Little Things Make Big Days
West Drayton Reserves 0 GPR 7
Early springtime is a breeding ground for weather-related paranoia, fixture re-arrangements and general confusion over what to do with ourselves on a Sunday morning. This weekend was no different, BBC Weather throwing up threats of hailstorms and fog that kept us on our toes right up until kick-off. We gingerly made our way to the ground - some more than others as birthday boy Doug and brother Julian alluded to many times - and to our surprise found a pleasantly kept pitch that settled the nerves and allowed us to get into game mode. What followed was a vintage display from the Salads, who did the work early in the game and kept pushing until the final whistle to secure back-to-back clean sheets.
Upon finding a changing room that displayed more motivational quotes than an Instagram nepo-baby, the boys were eager to make up for a month without Sunday League. Several of the quotes felt slightly counter-intuitive, and I can only hope my girlfriend can take as much solace as I can from the phrase, “little things make big days”. These motivational words felt somewhat incompatible with the sign placed next to it, “excuses are for the weak”. But I digress. We made our way out to the pitch, which wouldn’t have been able to hold another drop of water if the skies had turned. Julian and Doug arrived later than most, looking uncharacteristically bashful off the back of their characteristic Saturday night bender. But we got the warm up going and before long, kick-off beckoned.
GPR have made a habit of starting slow. Mercifully, this week’s game was most definitely an exception. Robin lead the charge from left back, his sweeping balls testing a high back-line and almost breaking through in the opening minutes. The midfield, comprised of Matty, Doug and Yannick were fearless, winning ball after ball throughout the first half, the former delivering a memorable performance as he slashed through the opponents with quick feet and grit. Jeff, Rory and Marcus have proven themselves to be a potent mix up top, and they were finding plenty of opportunities to open the scoring. Jeff went close several times with his inverted runs and almost found glory when he took the ball past the last defender, only to hit it straight into the keeper’s gloves.
Then an inswinging corner from Matty found Rory at the near post, whose glancing header was too quick and precise for the goalie to stop. After that, our tails shot up. Jeff went close again but for a last ditch clearance on the line, much to the agony of the touchline. No matter, though, as keeper Greg picked him out just moments later and he beat the goalie to walk the ball in from a yard out. Soon after, a scrappy melee in the box ended with Marcus forcing a good save, but the ball fell to Rory who turned the defender, only to be bundled down. Following a brief disagreement, the same man tucked the ball cosily in the corner to make it a brace.
We were creating havoc. The defence were solid and the few chances Greg had to deal with he did without fuss and with the intensity to begin the counter-attack. One of them lead to a corner. It wasn’t cleared, and with Marcus missing the ball Rory was there to sweep in the fourth from the far post. What happened next can only be described as the VAR of the lower leagues. We lined up, ready to go again having just celebrated Rory’s second hat-trick in as many games. The referee ran over to the linesman, who seemed to be indicating a handball. There was a disagreement, a bit of an impolite discussion had, and in the end the goal was chalked off despite a lack of evidence to suggest as much. We were fuming, but got our own back through one unlikely candidate.
This one came from another corner from Matty, but this cross was far deeper. Suddenly a great bellow rang around the field. Rocking the no. 9 at centre back, friendly giant Jack Bodkin smacked the ball on the volley. It carried at pace, past the host of bodies in the penalty area and too precise for the keeper to stop it. It was one of those goals so good that Jack didn’t know what to do with himself other than run around the pitch with his shirt off, the rest of the team in toe. It was one of the best moments we’ve had all year and he was the perfect man to step up and provide it minutes before half time.
We had the perfect intensity at the break - none of the lads wanted to stop and we were confident in wanting to press on. We were getting a bit stroppy with the ref and regardless of its justification, it wasn’t going to help us win. We went back on wanting to score more and keep goals out, and we did just that. The second half was a joy to watch; there was a period of play where we were knocking the ball about with precision and prowess. Matty, Luke and Jeff combined brilliantly for some triangle passing down the left flank whilst at the other end Rory’s direct approach was a constant threat to the scoreline.
Doug then found himself in plenty of space and, turning to face the advancing attackers, chipped the ball into Marcus, who expertly dispatched the ball outside the box with a first time effort into the side netting on his weak foot. It was low-key one of the best goals we’ve scored all season, but we were still a little excited about Jack B, whose galloping celebration took all the wind out of his sails. We had a bit of a substitute merry-go-round at this point, in part owing to Doug’s raging hangover and Jack B’s state of shock, and this broke up the intensity of the attack for a few minutes as we regrouped. However, Jack T’s neat passing and debutant Robert’s aggressive forward play helped us get back in control. David returned from injury to make an enjoyable cameo that reminds us all why we love him so much. Julian and Bart were combining brilliantly to stamp out any advancing attacks, and would continue to wipe out serious threats for the rest of the game.
Not happy with his solo goal, Marcus kept looking to score. He eventually found joy from a scrappy delivery into the box, when a blocked shot dribbled into the goalmouth and he ensured it went in to make it 6-0 for the Salads. Shortly after this, and a booking for re-entering the pitch illegally (to put on a plaster…), Matty topped off his career performance with a delightful through ball that Marcus latched onto and with only the keeper to beat, he placed it into the corner to round up the scoring and a well-deserved hat-trick. The remainder of the game was a foregone conclusion, except for a rocket shot from the opposition centre back following a powerful inswinging corner. It smacked the bar at speed, making us all, in Greg’s words, “pucker up”. But we held on to ensure a clean sheet and take our goal difference to +12 in the last two games.
It was a brilliant performance and our biggest victory to date. I was so proud of the lads for shaking off any rustiness and delivering as a unit, going right to the very end of the ref’s whistle. The conditions and decisions were far from ideal at times, but we looked brilliant throughout the game and can go into the home straight of the season with some confidence. Love to the boys as always and UP THE SALAAAADS.
MOTM 🤌 = despite brilliant performances all round, Matty won without contest for his faultless performance. Not only was he dominating his 50/50s, but he had the class to provide three assists and was a constant threat for all 90 minutes.
DOTD 💀 = Jack Bodkin for taking his shirt off after his worldie. He was desperate to win an award, and threatened to never speak to me again if I didn’t, so here you go mate, this one’s on the house.
