What an amazing game, a game full of intensity, banter, solid tackles, cards, fouls and diving.
The lads lined up ready for a game they knew was a must win otherwise the season was over for them. A changed centre back partnership of new signing Jamie Osbourne and Old boy Darren Johnson was a pairing not many would have expected, but with Paterson injured and Ward working the new partnership was a must and allowed the lads to step in. Holt benched himself due to a poor recent form and poor training effort as well as a few other players who were rested.
Within 10 minutes the Coach had a penalty, or what they thought was a Penno, the ref pointed to the spot as Nick was fouled in the box, then he changed his mind and decided it was outside the box which it certainloy was not. However from the resulting free kick justice was served as Pete headed the ball towards goal and it struck the hand of a Staff player and we had a Penno. dave Evans stepped up and lashed the ball home for the lads to go up 1-0.
The lead did not last too long as about 10 minutes later Staff caught the defenders on the back foot and Mark rushed out and missed the ball, leaving the player to shoot, all players appeared to think it was going in or wide and left it, however it hit the post and fell to a Staff player and he slotted home for 1-1. We went into half time 1-1.
There was a talk from the gaffer who wanted to make sure the forwards worked more for each other and looked for placement over power and it clearly worked as Coach persistantly tested the opposition keeper. A few subs were made with Jordan coming on for his comeback from Oz and Holt came on in midfield for a dedicated Meakin.
Evans, Pollock and malkin continued to fire shots to no evail. Coach were punished for this and through set pieces the Staff went up 3-1, a fantastic cross from their winger to their attacker and scored and also a random shot from a cross.
From this the lads pulled together and from a Malkin throw in Pollock went up for a fantastic challenge and won the header who then scored. Coach were on the come back. From this Harnett needed to come on for the injured Farr and took a throw in on the far side of the pitch to Dave Evans who then went for a cross that turned into a knuckleball shot and dipped over the keeper and rested in the corner of the net. At this point the lads really began to believe that we could win this, only a few minutes we were before we would have settled for the draw and now we were pushing for the win.
On the counter coming from a Staff corner, Holt was tripped and then tripped the player back as the ref did not see, Malkin ran down the wing and looked up, saw a pass to Holt who had the ball snatched by Jordan Evans who made his comeback known, Holt was cursing his name up until he smashed a 20 yard shot to the keepers right who had no chance. With 20 minutes to go the Coach went from 3-1 down to win 4-3. sensational.
Mark pulled of a fantastic save to make up for the intial blunder in the first half and kept the lads in it, he saved a one v one that would have left the coach with a draw. Both full backs played very well and challenged hard as well as pushing forward when needed. Osbourne and Johson kept it steady in the middle, although it was obvious it was a new partnership this season, they pulled together well.
Tim Smith was the unsung hero of the game, sat in the CDM roll and looking after the centre backs and controlling play, as well as slowing their atacks if they need it. He was spreading the ball left right and centre, as well as using his commanding tone to keep the players around him in check. All Midfielders, Meakin, Walker, Smith and Holt did what they needed to do and put in hard tackles and won the headers when they needed it.
The 3 lads up top were sensational, tracking back when needed, challenging the defenders and pressing the defenders loads, The forwards could not have been asked for more.
