CRFC Hares 4 v Ascot United 5
After another Lockdown and 35 days on from The Army drubbing – we were chomping at the bit to play a bit of competitive football once again. So down to Surrey’s number 1 Health Club we go and arguably we’ve got the perfect day for it. One by one we arrive, dust off the boots and start our warm ups.
After Emmins let us know that him and Gareth have met up in the woods a few times during Lockdown … go figure … Jonny A calls the team huddle and runs through the necessities. The Hares decide to revert to a 4-5-1 formation after shipping 7 against The Army whilst also knowing Ascot are a tidy outfit. We’re all in agreement & Jonny proceeds to name the starting 11. Off we go – WE’RE BACK (AGAIN) BOYS! How many times…..?!
Now I know we’re named The Hares but unfortunately we start this game more like The Tortoises. Ascot are sharp, crisp and up for it from minute 1 – unfortunately they catch us fairly cold and go 1 up in no time. I think one of their midfielders dinks a ball over the top and it’s put in to an area between goalkeeper and defence. Mikey D does his best but the Ascot striker gets to the ball first and lobs a lovely finish to put his team 1 up.
We start coming in to the game a little more but the ref blows for a silly free kick around 35 yards out. Our line looks good but a peach of a ball in to the box picks out an Ascot player and it’s 2 nil in the blink of an eye.
Not to be deterred The Hares finally settle in to their stride and start to play a little. After some neat play in the midfield Jonny H is released down the right and fizzes a dangerous looking ball in to the box, well cleared by Ascot. But The Hares are coming in to this one nicely and over to the right it goes again. Gaz is now released down the wing and swings a beautiful ball in to the box – Napper is there and does brilliantly to get something on it but his header goes just over the bar.
After a bit of sustained pressure from The Hares it’s actually Ascot who get their 3rd. The Hares clear their lines after the initial attack but the ball falls to the Ascot winger and in fairness it’s a lovely strike from the edge of the box. A 4th soon follows and it’s at this point where Jonny A gets us together and changes the formation – back to 3-5-2 we go. Without doubt – a key turning point in the game.
The 4th Ascot goal definitely dented a few ego’s and The Hares came out swinging. Scrini setting the tone nicely by snapping into a few challenges and making it difficult for Ascot to put their passes together – great to have him back after a lengthy lay off. Matty T 2 is also now on and is making a complete nuisance of himself. He soon wins us a free kick on the edge of the Ascot area with some lovely trickery & pace. The free kick is in a great position but I fire it just over the bar. Ascot are clearly still dangerous and a some lovely passing moves set them up with a couple of chances but thankfully big Mikey D is there to keep the score respectable.
With half time fast approaching The Hares are given a glimmer of hope. Back on his trusted left wing Jonny H is released 1 on 1 with the Ascot Right Back. A lovely step inside on his right frees up some space and the finish is tucked away nicely into the bottom right corner, lovely goal. 4-1 – Is it game on?
HALF TIME!!!
The message is crystal clear – keep fighting, keep battling and see where it takes us. A rallying team talk and The Hares cannot wait to get back out there again.
The first few minutes have a different feel to it – Gav, Emmins and Chrissy C are slowly but surely starting to control the Ascot attacks, stepping in brilliantly to deny the Ascot strikers any sort of time on the ball. The back 3 are setting the tone early in this 2nd period and this gives us a brilliant foundation to start pushing forward.
Some great interchange between Matty T 1, Napper and Jonny A releases Jonny H down his wing again. Jonny drives in to the area but his cross is blocked and it falls to the edge of the box…..
It’s at this point I come steaming in like a gazelle. Managing to control my unbelievable pace, I move down a gear and take a look at the position of the goalkeeper. There’s only one place I can score this - top right - the pressure is on. I have about 14 Ascot players charging at me trying to close down the shot but I manage to maintain my composure, knowing the outside of the boot is the only path through to goal. I connect beautifully and like an absolute thunderbolt it scorches into the top right hand corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance!!!
I hit it in hope first time, it takes a deflection and loops over the goalie.
I’ll leave it up to you gents as to what option to choose. Regardless, it’s 4-2 and The Hares have a little spring in their step.
Ascot are still dangerous, no doubt about it. But Mikey D and the back 3 are proving to be rock solid in this half- Chrissy C is like a man possessed. We then counter again. From memory it’s Matty T 2 who causes havoc and some great play between him and Jonny A wins us a corner. A quick short corner is given to Jonny H who gets his head up and puts a great cross in. Ascot show some hesitation, Napper is causing his usual mayhem and it’s our big centre half Emmins who pokes it home. 4-3 – GAME ON!!
The Hares are now relentless. If it’s not Gaz snuffing out attacks, it’s Scrini popping up here there and everywhere. Ascot try to build an attack but we win it back and counter again. I release Jonny A who is steaming down the right. He puts in a cross and Matty T 1 pokes it home…. NO, CROSSBAR!! But like a hunted sardine trying to jump out of the water, Matty does what seems like a side wards diving heading and DRAWS THE HARES LEVEL!! Yes Matty!! What a comeback!!!
Now for the reality check.
Ascot stay nice and calm and start building some attacks once again. Full credit to the back 3 doing their best but Ascot were starting to penetrate and were testing Mike again. Thankfully he was up to the task. The Hares do manage another quick counter and Jonny A is through… NO, OFFSIDE!! Jonny is incensed and challenges the ref’s decision. No changing his mind though so it’s best left alone. Jonny? You might as well leave it. He doesn’t want to listen Jonny so just leave it now, walk away. Walk away Jonny. Jon? JON!!! JONNY!!!??? The gaffer is shown a yellow (blue?) card and is sinbinned for the rest of the game.
Ascot turn the screw and for some reason I decide to dribble the ball to the edge of our own box and give it to an Ascot striker. They cross it, it’s blocked. But it falls to Ascot again, blocked by Gav, but again it falls to an Ascot striker who rifles it home…. NOOOO!
The Hares do their best to try and muster one last chance but it doesn’t come. Credit to Chris Price & Gav at this point who were doing brilliantly at the end to stop Ascot’s counters, they seemed to be everywhere.
The game ends 5-4 and The Hares are exhausted.
Now we showed some fight & brilliant character but if we hold our hands up we know Ascot were the better team and deserved the win. I thought they were a super bunch. Well drilled, fair and played the game the right way. No doubt they will be Premier League next season.
Just to give credit to the two Matty’s. That couldn’t have been an easy game to come in to but both proved vital in helping us to stage a comeback.
We’re back but it ended with defeat. However, it’s the type of defeat you reflect on and take some pride out of, lesser teams would have folded and got beat by double digits. Well played lads, it was a pleasure and we go again soon.