Pirate’s snapped by gators!
The Ayton Alligators set forth on their journey for Scarborough Saturday 3rd Division stardom with a comfortable 2-1 victory vs The Falsgrave Pirates.
A goal in each half by Pindar and new captain Jedd Ward did the biz for the Gatorade@Wilsons Lane based club and grabbed the first 3 points on offer.
The Gator’s found themselves entering the Arena under a cloud of uncertainty. Just who would make the cut from Pluminho’s 23 man squad? Competitive debuts were given to Pindar, Smart, Wallace and Paterson as Ward was given the captaincy in a shake up which was so badly needed for the Reserve outfit.
The Alligators pressed forth early doors as Topham and Wallace impressed with some lightening quick bolts of pace, destroying the ageing back line and looking a real asset for the upcoming season.
(Jedd Ward the new Ayton Leader)
Pickard was spraying the passes from centre midfield like a young Jan Molby, bringing Topham in to the game with some well crafted toe pungs. Topham bore down on goal twice in the early knockings only to be denied by a mixture of poopy finishing, bad luck and decent goalkeeping from the high viz wearing Pirate stopper.
The first goal of the game came after only 15 minutes as 1st team player and hard core gambler Jack Willan celebrated selecting Sean Pindar as his first goal scorer at Coral. Wallace swung over a cross come shot from the right, Pindar retrieved the situation from the follow up and finished like a dream with his right foot to send the Ayton faithful into raptures as a chorus of “When the ball hits the goal its not Shearer or Cole, its Pindar” echoed around the great Wilsons arena.
The Pirates were shaken as the Gators snapped after their every touch, Pickard and Cpt Ward leading the way with some thunderous crunching tackles said to be heard around the world, this was mostly due to the shear weight of Pickard as he struck the deck with one local adding “I was in my kitchen polishing my recorder when suddenly everything started shaking, it’s the biggest quake ive ever known since the great Ayton Quake of ’42 when my house fell down, I was so scared and vulnerable”.
The great forward play from Ayton was also pleasing on the eye with Pluminho requesting total football in the upcoming season. It wasn’t all going the Gator’s way however as a number of nervy moments affected our centre half due of Fraser and Holden.
It was obvious their partnership was blossoming, but maybe coming in to bloom a tad too early as the Pirates hurled one off their deck. It was a real cannon ball that Fraser positioned himself well to repel with a headbut. Suddenly Holden flew through the air, knocking over anyone in his wake; granny’s small children and many a pirate as he mounted Fraser for cuddles as they both collided leaving the rest of the back line in tatters.
The Pirates had found their way in to the game as they swept another long ball up sea, aiming once again for Fraser and his jet like pace. Fraser ushered the ball, shielding it on the bounce when from out of nowhere Glass shot out of his goal zone, bowling down Fraser with a drop kick and leaving the Pirates forward with the simplest of tap ins! It was a big error and Glass wasn’t happy as he let himself loose on this goal frame with a 1 2 combination last seen in the great battle of Filey and his hard man victory vs Harrison.
(Featured right, Ayton tough guy; Peter Glass)
This in turn rocked the Gator’s as they were in complete control of the game. Topham fired off the upright when well placed, and Wallace again created havoc with his Taz Manian Devil approach behind the front line. Sadly Wallace’s finishing was more Daffy than Donald Duck, but the chances were flowing once again.
Half Time – Gators 1 v 1 Pirates
The Gator’s came out all guns blazing as they looked to strike early and send the Pirates into smithereens. Pickard and Mawer had the central deck under wraps as their creative wizardy combined to release Ward through on goal. The Captain courageous made no mistake with a plum of a left foot finish that flashed past the Pirate stopper before he could even react; it was Gator time once again.
Holden went close, striking the crossbar with a venomous header from a Ward corner. Pindar also found himself denied of a second as he was being a constant menace with his mixture of heading ability, hold up play and trapped wind giving the Pirates defence a night they would never forget.
Jamie Tyler, fresh from jail school and 420 hours community service for robbing old ladys at the Top Shops up Eastfield became the first substitute of the season, replacing Mawer. He linked well instantly with Plumpton down the left as they combined well to see Tyler skew wide from 18 yards.
Debutant Jake Smart grabbed the next chance as a ball from the right found him unmarked on the sprint 18 yards out only for his effort to drift wide of the white sticks.
Glass did manage to redeem himself with a super save as the Alligators wrapped up the half, the match and indeed the points. A solid start that left the Gators faithful happy to return to their wives and in some cases boyfriends after a fun night at the soccer.
The match sponsors “Lung Fung’s Yung Fun” sees the award dished to Jedd Ward for a majestic display with the mitre soccer, that was capped with a striker’s finish and robot cello combo! Nice Tekkers!!
