Lost 5-3, Scored all 3
GPR 3 Eutectic 5
Well, it’s official, Eutectic can do one. Just kidding, although we will certainly be glad to see the back of them for the rest of the campaign after they completed the season sweep with all six points and a win in the cup late last year. We had gone into the weekend brimming with confidence, sitting on a nice three game win streak, but this was scuppered by our new friendly rivals.
Marcus has been looking for an excuse to get a tattoo for a while now, so nobody was more determined to deliver than him as the game began positively. For context, he and I have a bet with the boys that we will have to get inked if we go 3 for 3. Our lightning pace up top immediately threatened their sweeper keeper, who spent more time out of the box than in it. Despite this, he pieced together a string of good stops and clearances in the early stages of the game. But that wasn’t phasing Marcus. After about ten minutes, he ran in behind to acres of space, closed in on the goal and smacked it past the outstretched gloves of the keeper to open the scoring, much to the delight of the GPR ultras who turned out in force. It didn’t take long, however, for Eutectic to equalise with a long ball of their own.
Much of the first half could be characterised in this fashion. Shortly after the away side levelled preceedings, Jeff, keen to get one over his old side, shimmied has way along the touchline, past the outstretched legs of the two defenders and squared it. Rory, Oli, and Sam all attempted shots but were blocked until, eventually, the ball rolled to Marcus’ feet and he made no mistake. GPR back in front. And then we weren’t. A carbon copy of the first goal saw us go back to 2-2. Then Marcus scored again with another long ball to make it 3-2. Torn between football and tennis, each team rallied after going behind. But it was to be the opposition that got the best of it, as shortly before the break they scored yet another equaliser. A minute later, a hopeful dig wasn’t cleared and their striker pounced on the opportunity to end the half 4-3.
On the touchline, we were baffled. We felt we’d taken control against a rigid opposition and had the better share of shots on goal and possession. But we conceded that we weren’t being physical enough, and Eutectic would dominate if we didn’t step up and make more effort to win our individual battles and headers. The second half began with enthusiasm but frustration, the away side becoming rigid in structure and allowing us to play to their strengths. We did become more firm in the 50:50s, but we were against a quick, technical front line that used some brilliant triangle passing to push us back. But our midfield fought valiantly, which Matty encapsulated brilliantly with a string of attacking challenges. Oli and Yannick were spreading the ball well and Rory and Joel were getting freedom out wide. Despite this, we couldn’t level, and having over-committed to an attack, Eutectic’s clearance led to the goal that killed the game with about 15 minutes to spare.
It was a frustrating result to a game that we really felt we deserved more from, but that’s life (and Sunday League) and we go again. It was certainly an improvement on our previous performances and we’ll be more ready next season.
MOTM 🤌 = Marcus’ channelling of Kai Rooney after his hat-trick was yet another explosive return to league action and despite not getting the win he can take solace from the fact that GPR awards are far more important.
DOTD 💀 = West Brom for providing a violent, albeit entertaining end to the Black Country derby. Bit hard to say anything else when you have a diehard Wolves fan sitting 5 feet away from you.
