1st team match report for Boston Spa vs Pannal Sports

1st Team Match report
Pitch Inspection: Frozen base, top layer of mud and patches of grass here and there. 4/10
Referee: Age: (I think I heard he invented football) Style: (Centre-circle specialist) Performance: 3/10
Pre-match team talk: With numbers already distributed before the player/managers arrival, Will Reece found out in the wrong way that he wasn’t starting the game. Manager’s response to that; “It was a hard decision, Lamby was on fire in training, Greg said” . . . “Ah well when you come on, you can earn your place back and get yourself a hat-trick”
First Half
I think its fair to say the first 25-30 minutes was all one way traffic (maybe in part down to a poor warm up). From the off, Boston dominated in every area of the field. They looked quick up front, skilled across midfield, and we didn’t really test the back four or the keeper to know. Early pressure payed dividend for Boston, and capitalising on a slip from Fennell, the two strikers were on their way. Lee Mitchell left with a 2 on 1 situation. 1-0. At this point you would have thought we’d get our acts in to gear, but no such luck. Continued dominance from Boston, meant that Lee Mitchell had to come to the rescue with a string of good saves. Really putting everything on the line (Including his manhood; Lee Mitchell down, still down (to be fair it did look painful)). Normal play resumed and yet further back foot, rearguard, scrambling was required from Pannal. Mitchell still hunched over carrying his testicles, sprung to life to scramble across to make sure, as a long range effort went agonisingly wide of top corner.
That is the doom and gloom over. After about 25 minutes the tide started to go out. First real chance results in a goal. A sweeping move from left to right, back to front. Sam Bainbridge to Tom Bartle, lays it off to Danny Martin, who produces a stunning ball to send David Hall on his way. Hall beats the full back swings the ball in perfectly to meet the head of the oncoming Player/Manager Tate. 1-1. A few chances here and there for both sides but nothing special to add to an already long winded match report. Only to say substitution: Al Tate off; Will Reece on. Half-time.
Things were said, we shall leave it at that.
2nd Half
Kick-off for the second half brought the desired affect. Boston never really got going again and Pannal was the dangerous force. A few early exchanges by both teams were made until Tom Bartle broke loose of his man, and into acres of space. What ensued was not pretty, but its what is known in the business as getting the job done. A wayward cross – come shot looped closer and closer to the goal heading for top corner, keeper makes a bit of a meal of it, gets a hand to it, and it sits nicely for Reece at the back post to tap in. (Assist 1 for Bartle). 1-2. Further breaks of the line continued, using the half-time tactics to perfection. Rob Taylor and Danny Martin by now had the full measure of the opposition central midfield players. At this point point we looked strong at the back, skilled across midfield, and quick up front. Everything they were in the first half hour. Another goal came as Chris Lamb played it across to Tom Bartle who had roamed further in field. A little flick split the two centre-backs and met the on running Will Reece who ran at the keeper took it around him, and slotted home for his second (Assist 2 for Bartle). 1-3. The final Pannal goal was a ball through, from someone. I only forget their name, because the finish from Will Reece was what was to be remembered. I thought Will being Will he will try to take on the defender who was matching him for pace, then try and take it around the keeper. BUT NO. Not today, this was Reece’s hat-trick after all. Bang! A rocket past the keeper. 1-4. Substitute takes home the match ball.
The last 15 minutes was a case of foot off the gas. Waves of Boston attacks, met with quick Pannal counters. The best of which Lamb, from outside the area, smashed across the cross bar. Now this performance really did involve everyone, Kez, Fennell, Kindell (An extra story for Kindell), Bainbridge, and substitute Andy Joy (who replaced Fennell) were throwing in some tough challenges and making light work of everything come second half. The only blip in a perfect second half performance came from a 2nd goal for Boston. Most thought was offside. Somehow the striker came from behind the defence to meet a knock down from his strike partner, swivelled and shot to score. 2-4. Referee howler. But the game wasn’t over, John Wharton who had already replaced David Hall played really well on the right side, out of position, getting stuck in, and creating chances left right and centre. When the final whistle blew, the victory was well deserved.
Quote of the day:
Referee to Al Tate: “I think you are out of a place in the team”Al Tate to Referee: “Well if I’m out of a place. The manager is out of a job” . . . “I’m just glad I bagged one”