This was an excellent result away from home against a very good team, proving that on our day we can compete with the best in the league and should be pushing for promotion.
In their great wisdom ABSSA had decided that there would be no games in general this Saturday and thus prolonged the season even longer to Mid May. Which means that for most of us the grass will be very long before the mower comes out. But our hosts for the day had decided to rearrange this fixture so we all met up in Kraainem on a blustery afternoon. New Inn comfortably hold second spot in the league and we had a creditable 2-2 draw in the home fixture.
The line up was strengthened(?) by a sprinkling of first team talent with Mazza the cat in goal, Morris, Macdonald, Wrigley and Massimo making the defence, Bentham, Ledbury, Yearsley and Taylor across the middle and Hoskins partnered Harbusch up front. The bench held Shiono and Waite.
The pitch was in good nick but has a distinct slope which was made worse by the strong cross wind. Vets 1 got underway with both slope and wind in our favour. Both teams made tentative starts with probing attacks at both ends, their mid-field was good on the ball and was able to create openings. A scramble in the New Inn box could (should) have resulted in the first goal for Vets 1 but no one could finish and the home goalie was able to clear up.
The ball broke on the right and Bentham made some forward progress before putting in a cross for the forwards to challenge. The wicked reverse swing (slice) combined with the wind and the goalie’s stature resulted in the ball dipping over the keepers hands and into the net. Poacher Hoskins followed in to make sure of the goal but the ball had clearly crossed the line and the strike was awarded to Bentham. Vets 1 take the lead.
New Inn were rattled and clearly not used to this, they started to push forward looking for the equaliser. But a few minutes later a quick counter attack saw Harbusch release the ball wide to Bentham on the right, after gaining a few metres the ball was pulled back to the edge of the box. Harbusch met it beautifully on the volley and the ball darted in off the New Inn right post. The keeper did not even move and Vets 1 went in at half time two to the good.
Waite came on for Massimo and Shiono for Taylor at the break. The second half saw New Inn displaying more conviction and with the benefit of wind and slope pushed Vets 1 back. For a period of 15 or so minutes the visitors were under the cosh but resolute defending restricted the home side to a few long range chances. Vets 1 were always dangerous on the break with Hoskins and Bentham having chances to increase the lead. New Inn appeared to concede defeat as the game entered the final minutes and Vets 1 ended the 2-0 victors.
This was an excellent result away from home against a very good team, proving that on our day we can compete with the best in the league and should be pushing for promotion. MoM went to Bentham.
