Takeley (FA Vase) (2018-19) – The Tree Surgeon
Today we welcome visitors, Takeley, with us looking to reverse our fortunes of a few weeks ago when we travelled to play them in the Essex Senior League.
Today, we are back on the “Road to Wembley” (cliché number one) as we compete in the FA vase, not as glamorous as the FA Cup (the FA Cup is the M1 whereas the Vase is more like the A12), but, is pretty difficult to win (the nearest we have come, so far, is getting to the Vase final, was a place in the last sixteen, when we were Leyton-Wingate).
After our relatively easy win in the FA Cup against Walsham, we travelled to our visitors today and were seen off, by four goals to one, in what was, to date, our worst score line of the season and we hope, will remain that for the rest of the season.
They certainly have a strike force comparable to our own and will be dangerous opponents today.
After the loss at Takeley we were away at Southend Manor in the Gordon Brastead Trophy or GBT as it is often referred to – whenever I read that it reminds me of a sandwich you get at service stations or a combo you can pick up at McDonalds.
This was the proverbial game of two halves (cliché number two), where we eased to a two-goal lead in just fifteen minutes, with first goals of the season for Ryan Ramsay and Harry Watkins on his first start.
But, after missing enough chances to have put the game to bed (cliché number three), we allowed the home team back in it and they duly obliged (the second goal was a worldy apparently).
It was ourselves who, in the final minutes, were grateful for the arrival of the sudden death (cliché number four) penalty shoot-out and we delivered an almost perfect scenario, missing just one to ease ourselves into the next round.
The Gordon Brastead Trophy shoot outs have been good to us in recent times – that was our third penalty win in the competition in the last two years.
Then we were back on the FA Cup trial at Felixstowe and Walton and it was far from “The Magic of the FA Cup” (cliché number five) and became a bigger struggle as the game progressed.
After we went ahead when Ryan Ramsay set up James Peagram to give us the lead early on, we then dominated into the early stages of the second half and should already have scored a few more, with at least three genuine, hand ball, penalty claims waved away.
Their defence was finding it increasingly difficult to cope with our pacey breaks, with Ryan Ramsay receiving particularly physical attention from his marker.
The referee showed his lack of control when he not only booked their player for throwing the ball into Ryan’s face, but, proceeded to take Ryan’s name for having the cheek to complain about what had happened.
Undoubtedly, fed up, with his treatment during the game, he took his frustrations out on an opponent and received his second yellow and an early bath (cliché number six).
Junior Appiah damaged our cause even further when his studs up challenge on their keeper drew a red, so we faced almost half an hour with nine men.
But, the defence was solid and brave and rarely looked likely to cave in and the only time we looked like capitulating, was virtually the last kick of the game when Chris Clark, pulled off a wonder save with his legs, to ensure we made it through to a home game against Beaconsfield, next Saturday.
We overcame tremendous odds and a one eyed referee (cliché number seven), but, even the locals admitted we deserved to win.
The referee was definitely a “Homer”, for those of you, not of the younger generation, that means a referee who gives everything to the home side, not the main character out of The Simpsons, although, to be honest, Homer could hardly have done worse
Their manager, clearly feeling under pressure, losing to a side one level below his club and at home, came out with the ridiculous statement “they had a plan and just set up to defend and we had enough chances to win”.
Excuse me, but, I would hardly expect any side down to nine men, with a one goal lead, at any level of football, to go for a second goal and throw caution to the wind.
In fact he should be grateful that we didn’t attack, or else we would have won by more – see he’s not the only one who can make stupid statements.
The FA Cup these days, is not just about the glory, but, also about the money, so in other words the road to Wembley is paved with gold, as we have already pocketed best part of five grand on our FA Cup journey, so far.
Then we had another really tough away game in mid-week, when we travelled to Harlow Town’s ground to take on Woodford Town, who had lost just one game and sat in sixth position, several places above us.
The game proved as difficult as I expected, but, we started well, with another goal from James Peagram and led at the break.
After conceding an equaliser, we quickly restored our lead when the impressive Ramsay was upended in the box and Christian Owusu kept his 100% spot kick record to put us back in front.
Again Woodford rallied and equalised once more, before a goal at the death (cliché number eight), from that man Peagram saw us home.
It was the first game that we have won inside ninety minutes, wearing our new away all red strip. It is good we finally found our new kit and I have discovered exactly what happened to it.
The kit was found in the back of a three-wheel Reliant Robin van in South London, with two brothers called Trotter, trying to flog them as Chelsea and Liverpool replica strips.
Let’s hope today that we can keep up our 100% winning record, wearing our new blue kit and begin another successful and lucrative cup run.
