Heart of Glass
GPR 4 Princes Park United 5
Some losses hurt more than others. Two late goals weren’t enough to seal a hard-fought point this weekend, as The Salads came up short against a talented Princes Park United on a wet, rainy Sunday.
Another team we had yet to face, Princes Park had won their first two games, so there was plenty of anticipation as the teams lined up to start. We quickly learned that they liked to keep the ball on the ground, using their impressive technical ability to their advantage.
Quickly, however, the surface cut up, the morning rain presenting a challenge to both possession-heavy teams. In midfield, Cal, Steeve and Josh did brilliantly to adapt, taking advantage of loose balls whilst using a blend of quick passing and long balls to provide a more direct threat.
After twenty minutes, a dink towards the opposition defence was flicked on by Rory’s head. It landed perfectly in Joel’s path, who stabbed at the ball. The keeper put out a hand to stop the shot, but he could only slow the ball down, giving Joel an easy tap in to an open net.
Minutes later, we won a free kick in a dangerous position, and Josh went close with a powerful effort that demanded a fingertip save. Things were looking good, and we had the momentum.
Alan nearly doubled our lead shortly after this, as an innocuous hoof to clear the danger bounced over the keeper’s head, and he had to sprint back to clear the ball off the line just in the nick of time.
Despite this, Princes Park had been threatening to claw their way back, and before long levelled proceedings. Having been quiet against Adam, their left winger took the ball from deep and broke into an explosive run. Beating four men down the flank, he found time to square the ball, and it was tucked into the corner from 12 yards out.
Not long afterwards, a throw in was taken down on the right hand side, and a hopeful cross landed at the back post. The forward took the ball down, and fired it into the opposite corner. Oli got a palm to it, but it ricocheted into our defender and trickled in to put the visitors ahead.
Then, in a very similar fashion to the first goal, the left winger broke down the flanks and set up an all-too-easy finish for the striker from close range to put the away side in control of the game.
The boys responded shortly before the break, however. Cal floated a free kick and Dan, hurtling into the box, met it with a header too powerful to stop. 3-2, game on.
We were on top when the half-time whistle blew, and it gave Princes Park time to regroup. On our side, it was a case of finding more room to create the threat and get service to Rory, whilst doing better to stop the crosses from out wide.
The second half began as a slug match, with both teams unable to find that killer instinct, albeit with us on the back foot.
We made changes, and they quickly had an impact. With the game hanging on a knife’s edge, Marcus was brought down by the last man, inches from the penalty box.
My understanding of what happens here is that it’s a straight red card for the defender. That’s because it is. But the ref just blew for a foul and told us to get on with it. Unsurprisingly, this caused an argument. When it settled, Josh forced a good save from the keeper, and the game held at 3-2.
Rory then went close soon after, but his flick from a long throw was stopped close to the line. Oli was forced into making a great save on the counter.
Injury then paused the game, and on the restart we switched off. After a scrap in the penalty area, Princes Park’s winger found space to cross, and there was a man free at the back post, who couldn’t miss. Soon after the restart, their striker muscled off the defender in the box, and scored from 12 yards out.
The game was over at this point, but full credit has to be given to the boys for fighting on to the end. In our desperation, Andre and Gavin both scored in the final minutes of the game, and although we briefly thought we had a chance at a miraculous comeback, the whistle blew too soon.
It was hard not to get caught up in the many frustrating events of the game, but sometimes you have to check yourself and remember that two short years ago, I’d have been happy if the team had been fighting by the half-time whistle.
To see our heads stay up and keep battling for the shirt is a joy, and we will get our rewards for that spirit over the course of the season. Good luck to the opposition, we’re looking forward to the return fixture already.
MOTM 💫 = Cal delivered a vintage performance in his passing and pressing on return from an injury stint, and earns the nod this week. Dan came a close second for his powerful work at both ends of the pitch and leadership throughout.
DOTD 👀 = the idiot who broke a bottle on the field the night before.
