03 March 2007 - League (Double Header)
Claygate Royals 2 v Darkside 0
Darkside 2 v Claygate Royals 3
Team:
Goals: Mike, Craig / Assists: Ant x2 / MOTM: / MM:

The wet weather had put doubt into some peoples minds - would we, or wouldn't we play! As Darkside prepared for their first ever double header (I think). A squad of 14 was at near full strength, and despite Royals topping the league, everyone knew Darkside could still take that mantle away from them, but only if they took maximum points!

The club house was bigger than our home one, which was a plus; even had beer taps and a TV, and the showers had chairs in (??), a pair of crusty red boots were awaiting our arrival in the changing rooms. The squad then spent the next half an hour trying to stretch the 1920's socks over their shin pads and argued over who would wear the extra small shorts. 14 players we may have, but 14 full kits we do not.

An intense warm up was given by the our personal trainer John, he was extra excited at the thought of us playing quarters instead of halves like home it was! Everyone had a sit down afterwards to recover. We booted a couple of balls about, and the pitch started cutting up. Pete sat down and built a few sandcastles, to help our defence.

The tinkerman Tanna, opted to change formation; we held our breath, thankfully we were playing with 4 defenders, amid rumours of a 1-1-8 trial…………4-5-1, Ants performance the week before earnt him rave reviews and he again partnered Boyd in the centre of defence, Bansept was to hold in the middle of the park alongside Gale and Kingston and Masuku was given a lone front role. Pete, Kia and Paul warmed the bench in the dug out.

Darkside got out of the traps quickly, although not as quickly as Minty who was rumoured to of flown past on his new mobility scooter during the first half.

The extra man in the middle of the park was giving Darkside the advantage with Dan and Craig bossing, Tim “pulling the strings”, and it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Mike and Cullum both had efforts saved when 1 on 1 with the goalie, Ben M was causing their full back lots of problems creating an opportunity for Gale to go agonisingly close. Bert Grimes Sicknote Saunders curled a few free kicks near the goal. The opposition were offering little going forward.

However, the whites were dealt a blow, Sicknote got his sandwedge out and took a lump of turf with it, the ball didn't move and Grimes lived up to his nickname, and retired hurt!! Pete came into the fray in his now familiar left back position. He was soon in the thick of it, being booked for mouthing off at the ref, French Dan tried his hardest to join Pete in the book, but the referee refrained.

Despite Darkside's continued pressure, it was Claygate who took the lead, a misjudged long ball, a pass across the box and a simple tap in 1-0. The half time whistle blew, and a sense of injustice was clouded as Pete continued his love affair with the ref that didn't end in hugs and kisses. Pete didn't reappear for the second period, talk was strife of a dressing room bust up, until he got the suncream out and laid out his beach towel by the pitch.

Paul Dixon arrived on the park in his usual holding role in midfield (?), like a lost dog searching for his ball in the bushes he chased down and harried their players! The half became more evenly matched and the bobbles were getting higher and higher up the leg. Darkside reverted to 4-4-2 Paul Dixon pushed on, as the mighty whites looked for an equaliser. Then some slack marking at a corner (sounding familiar) left a free header that Gale tried in vain to keep out and 2-0 was even more of an injustice. Darksides shot tally continued to rise, but the goal tally didn't. Kia replaced Ian, it was all or nothing 3-4-3 but Claygate finished the game more likely to trouble the scoreman.

The final whistle blew, 3 points lost that could so easily of been won, making the second game more important and Darkside even more pumped up to win.

Jon gave massages to the older generation, Kia set up a fruit and veg stall, lookin to make a quick dollar. The bananas and oranges were a big hit. Bert and Ian went off to play on the swings.

Neil rung the changes for game 2, last weeks hatrick hero Ben M was benched. Paul Dixon, was moved to his 3rd position of the day wide on the left of midfield and Kia came in to partner Mike up top in a more positive looking side.

Darkside got off to the worst possible start, a wayward pass out of defence was met with a very well struck shot that flew past Andy. 1-0 to Claygate. It was a big blow, and with the pitch gradually descintigrating below us, could we pull a rabbit from the hat!? Well nearly as much, Ants cross from the left was expertly controlled by Mike who cut in and smashed the ball past the goalkeeper to level.

The Royals were rattled, moments later, Tim's long throw sent Ant into the box and like his idol AJ, he was sent tumbling. As cast iron a penalty as you will see, and the ref obliged by pointing to the spot. The pressure mounted on Craig as the designated penalty taker, but cool as a cucumber on a hot day he buried it in the bottom corner, piece of cake! And for the first time in the day, Darkside were leading.

Quite how it remained that way at half time is anyones guess, as Claygate had no less than 5 attempts on goal, in one almighty scramble, Mayes keeping The Royals at bay with some remarkable stops, before the post finally intervened and the defence, at the 162nd attempt, cleared the ball. Half time, and buoyed by the lead the half time talks were to keep it tight and try and take further chances! Could our superior fitness, and 10 million daily pressups be paying off…

The final quarter begun, and now the legs were getting heavier, and the game became more stretched. Tanna with resources stretched, had 1 final change to make or break the game as we looked to sure up the game and see it out for 3 well earnt points. The game halted, and the board went up “Tim” “Sub”, and like his predecessors Minty and Craig, he trudged of the pitch subbed. Ben Mole arrived on it, with the game in Darksides pocket and ready to be killed off.

Then, like an act of god, the cracks begun to show and like a parting of the waves, the double decker drove through the middle of the side and Claygate had snatched an equaliser, Darkside burst forward looking to regain the lead, Kia found space in the box but was hustled out, Paul Dixon bursting down the left just failed to convert. And Craig raced through before the bobble obliged and shouts of “Ave it” as his shot flew over the club house, and landed outside the Black Lion in Surbiton. New balls please.

As the game approached the end, tiredness really kicked in and the game got scrappy, a deep corner found the Royals number 7 unmarked and he drove through a crowded box before running off in jubilation, with less than 5 mins left Claygate again finished stronger and could have increased their lead before the whistle went for full time. Andy, kept the scorers at bay, with more top saves and some last ditch blocks from the hardworking back four.

We finished with a warm down, most people struggling to find the energy. So close but yet so far and a day that will stick in the mind of most players for a long time, and for all the wrong reasons.

Match report by: Tim