A Fitting Farewell
London Tigers Sunday 1 GPR 4
It takes a lot to stomach the fact that you can no longer play the beautiful game. Earlier in the week, when the numbers for this weekend’s game were looking dicey, it was hard not to be excited about the prospect of even getting five minutes in for a laugh.
But today’s second half performance was a timely reminder that I need not worry. Or that I would even make it into the side anymore. A solid team performance was capped with four great goals to see out 2024 and end our month with 9 points from 9 available this month.
And if it hadn’t been for a silly bit of miscommunication at the back, we’d have kept three clean sheets in that spell. Alas, the breakthrough came not for us, but London Tigers.
After a positive start for the Salads, their impressive striker opened the scoring, having picked up on a hoof that wasn’t dealt with, before dispatching it over the keeper from range.
The first half then became a performance wrought with angst and frustration. In searching for a quick reply, we came close many times, but for a while it seemed like there was nothing we could do to draw level.
His usual cavalier self in his new role, Rob put a cross in from the left side, and Rory couldn’t quite latch on, skimming the post with a flick that almost evened the scoring.
Marcus would then battle for the ball after a clearance from deep and the defender, unable to clear under mounting pressure, allowed him to break free down the right channel. He squared to Jeff, whose effort smacked the bar to keep it at 1-0.
Seconds later, Jeff narrowly missed after taking the ball from a tricky dribble into the box by Josh. The shot took the keeper by surprise, but again, the ball found itself the wrong side of the crossbar.
Not long after, Rory found space to break, and he crossed the ball at pace. Marcus burst into the box from a tight angle, and once again the chance went inches from being punished.
Then, Robin’s in-swinging free kick connected with Rory’s boot; it skimmed the ball, and rolled out for a goal-kick. After the ball came back into play, a superb dink from Jeff found Marcus. He got himself into space placed it over the keeper… and the bar.
We were doing everything right, but it just wasn’t going our way. The defensive line had shored up, and we had little in the way of threat for the rest of the game. Tim and Josh were combining well; the former must have set a record for number of balls won as he danced over the boggy pitch and made light work of cleaning up counter attacks.
Shortly before the half, a cross came into the box, which Tigers couldn’t get clear. It was knocked into a no-man’s land just outside the 18-yard box. Gavin was the first to get to it. He pounced on the loose ball and with a single touch, curled into the near corner of the goal. 1-1.
At the break, we made a few alterations, and encouraged the boys that we were the far likelier team to win this game. Nevertheless, the next goal would be crucial.
It almost came for the home side. After a free kick was unfairly handed to them, the ball was whipped in and without a challenger, the ball skimmed past the post, much to the surprise of Jack.
We retaliated though, and fifteen minutes into the second half, we got our breakthrough. Speeding down the wing, it took a great ball from Jeff on his weaker foot to float the ball towards the back post. Marcus was waiting, unmarked, and got us the goal to break the deadlock.
Our tails were up, the game in the balance and for the taking. It took a genius bit of trickery to get the next. Having been told he wasn’t going to do anything with a free kick high and wide, Robin saw the goalie off his line, and took his chance.
By the time the threat was identified, the ball was bobbling under the keeper’s gloves, and Robin had three in three.
We made changes, and the substitutes did brilliantly to lock down the midfield and refresh the team’s impetus. Leon, Luke and David all chipped in, especially when both sides went down to 10 men after some handbags during a corner ball.
The boys held their nerve, and Gavin, who’d scored the most important goal of the game, popped up again to kill it. Joel, playing like he had a point to prove, and having almost scored himself minutes earlier, put in an incredible pass that was inch-perfect. With the keeper off his line, Gavin smacked the ball from 30 yards out.
After this, it was a matter of seeing out the win. Adam, Alan and Julian held the backline, Julian stepping up with an immense slide tackle shortly before the end.
Some great link up play between Leon and Aman pushed the ball into the opposition half, and Aman threaded the needle to Joel, who cut in from the left. The keeper did well not to be rounded and stop the shot.
It was a scintillating second half, filled with everything that has made this year so exciting. I’m very proud of what the team has accomplished.
Those who were there when the club started might have identified some similarities between the games we had during that time and this weekend’s game. It is a relief, I have to say, to suggest we find ourselves on the opposite end of those similarities.
We now look to a new future in 2025. More new kits and identities for the club. A new manager as well. But we will be hoping for more of the same. So, for one last time this year…
COME ON YOU SALADS!
MOTM 💫 = The pitch was rough this weekend, but you wouldn’t have known it looking at Josh. He breezed over the bumps and bogs, and his movement of the ball kept us ticking throughout the game.
DOTD 👀 = Rory for his handbags.
