his goals well, and his pace was a real handful for the defence. |
| Scott | 7 | Came on for Ashley, and stood firm as the home side battered the Bridge in the 2nd half. |
| Jim | 7 | Came on for Gav, and cleared an effort away that looked goal bound. |