30 September 2006 - League
Claygate Swans 4 v Darkside 1
Team: Alan, Ben E, Ben M, Ben S, Chris, Craig, Cullum, Dan B, Dan S, Ian, Mike, Paul D, Paul F, Tim
Goals: Cullum / Assists: Ian / MOTM: - / MM: -

After a torrential nights rain, the lads arrived glad to see the sun shining, the birds tweeting and some bloke a few sandwiches short of a picnic chatting up Ian. Darkside were in buoyant mood, following 2 straight wins that had yielded 9 goals, but their opponets Claygate Swans were also in good form and unbeaten.

Despite the rain, the large Molesey pitch was flat, grassy and looked like it could suit Darksides Samba style flowing passing game, it was unlikely to be a regular scenario for Div 4 football, but we lived in hope.

Everyone arrived on time, Mike still wearing flip flops despite a chill in the air. The guys were keen to play, and the caravan/changing room was soon emptied of the players already keen to warm up,

Coach Tanna, opted to shuffle the pack again, if it worked for Rafa (it doesn't) it could work for him, right?? Adrian, Bert and Andy were all on international duty.

So, the orthodox 4-4-2, was replaced with an attacking 3-5-2.  Paul F came into a back three, Tim and Ben restored to a midfield 5 and the front pairing of Mike and Alan remained unchanged. Oh and Big Ben made his first Darkide appearance in ages, in goal.

The referee, not to be forgotten, was possibly their manager, either way he was certainly short sighted and abusive…………

The game kicked off, and proved quite a battle all over the park, a few solid challenges flew in from both sides. But it was The Swans long ball tactic that was proving most fruitful and the Darkside back 3 were on the back foot already. And when the break through came, inadvertently at that it was from another long ball, delivered from the Swans right side it bounced high and unfortunately zipped over Bens head and into the goal, 1-0.

The Darkside heads didn't drop, and they upped there game, as the tackles continued to fly in, the ref was proving lenient to both sides considering the wet conditions. A rare Darkside free kick was awarded, and from Ians long delivery, Big Dan causing the only problem the CB had all afternoon and Cullum nipped in to convert expertly. 1-1 game on.

The Swans began to stamp their authority on the game, and as Darkside got deeper, they soaked up more pressure and were failing to show any kind of flowing attacking football, in fact no attacking football at all.

It was from another long ball that Swans took advantage again. The centre forward beating the on rushing Big Ben to the ball, before composing himself, and despite the defence covering the line, squaring for a second goal to fly in, via the post. This deflated the Darkside, and Tanna opted to revert to 4-4-2, Craig moving to centre back.

Unfortunately the damage was already done, and after some nifty footwork and a few sliding challenges, the Swans added a third before the break. Tempers began to boil over, as the tackles continued to crash in and the refs inability to do anything, one or two handbags began to fly! Thankfully the ref hadn't lost his watch or whistle, and the Darkside trudged off at half time, with the game swinging very much in the favour of the Birds of Claygate.

A rallying call was made throughout the team at the break, we were hopeful our fitness levels would give us an advantage in the second half. We did our best to get at the Claygate back line, Ben Mole causing problems with mazy runs and Alan and Mike both working hard to press the defenders. Unfortunatly it wasn't to be the teams day.

Another mazy run from a Swans player saw him finish enfatically and all but end the game, 4-1. Chris, Ben S and Paul Dixon all entered the fray to raise our spirits, and the latter had one or two openings but failed to convert, one infact cleared a few streets in Molesey before bouncing back. Tim also went close curling a free kick over the bar. The refs inability again threatened to let the game boil over, as words were exchanged between just about anyone on or off the pitch. As one or two penalty decisions against the Darkside were waved away by the ref, probably unable to see that far down the pitch, we were thankful!!

But the day had belonged to the Swans, as Darkside failed to get going from the off, we'd just had one of them days! Knowing the teams strengths and abilitys everyone knows they weren't a better side than The mighty whites, but today they had performed a lot better, so bring on the return fixture!

Match report by: Tim