In what was expected to be a very tight affair between our biggest rivals for the league, the opening half hour couldn't have been more one sided. Two well taken goals from Beano put Arkive comfortably ahead and never looked to be troubled for the opening 20 minutes. A quick goal on the break brought the opponents back within touching distance but as they started to build momentum and create several good chances, the Half-Time whistle went.
Both sides made changes to their teams and the second half kicked off with Arkive on the back foot. Replacement right back Sword was tormented time and again by their pacy winger at every opportunity. This pressure eventually led to an individual mistake which allowed the game to be levelled. The opponents pushed for the goal that would give them the lead for the first time but a counter attack by Arkive forced them into a mistake of their own which allowed Cush to punish them and give Arkive the lead once more. Arkive were never comfortable with this lead though and further pressure notably from the two pacy wingers and a packed midfield forced stand in gaffer Chico to reshuffle his team and change formation. During this period of transition a lucky ricochet between several players presented the opposing team with another chance which they converted to level once more.
The game became very scrappy at this time and Arkive failed to keep possession of the ball which led to a few frustrated tackles flying in. The referee had clearly reached the end of his tether and apparently reacted to something Beano had said as he ordered him from the pitch without making it clear as to why. Failing to bring his cards to the game only served to confuse the situation and he began to lose control of a stop start game with numerous fouls. One foul too many resulted in Chico also being given his marching orders with around 10 minutes of the game still to be played. The opponents began to turn the screw and worked hard for what would be the winning goal but it was the determination of Cush and a desire to get forward from Paton that unbelievably gave the 9 men of Arkive the lead yet again. Cush won a header in the opposing half and with no other Arkive players near him, he chased his own pass, skipped past the defender and played the ball into the six yard box where Paton attacked it to his own injury.
Arkive managed to hang on and seal a remarkable victory that puts some gloss on what was actually a fairly poor performance from the Summer League Champions.
BY Michael Sword
