Bingo Briggsy probably went home, like the rest of the Abberley Vale squad, with mixed emotions after Sundays encounter with Pockets. According to the league table this was to be an easy game for the top of the table side, however the recent form of the Vale suggested otherwise!
The opening half an hour saw both sides fighting for a grip on the game as they looked evenly matched. It’s a shame that Co-owner Galactico Tompa Wompa didn’t have more of a grip on his shoe as he lost it to the half way line after kicking the ball back onto the pitch from the sideline. It was also noted that his kicking hasn’t improved with the time off he has had as the shoe went a lot further than the ball!! Both teams had their opportunities to take the lead in the first half but it was Pockets who looked the more likely as they started to control the possession. Pockets had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Az brought down the pockets striker in the box and a penalty was given! Tude is taking credit for the miss as he dummied one way but dived the other only for the ball to strike the post and deflect wide! Some more chances in the box would have resulted in goals had it not been for some reaction saves from Tude in goal.
It looked as if the sides were going to go into the break all square until the 44th min when Luke found some space to run into down the right and looked to whip in a cross...the ball did not find the heads of the forwards Laan or Dirky but instead the back of the net as the keeper could do nothing but watch it sail over his head.
With Laan having to leave at half time to go play family man, Vale changed the formation with Cookie making the 5th man in midfield leaving Dirky as the lone front man. The opening 10mins of the second half were cagey for Vale as they looked to get going. Their heads dropped on 56mins when a corner came in and Pockets got a shot away that looked as if it was going to be saved by Tude however in their desperation to get the ball away Steve Nutbean put his leg in the way and saw the ball take a wicked deflection and into the back of the net.
This saw Pockets push for the win as they threw men forward. After 10 mins of nonstop defending the ball broke on the edge of the Vale box and with Tude on the edge of the 6 yard box Pockets got a shot away that sailed over his head and just in under the cross bar. 2-1 Pockets.
Pockets didn’t hold back after taking the lead as they kept pushing forward with attack after attack. Vale looked strong at the back with Silk and Az making strong tackles and Tude sweeping up all that came through. On 82 mins Pockets scored their 3rd in much the same manner as their 1st, a shot that looked to be saved by Tude took yet again another deflection and sailed into the top corner.
So with Vale having 3 names on the score sheet in a 3-1 loss they will feel hard done by, but will no doubt come back stronger for the lessons learned next week!
