MEFF #42 – SZCZESNY HAWKES 3 – 3 BUBBA’S PINK SH@FT:
With Taylor swapping teams at half time to ensure that both sides had a man advantage for one half each, an open MEFF once again ended in a draw as P2’s Bubba’s Pink Shaft clashed with Blinkin’ Chops’Szczesny Hawkes for the second week running.
Starting with the extra man, BPS saw a lot of possession and tried to walk the ball into the net, but some inspired saves by Rowan or wasteful finishing kept the scores close. Despite breaking through on a couple of occasions, the keeper-less BPS were always susceptible to the counter-attack, and Szczesny Hawkes were able to equalise on two occasions, and could even have nicked the half had Brett kept his volley at the back post down (but instead it morphed into an Orbit Ball!) Phil P, Patto, Spence and Luke all hit the posts when trying to finish off sweeping moves, but the half ended 2-2.
With Neil swapping teams, it was the turn of Szczesny Hawkes to suffer the disadvantage of seeing too much possession, and BPS began to defend well as a unit and frustrate their opponents. Phil G cracked a low shot between Luke’s legs, but a great passing counter-attack drew the scores level again thanks to Crozier’s fine finish. With Kieran a constant menace on the wings, Luke blazed good chances wide or over the bar from Patto’s passes, while Brett missed an open goal with a glancing header (following Griffin’s good save) before Phil G thought he’d won it with a crisp header, but the final whistle (Spence) had already gone off!
0-1: Spence(A simple attacking move ended with Neil feeding Spence into the area, and he finished coolly into the bottom left corner)
1-1: Aidan(Griffiths was released down the right wing, and he produced a high looping cross to the back post where Aidan expertly volleyed the ball beyond the helpless Crozier in goal)
1-2: Patto(Spence’s long ball from the back was flicked on by Kieran towards Rowan, but Patto stuck out a foot to divert the ball into the bottom corner at the last minute)
2-2: Brett(Phil G’s long ball released Brett on the counter-attack, and although his first shot smashed off the inside of the post, the ball took a fortunate deflection and came back to him for a simple volleyed finish)
Half Time
3-2: Phil G(Phil G mopped up a goal-mouth scramble with a low, hard finish between Luke’s legs)
3-3: Crozier(A fantastic passing move involving Kieran, Luke, Patto and Phil P ended with the latter teeing up Crozier who smashed the ball into the roof of the net)
Men of the Match were Phil G for “good all round work, confidence on the ball and some good strikes on goal” and Phil P for “masterminding a dominant display in the second half despite being a man down”.
