07/01/2000
Well, here we go yet again. On a blustery, damp Friday night, Alltraders gathered to play their first game of the new Millennium. This year we welcome the return of Jamie Fiveash, with Paul Burton now taking the reigns as manager. Salem has returned to active duty on the South Downs, so we will miss his solid defending.
With Alltraders fielding their strongest side for some considerable time, tonight there was to be no room for excuses (except maybe that we are old and unfit and haven't touched a ball for five weeks). A good start to this competition was the only option for the new, demanding manager.
The game began with an XL5 kick. Things started badly as XL5 pinned Alltraders back into their own half for much of the early stages, with Warren Fiveash in goal appearing to be regaining his form of old pulling off one or two stunning saves from close range.
Alltraders were visibly struggling to get to grips with the pace. Even the 25 year old Jamie Fiveash was bent double with exhaustion tracking back to cover the defence.
Although putting up a brave defence of their goal, Alltraders eventually went one down just before half time when an XL5 attacker found the time and space to measure his shot perfectly past the smallest of gaps between Warren Fiveash's outstretched fingers and the far post.
The only Alltraders attack in the first half worthy of mention was a fine through pass from Kevin Burton met by Tim Leader, who's quick turn and characteristic chip just dropped the wrong side of the crossbar.
The second half started at an even quicker pace. XL5 could cleary see that their fitness was causing Alltraders problems, and time and again cut through Alltraders defence. The only thing they were lacking was a good finish, with the ball either going wide or being well covered by Warren.
However, Alltraders luck wasn't to last too much longer. A quick throw from the XL5 'keeper fell kindly to an attacker who found himself through on goal with only Jamie Fiveash in defence. It looked like Jamie had won the ball from the advancing attacker on two or three occasions as the two of them grappled toward the Alltraders goal. However, a small gap appeared for the attacker the get enough backlift to hit a peach of a shot past Warren and into the back of the net off of the far post.
Although two goals down with just four minutes left, Alltraders started to get more into the game. Kevin and Jamie started to work their way into scoring chances and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Kevin met a loose ball with a venomous shot that skimmed the bar with the 'keeper motionless. Shortly after, Tim Leader rounded the last defender to hit his shot agonisingly close past the near post.
With two minutes left, Kevin robbed an XL5 defender and ran the full length of the pitch, drawing two defenders with him. This left Jamie completely unmarked on the left, this being the first slip-up made by the XL5 defence. Kevin placed the ball perfectly into his path and he smashed a well-deserved goal to bring Alltraders back into the game.
The ref indicated that there was only 90 seconds left, XL5's que to hold onto the ball and kill time. With Alltraders too tired to put in any decent challenge the whistle finally blew for the end of the game.
Results-wise, this was obviously not a good start for Alltraders. However, the last five minutes of the game saw Alltraders beginning to show signs that they could have at least got a draw out of the game if they had started in the same fashion. Next week will be a real test - the opposition being the winners of the previous winter competition, Cowboys and Indians...
Final Score:
Alltraders 1 (0) - (1) 2 XL5