The Big Match – Benalmadena 16th December 2021

Match report by Rory

The penultimate game of the year brought some interesting changes in team formations. The cherry Tabards set up with an aggressive 4-4-3 formation, even though there were only 7 of them. They weren’t deterred by the shortage of numbers, and Terry went full Ralf Rangnack by organising some gegenpressing on the beleaguered dark blues. The dark blues had set up with their classic sweeper system with the confident expectation that Frank would soon be pinging balls out from the back a la Glenn Hoddle in his Swindon epoch. As always, they played with a false number nine with Bambi set to cut in from the wing like a youthful Rihyad Mahrez.

The cagey early minutes brought some early enterprise down the dark blues’ right flank with JC and Dave overloading the wing and putting Pete under pressure. With Frank marshalling the defensive unit well the defence was able to repel increasing incursions down the wing. Eventually, the inevitable happened, with Terry taking up increasingly more advanced positions the cherrys switched flanks and scored a superb goal with the always energetic Alvin, ghosting in to slot in the first goal in the fashion of a peak Trevor Brooking. Alvin almost followed up with a great shot which struck the inside of the post and was masterfully clawed back by Kevo, who up until that point had looked unbeatable.

The blues were not deterred, and with Colin an increasing influence as the game progressed, they started to probe the cherry’s back line. The standard of football reached new peaks as both sides settled into their customary tikki-takka style. The cherry’s looked increasingly vulnerable, as Breck started to put himself about in the upper third, laying the ball off with style and creating opportunities for his teammates. However, just as it looked like the blues were going to level things up, the cherries sprung the trap, sweeping the ball through their increasingly mobile midfield to the predatory Terry, who didn’t need a second invitation. Two nil, game over?

The blues were having none of it and were galvanised by some energetic football from Glyn and Colin, who wrenched control of the midfield from the cherries, whose high pressing game may have been taking a toll. Unfortunately for the blues, their industrious winger, Bambi was cruelly taken out by a challenge, which at first, looked like a straight red. However, after 5 minutes of consultation with VAR it was clear that the ball had been won fairly and the blues star winger had been taken out by an unfortunate clash of knees.

With Simon easing himself into the game and becoming a focal point for the cherries attacks, the blues were really up against it. Gradually, Rory who had been anonymous up to that point started to get his foot on the ball. And with Keef becoming more influential with his overlapping runs, the blues started to show more penetration. After considerable pressure, the blues finally got their just rewards when Glyn showed some deft footwork before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Game on. Emboldened by their success the blues started to press hard down the left flank of the cherries. However, with Kevo bolstering the midfield for the cherries, this started to look like a forlorn hope. Out of the blue, a sweeping move from back to front split the cherries defence with a long ball from Colin picking out Keef on the edge of the box. Unselfishly Keef pivoted and cushioned the ball into the path of the onrushing Rory who side-footed past the transfixed Kevo.

What a game. And with the momentum with the Blues, it looked like this match was only going to end up one way. However, the cherries started to dig deep, with Steve starting to make some dangerous incursions into the opposition half and testing out the goalkeeper’s gloves. With Pete marauding down the wing and Colin and Glyn probing through the midfield the blues could sense blood. Sure enough, following an intricate series of passes which only a professor of geometrics would have understood the ball bobbled to Rory on the edge of the box for him to caress it into the top corner of the net. As good as it gets!! 3-2 Blues

Anyone who thought the cherries were going to get downhearted was mistaken. They weren’t going to give up without a fight. Simon’s silky left foot continued to lay the ball off in dangerous positions and the cherries launched one last, lung-busting attack on the resolute blues defence. JC and Dave continued to form a strong midfield partnership for the battling cherries. Steve’s late runs into the attacking third were causing the blues defence a number of problems, but Pete had pulled off some fine saves. As the final minutes approached the blues defensive wall was penetrated, first by a sharp strike from Dave into the bottom corner, and then by a brilliant swivel and shot by Steve who sealed the win in superb style. What a turnaround, what a game.

Next Mondays game is the last before christmas. Make sure you are there!