It’s been a long cold winter without football for the all the teams of the central London super league. So enthusiasm was high as the Alex returned to Regents Park, setting of our last victory and a home away from home for the team, boasting a fearsome record of 3 wins out of 3, having scored 14 and conceded only 1.
However, hampered by pullouts, hangovers and against a team that somehow beat us earlier in the season, it was always going to be a tough ask for the boys.
As expected rustiness was in evidence from the outset, as both teams failed to really click in the early stages. Loan signing Steve O’Shea was the brightest spark, holding onto the ball well and ghosting past defenders. The calls from the terraces of ‘Riley, Riley sign him up’ will not have gone unnoticed, though wages would prove a large obstacle. In a disjointed first half the best chances fell to Tuesday. Makeshift goalkeeper Riley could only watch as a bullet rattled his crossbar and another good chance was missed wide of the left hand post.
Spirits were lifted by the sight of the Woodsman on the horizon who in a colossal effort had missioned it from Reading at the last minute to answer his teams call. At the half time whistle Woody replaced the ever grateful Riley in net who moved into centre back. Captain Black rallied the troops and retook the field. The start of the second half was solid if unspectacular with neither side making many inroads, a neutral would have switched the channel over to Come Dine with me long ago. Mantell and Miller continued to put in vibrant harassing performances that belied the amount of alcohol they had consumed the previous evening.
The breakthrough came on 65 minutes (ish) when the dangerous Lavery, who had improved tenfold since moving out wide found himself in space and floated the ball into the top right hand corner.
The goal settled the nerves and Alex began to find their form, getting the ball on the deck and passing through the opposition. The next goal was not far away. A trademark inswinging corner from Crouch was met by the head of Templeman who buried it from close range. Game over. The Shepherds heads dropped and the Alex had a handful of chances to increase their lead before the ref put the whistle to his lips for the final time.
A real workman like performance, if the measure of a good side is winning when playing poorly then the Alex can go away very happy. A consecutive clean sheet is a real achievement, and our record on Regents Park remains phenomenal. Thanks to all that came, back to the Common this weekend to take on Barking Mad.
