| Match Report
The 2003-04 league campaign now comes down to 3 games, a top of the table clash against Poyntz and an expected walkover against KPR, So this game represented the potential banana skin to our league ambitions, especially as we squandered a 2 goal lead at home to them last time out. This was made even more of a possibility as a pre-match rainstorm turned the pitch into a mud bath, not ideal for our sometimes free flowing game.
The team selection was fairly straight-forward we reverted to a flat back four and recalled Jonesy in to replace Kyd and Phil and Paul started on the wings to replace Ben & Ross, While Jenks maintained the striking position alongside Denny after his two goal blitz last week.
The game started off with both teams trying to get to grips with the pitch and controlling the greasy ball, under pre-match instructions from the gaffer we tried to look for the wings, but as is often the case ended up going through the middle. In what proved to be a very scrappy opening 15-20 minutes, not a lot was done by either set of players except for getting extremely dirty (the plus point of this was Denny was washing the kit this week) Bilbao created a few half and long distance chances and were the better side in terms of possession. So obviously as always happens Bullca took the lead. Phil was caught in possession in out right back berth which allowed their winger to charge towards the area and deliver a good cross deep into our box, causing panic and a shot for the oncoming bullca player, this was saved well by John diving to his right, unfortunately the rebound end up back with the striker to finish... John had deserved better luck after a fine save.
This goal rattled the Bilbao players who were finding it hard going try to adapt to the surface, and things got worse still as Paul had to retire early with a back injury, he was replaced by Ross. By this stage two things were evident... we were struggling... and they had a dodgy keeper and a very beatable defence. We continued to have the better of the game and forced a series of corners and throws but we just couldn't gain that clear chance we needed. Finally with about 5 minutes remaining Denny got free in the box and turned inside his marker before shooting, much like their goal it was saved and fell back to Denzil and after what seemed an age he smashed it into the goal beating the keeper and their man on the line. This sent us into half-time on a high with restored belief for the second half.
At half time we were actually smart and sought refuge from the rain in the changing rooms where Keith berated us for not following his instructions, and questioned our work ethic, while switching to the 3-5-2 formation from last weeks success. Wilf and Neil swapped positions, with Neil now the holding midfield player allowing Steve & the freshly on Ben to get forward, I have to comment that Ben at this point must have wondered what was going on when we started playing football as he seemed up for a spot of egg chasing as he was wearing a gum shield ?!?!?... maybe we should get Steve one, it might shut him up !!!
With confidence high after the goal, we suddenly did an Arsenal and killed the Bullca boys off with 2 goals in three attacks all within about 5 minutes of the whistle. The first was another from Denny with Steve playing him in, for our top scorer to finish well past the advancing keeper and then Neil scored a cracker with a low right to left drive from around 25 yards (although Steve would like to point out this was not as good as his wonder goal). With Bilbao now 'running tings' we were all over them with Phil and Jenks double teaming them well down the right wing and the central midfield area was completely sewn up. plenty more chances were created and By this point the game was very one-sided and we looked much fitter & stronger couple that with the deflated Bullca spirit and we felt it was fill your boots time. so we added a forth when a corner resulted in a scramble and Steve twice getting hit by stray shots, a once a season happing... Jonesy got a shot in on goal and finally Phil finished all the farting around by smashing the ball into the net through the crowd of players. His celebration was then to run and jump into a puddle of mud that had formed on the 6 yard box... greatly impressing the kit washing Denny !!! who then claimed the fifth goal and his hat-trick to take him to the magical 30 goal mark... will this record ever be beaten? after finishing off another scramble in the mud. Between these goals we defended well with them having only one chance in the second half, John again making a good save in his own unique style from an impressive long range shot after the striker had turned three of our players in one movement, while creating plenty more chances including a couple of laughable attempts from Macca. This was a great second half performance and an important win and Bullca's biggest defeat of the season.
This result keeps us right in the promotion race especially with the crunch Walton vs Fenns game being postponed. It now comes down to the decider with Poyntz if we win that we'll have to rely on the other results going our way, but at least we still have a chance and with the fixtures the teams around us have to drop points. Standout performance today from Eddy & Jonesy in defence and Denny with another hat-trick. All-round it was a good performance, Jenks provide plenty of excellent crosses and corners and Steve played well in the centre. Next week Poyntz, can the Bilbao squad hold their nerve and claim another very important win ???
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