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| Warren at his posing best before the start | An opposition attacker strikes... |
21/01/2000 - Attendance : 2
Another Friday, another game. This was going to be an important one as Alltraders had already lost their first two games, and losing a third on the trot would be unthinkable.
This weeks bad news was that Jamie had been struck down with the 'flu - we think more like ten pints at lunchtime, but who are we to argue? Anyway, the good news was that Tim Leader made his return following last weeks conference in Birmingham, his only main injury worry being a bad case of 'playstation thumb'.
So, with the regular team of Warren in goal, Paul and Sal at the back with Tim and Kevin filling the attack, Altraders took to the pitch to take battle against their latest opposition, CPI Crawley.
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| Warren at his posing best before the start | An opposition attacker strikes... |
The pitch was actually frozen under foot causing both teams problems in the early part of the contest. The game seemed to be fairly evenly balanced with both teams defending well. CPI took the early initiative with two superb strikes on goal that brought out fine saves from the athletic Warren Fiveash in goal...
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| Sal solid at the back as ever | "Don't even think about it.." |
As the game continued, both teams battled hard to make headway. On occasions the tackling became quite aggressive generating one or two 'handbags at ten paces' moments.
As far as goalmouth action was concerned, the first half was pretty dire. Both 'keepers really didn't have that much to do apart from running around in circles bashing their gloved hands together in a vain attemp to stay warm. All the main action was being carried out in the midfield, with Kevin and Tim refusing to to concede any ground to their CPI opposite numbers.
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| Things start to get a bit heated | The half-time chat |
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| Tim contemplates the second half (and his future)... | ... an early attack wakes the CPI 'keeper up |
The second half started with a more determined Alltraders approach. In the first move Tim Leader found himself with a perfect goal-scoring opportunity as he was put clear by another persistent Kevin Burton surge on goal. His shot skimmed past the startled goalkeepr curving just wide of the far post. This was the first sign that the resolute CPI defence was beginning to crack under the Alltraders pressure.
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| Kevin finds himself poleaxed yet again | .. but still finds the strength to battle on |
With just two minutes to go, Paul Burton of all people sprinted forward to meet an inch-perfect pass from his brother Kevin to chip the ball delicately of the lunging dive of the CPI goalkeeper to put Alltraders one up. Finally the deadlock was broken...
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| Paul flicks the ball with the outside of his right foot ... | ... placing it perfectly over the 'keeper to take the lead. |
Surely all that was needed now was to stay solid at the back and see the rest of the game out. You would have thought so, wouldn't you? But this is Alltraders we are talking about. After a failed CPI attack, the ball appeared to be rolling gently out of play for a Alltraders kick. However, the shadowing Sal allowed a CPI attacker to hook the ball across the goal area perfectly into the path of his completely unmarked collegue. Alan Hansen would have had a field day. Not only did Sal not effectively shield the ball into safety, the rest of the team allowed a CPI striker to wander completely unmarked into a striking position. All this with about ten seconds on the clock!
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| Where was the marking? | There goes another victory.... |
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| The ref finishes proceeding ten second later |
Well, there goes another couple of points. This was a game that should have been won. On a more positive note, Alltraders are still showing signs that they have the ability to qualify if they could just maintain discipline when it's really needed.
Final
Score : Alltraders 1 (0) - (0) 1 CPI Crawley
Paul Burton
Pictures : Kirsty