Springhill Dads
v P & O (Cup)
By
Freddy Ferret
The Dads were ready for this cup fixture and the atmosphere at the sports centre was electric although very, very cold. The Dads ran out onto the pitch at least five minutes before kick off and had to wait in the freezing rain whilst the P&O boys cowered in the dressing room.
SPRINGHILL
DADS
Les Maros
Robbie Thorpe - Tony Pascoe - Brian Medway - Martin Kingsbury
Jason Furness - Jim Allen - Dave Hedges - John Frisby
Andy Simpson - Jon Elms
Sub Rob Frisby
The
game kicked off with both teams going for it and within minutes the P&O
boys were on the attack.
A ball over the top foiled the Dads offside ploy
and the nippy little forward was through it was only a last gasp arse
sliding tackle by Robbie which was enough to put off the forward and Les
saved comfortably.
This woke up the Dads and the midfield duo of
Jim Allen and Dave Hedges started to get some crunch into their tackles.
Some of the Dads moves broke up because of some misunderstanding and the
tricky weather conditions.
Les wasn’t troubled much either as the stalemate
ensued.
Tony and Brian were stout in the middle of the defence and no one could
tell that Tony was playing with an injury, whilst Martin Kingsbury was
having a steady game on the right of defence despite being out of his
usual position.
The Dads pressure was paying off and some good
play from John Frisby produced a load of consecutive corners. A goal was
imminent -and, as if by magic, there was JON ELMS
on the end of a pass from Andy Simpson to slot home 1 - 0. The
Dads were on top and their cup victory feeling was to be spoiled when
the P&O boys Dads reject Dave Smith caused some confusion in the Dads
penalty area and P&O were brought level after a goal mouth scramble which
saw Jason, covering for Robbie, nearly prevent the ball from hitting the
net.
HALF TIME
DADS 1—1 P&O
The
second half was just as lively as the first and there was plenty of play
was coming down the Dads right flank with the P&O winger thinking that
he was from the Paul Daniels school, every trick he tried he thought was
magic. Each time he tried to foil Rob or Jason the player would attempt
about four tricks before being duly dispossessed.
The Dads did feel some pressure and Jon Elms
was having his usual solicitors battle with the P&O defender — enquiring
after his well being . . . got a will drawn up?
Then came the move of the match with Tony bringing the ball out of defence
and he slid a delightful ball through for Robbie to bundle past Jason,
setting himself up for one of his trade-mark, long range efforts, on the
right wing. Robbie manfully did his utmost to hold up the play until support
could arrive, luckily Andy arrived to take charge and passed the ball
across to JON ELMS on the edge of the box
to try a shot.
The ball deflected off of Jon’s P&O sparing partner and beat the keeper
2 - 1. Jason caught up with Robbie after the goal and explained to him
in his inimitable way, how flipping difficult it was playing with
Robbie. Robbie countered by saying, he was: “playing total football in
the Brazilian style.” Unfortunately the others were playing football in
the All-in style of the Dads! True to form, Jon
claimed the goal although the deflection was massive! The Dads were getting
that final feeling but there was one more twist.
As P&O pressured a shot came in and Les pulled off a spectacular save
but could only palm the ball into the path of Dave Smith. Dave planted
the ball in the back of the net but, unfortunately, was in an offside
position.
Whilst Les was attempting to get some feeling
into his frost bitten hands the Dads stuck to their guns and took the
offside at the dismay of the P&O boys. The final minutes were a bit nasty
with the P&O defence kicking lumps out of our brave boys but the Dads
girded their loins to emerge the valiant victors.
FINAL SCORE
DADS 2 - 1 P&O
MOM
Jon Elms
