Result: 4 – 2 shirts
Roy(1), Russ(1), Dave(1), Grant(1) – Rich A (1), Allen (1)
Well – where to start?
On a bitterly cold night a cursory glance at the match programme showed we had pitched all the defenders against all the attackers – not so much a game of football more a scientific exercise. But more of that later.
A late call-up for Roy (apologies again Ian) following a mix-up with the teamsheets - Roy may have felt he had been dropped, so was out to prove a point. And it was fitting that a week after my ‘Powerplay’ comment he produces the performance of the night, scoring, turning defenders – all crowned by a majestic left hand save onto the post from a typically accurate rising drive from Todd. The word Tomaszewski was mentioned in the pub. There were names for me too – as I put in, without a shadow of the doubt, the worst goalkeeping performance of all time – including talking, yes – you did read that right, as a ball that I could easily have saved (taking nothing away from the shot Grant) flew past me into the net. In true Lehmann style – I passed the blame onto my teammates.
Anyway – back to the scientific exercise – I think we have conclusively proved that a team of (mostly) defenders can’t play together. Me and Rich N up front, Todd and Rich A at the back. Yep. That’ll work. What was our strategy – the element of surprise maybe? That’s not to say we didn’t have movement – we had to move to find space – space at the back as 6 defenders lined up in front of the keeper. Shirts played well – but spent most of the night working out how to plot a course through the Hampton Court Maze that was our defence.
Remarkably, all looked OK at 2-2, but then Taibi went in goal and 2-2 became 3-2. And then 4 -2, although this reporter is not taking the blame for Russ’ last minute goal – as, having spent most of the night with 6 men at the back, we decided to have 6 men up front. Ok – we were pressing for the equaliser – but really?
And so 4 – 2 it ended. Deep frustration for many I’m sure. Or maybe just me.
Happy times at the post-match interviews with Andy N, matching the great Sir Stanley Matthews, still playing at 50. Long may it continue.
