Comeback Kings
GPR 4 After Hours 2
What a game. That’s all I can say to start the report. An all out battle that a year ago would have gone very differently for us, but through grit, passion and some stunning goals we pulled ahead of an impressive After Hours side to go 2-1 on the early season. It was a game of spirit by both teams, but our depth on the bench and clinical touch in the second half means we now have a winning record for the first time in our history.
After spending £30 on the wrong cab and arriving on the scene to watch us go 1-0 down, I was a little nervous that my Sunday was in jeopardy. The technical brilliance in midfield that After Hours had displayed just a couple of months previously was on show for all to see, and the lads were struggling to contain them. On the break though, we looked a threat and after 20 minutes Phizz’s rare venture into midfield paid dividends as he picked Rory out to smack home a header and draw the game. The half continued with both sides threatening to score, our organisation against individual quality. Either side could have nabbed another before the break, and with five minutes to go an incisive through ball penetrated the high line and the opposing striker took it past the keeper to make it 2-1 to the away side.
We went into the break confident of getting back in the game, which after months of dropping heads whenever we conceded was a welcome relief. We started the second half with plenty of intent, and the bare 11 of After Hours started to show signs of strain. Even so, we knew it would take a big effort to pull ahead. Luckily, just when we started biting fingernails, Robin delivered a sublime cross into the area, and Phizz rose tall to beat the keeper and get us back in the game. With our tails up, the momentum of the match started pushing firmly in our direction. Marcus’ quick, direct runs in behind stretched the defence and he would have been on for a handful but for several robust challenges by the sweeper keeper.
With 20 minutes to go we were on top, but After Hours kept threatening to score and were shooting on sight from deep. Then a hoofed clearance reached Sina on the halfway line, and he turned to run. One player, two players, three, four, five - it did not matter. His quick feet darted through the defenders, evading the snapping at his heels, and he clattered it past the keeper’s outstretched gloves to put us in front and pick up a richly deserved opening to his GPR account. Shortly after, Phizz was brought down just outside the box, and Oli despatched the dead ball with a flick of the boot to send the team into raptures and kill the game. Marcus did brilliantly to win a penalty late on, and missed it in equally spectacular fashion.
Overall it was a fantastic effort from the boys in what was such a close game for so long, and it was so reassuring to have so many supporters on the touchline. There were plenty of unmentioned incidents in a battle that had it all - certainly one of the most entertaining I’ve been lucky enough to see in my 15 years of 11s. A year ago we might have folded after the second goal, but we dug deep and took control of the match in the second half. We’ve shown a lot of improvement game after game, and that’s down to the players as much as the team itself. Jack was rock solid in defence, stamping out attack after attack and launching incoming long balls with twice the sting. Oli, Cal and Phizz needed a little time to adjust, but once they had they took the game by the scruff of the neck. Rory’s so prolific I don’t even bother mentioning him anymore, but given he played most of the game with a dead leg he deserves one here. Onto an impressive looking Eutectic FC side next week and as always, UP. THE. SALADS.
MOTM 🤌 = One of the lads won a bet equivalent to the GDP of a small nation last night, so he should really get it, but out of team spirit Jack fully deserves today’s accolade.
DOTD 💀 = Marcus took full responsibility for the missed penalty to claim DOTD. Gotta get on the match report somehow, respect the hustle…
