A Wish Too Far
GPR 0 Wishing Well Wanderers 3
The Salads suffered back to back losses for the first time this season, crashing out of the Russell Grant Trophy in the first round to a resilient Wish Well Wanderers to end a tough October run of games.
Things started well. It was a glorious Autumn morning, no one had smashed any bottles on the pitch and our new black and blue nets had arrived. It was a shame their first runout saw their owners preserve them as well as we did, but more of that later.
The boys started well on the pitch too. Wanting to change formation and personnel, we experimented with a back 5, which saw a return to action for the gaffer, Jack. He imposed his will on the game early as well, making several challenges and headers to stifle the opponent’s play down the middle.
The set up naturally drifted towards playing direct football, and one or two nervous moments at the other end encouraged us to look to go forward at speed. Five minutes in, and finding time on the ball, Cal played a quick pass between the defenders. One man slowed the ball down, but Marcus beat the last back, only to fire his shot wide of the target.
It didn’t take him long to test the back line again. After a quick throw in, he ran the ball down the right flank and cut in. The defender chased after him and soon the ball was rolling out, with Marcus rolling on the floor.
We thought it was a penalty, but the referee was having none of it. He didn’t go for it the second time either, when a cutting pass from Robin put Rory through. The keeper rushed out and brought him down, arguing he’d won the ball, and again the referee didn’t blow his whistle.
We felt strongly about the first, but were amazed at the decision for the second. With no choice but to complain, the touchline had some fruity exchanges with the goalie. It was all quite wholesome in the end though; I’ve never seen a player apologise for being in the “heat of the moment”.
After an encouraging start, Wishing Well regrouped. A counter attack from a free kick found their winger in space. He squared it, and a brilliant last ditch tackle by Tim not only stopped a certain goal but won the goal kick as well.
The game fell into a lull after this, broken up by a fair few fouls from both sides. Steeve went for a worldie on the half bounce, followed by Cal minutes later, neither to any avail.
Another first then happened: Wishing Well’s manager was sent off, although we didn’t really know why. This led to a lengthy delay while referee marshalled him to a respectable distance from the pitch.
Play restarted, and shortly afterwards Tim made another big block to prevent the shot. The away team were on top, however, and once again we found ourselves 1-0 down, after an incredible - and completely unexpected - bicycle kick found the striker at the back post for a header.
Not long later, it was 2-0 to the visitors, a missed clearance spilling to put their man through for an all-too-easy finish. We went into the break disheartened, frustrated and knowing that the scoreline was every bit as much a result of our play than the opponent’s, as has been the case a few times now this season.
The next goal would be crucial, and we hyped ourselves up and broke out for the second half. 3-0.
We had a few chances after this, but never looked like getting back into the game. A great free kick from Cal almost found Rory, who was unlucky not to convert the finish. In his last involvement before his substitution, Marcus squared the ball to Andre, who couldn’t keep the ball down.
A lack of discipline then descended on the game and dominated the final portion of the match. The opposition winger was sent off for an incontestable red card, sliding into Oli long after he won the ball.
Unhappy not to be the focus of a disciplinary action, Oli, who has a complicated relationship with referees in the same way I have a complicated relationship with anything I utterly despise, got himself sinbinned for dissent shortly afterwards.
Not our best day. No amount of excuses and blame on external factors can hide the fact that we deserved to lose to a good team. Time to step up.
MOTM 💫 = Tim’s heroics stood out as a point of difference, but this weekend’s action was a classic case of losing as a team. No MOTM this time.
DOTD 👀 = Calling this one was a bit easier, as Andre’s two foul throws put him squarely in the firing line. The real tragedy is that he wasn’t the only one to do it. At least the treasury will be happy.
