Just when you think you have seen it all along comes a game like this!
Yet more new faces in the team, as usual we get off to a bad start before we have even kicked a ball. Clyde decides to throw himself down the stairs at home and injures his ankle, John our regular goalkeeper does not arrive and two players leave thier shinpads at home.
Ah well 3rd team football at its best !
Ekco turn up with a much improved if somewhat aggressive team ready to do battle, with 1 minute before kick off with all the best laid plans in ruins we were still trying to sort out who would play in goal and then where the other ten players would fit in. Dan Smith stepped forward to don the gloves and we were off. Our team looked disjointed and struggled to find any rhythm and playing up hill. A reckless challenge by our new keeper Dan Smith resulted in a penalty, I saw it as outside the area but would have sent Dan off as he was the last man. The referee gave a penalty but decided that was enough punishment. The time for heros and Dan pulled of a brilliant save. A few moments later indecision in our defence let Ekco take the lead, not to be outdone Joe Skeels completed a good Rams move by equalising with a low drive into the goal. With John Gilbert now in goal, Dan Smith taking his usual position in the centre of defence and now playing downhill we were ready to take the game to Ekco in the second half.
Christian Hurley curled a high ball over the Ekco goalkeeper to put Rams 2-1 up. Unfortunately Alex Ramsey had taken a heavy tackle and retired from the pitch.
An Ekco player was then sent off for foul and abusive language to the ref. 10 against 11 we should now win. Then another Ekco player shown his marching orders for headbutting Owen Lawrence. Owen was now in full rage mode, closely followed by Jason & Mylles, then some fat bas***d settled things down by wrestling Owen to the floor and ensuring he did not get anywhere near the Ekco players. Everyone settled down back to the action 9 against 11 and it was just a case of how many goals could we score, or so we thought.
Enter Dan Carter a thrilling, high shot from a full 25 yards straight into his own net 2-2 with 14 minutes to go. Again a time of heros and Dan Smith rose to the challenge, a long range shot sailed high beyond the Ekco keeper 3-2 game over. Just to round things off Wayne Seal added a fourth to leave us with a well earned 4-2 win. Both Dan Smith and Jon Gilbert played well in goal. The back four were strong and steady and dealt with the physical aggression of the Ecko players well. Owen Lawrence was feeling dizzy after the headbutt and was replaced by Gary Finch wno opened up a new line of attack from left back,Dan Smith, Owen Lawrence, Wayne Seal and Jon Rudland were solid in defence. Mylees Martin and Jason Bishop controlled the centre of midfield, Alex Ramsey made progress down the right flank before his injury, Christian was at times successful in his attacks from left midfield, Steffan struggled to get into the game but showed his potential with a couple of good crosses. In attack Joe Skeels held the line well and Wayne Seal managed to play in four different positions and score a goal as well. An all round good performance from the team.