The Sheffield Academicals recorded a convincing win in the end against Bistro Old Boys in conditions more akin to a Russian midwinter than a Spring afternoon in Sheffield.
After days of rain the weather had turned decidedly wintry which made for a slick surface and the presence of some slightly dubious handwear; particularly the opposition number 7 being noted for sporting his grandmothers best woollen mittens. It was the Accies that started brightly with Dan Kav getting plenty of the ball down the right channel, an early corner resulting from a blocked cross saw Alex nearly open the scoring with a bullet header that flashed just wide. An attack down the left channel between Swifty and Stan resulted in the ball bouncing around in the box; Swifty laid it back to Steve McCulloch who drove a great shot into the far corner of the goal to open the scoring. He’ll never wash that spot on his right boot again.
The goal should have calmed down proceedings but the Accies struggled to gain a foothold on the game. The opposition winger ran through the centre and eluded several challenges before the excellent Batts herded him wide and tackled him just before he got into a dangerous position in the box. Reedy and Batts were containing their useful looking forwards well in actual fact and were seeing a lot of the ball early on; not helped by the two ‘flying wingers’ down the right no doubt and the adventurous nature of the left back!
Matt G and Jamie were controlling the centre of the park really well though despite the ball getting stuck in a packed midfield. When it did come wide chances were being created. Dan Kav beat his full back and squared the ball to Jamie who took a great first touch then curled a left footed effort onto the bar with the keeper standing stock still. I’m sure I heard Tony shout ‘well left’! Stan and Steve worked the left channel and Swifty was put through only to see his shot saved, Dan Kav flicked a ball into Alex’s path but he shot wide from a tight angle. Despite the pressure the half ended with Sheffield a goal to the good.
Half time 1-0
The second half began with a full on wintry shower and it proved to be a grim tiding for Bistro as the Accies started to turn on the style. Their possession started to count as the Old Boys visibly tired and some good football began to come into the play.
A slick one-two between Dan and Swifty saw Matt G glance a header onto the post from Dan Kav’s cross. Jamie put a good ball through for Swifty which the keeper saved with his legs. It was only a matter of time before the Accies scored and the goal duly arrived when Alex held the ball really well before releasing Swifty with a great reverse pass which the latter belted into the far top corner. Bistro briefly rallied without really threatening the Accies goal but they completely went when a ball from Stan found Alex unmarked at the back post, his ‘cushioned pass’ found Swifty to nod into an open goal.
The proverbial flood gates had opened. Dan Kav whipped in a corner that Alex made no mistake with to crash through several players and bullet his header into the roof of the net. Jamie struck a firm shot that ‘flew’ into the bottom corner of the goal without any hint of a deflection to make it 5-0.
Ryan came on for Hodgy at full back and produced 3 of the hardest challenges of the game in the space of 2 minutes. Their left midfielder calling a ‘tactical switch’ to the right hand side shortly afterwards! Brian came on for Steve and Daz replaced Alex who had made a valuable contribution. The moment of the match was soon upon us as Stan watched a swirling ball over the top and perfectly judged his diving header as he fell face down in the mud and suffered the ball bouncing up off the centre of his back. It seemed to completely bamboozle the opposition which was obviously part of the plan as Brian picked up the ball and crossed in just eluding the onrushing forwards.
The Accies were creating chances at will now. Dan Kav sent a lovely ball across for Jamie to cap a flowing move but his touch unusually let him down. Dan had made a good run and was found by a great ball by Matt G but the ball squirmed out under his foot; seconds later he hit the post with a left footed effort from range.
Daz had shown some great touches and a move involving himself, Jamie, Swifty and Dan resulted in a loose ball rolling out to Bri; the crowd were on their feet in anticipation, the owners of the house behind the goal drew a breath and closed their eyes…I think the tree took some sting out of it as it bounced off their greenhouse without breakage. He more than made up for it 5 minutes later though as he chased down another lost cause and whipped a ball into the near post which Daz met with a bullet header to round off the scoring. It could have been more as Matt G ran into the box and looked to take Daz’s centre in his stride and sweep the ball into the corner, or take a touch and smash it in, or do anything other than stop it dead and run past it….
The Old Boys finally mustered a shot on goal in the dying seconds which Godwin put behind for a corner, looking more surprised than anything by the complete lack of power which pretty much summed up their afternoon.
Full time 6-0
