The B's last match of the season was at home to Mercedes. After our gutsy performance last week, the boys were all pretty excited about this game.

For perhaps the first time this season we had 15 players in attendance at 1.00pm (well done boys), with one of the strongest squads this year.

The starting line-up was to be virtually the same as last week, with only Cam coming in for the suspended Jonny. This changed just before kick-off though, as Jim required a player for the A's game (Congrats to Sab for getting the call-up) meaning Emmanuel regained a starting berth.

The boys started well, particularly pleasing was the passing out of defence, with Wes, Cam, Kyle & Dave moving the ball cleanly to our forwards & midfielders. I felt that our midfield were probably just being shaded in the early parts of the game, but this was matched by our forwards working particularly hard to pressure their defenders, meaning Mercedes actually coughed the ball up quite a bit.

Just before half time though, there was a very disappointing event though, instigated by the Mercedes captain (of all people) in which he punched Olsen in the back behind the play while the referee was looking the other way (I however was not!). Disappointingly though, Olsen retaliated - fronting up & pushing the Mercedes player. The ref rather surprisingly pulled out the red card immediately meaning that for the 3rd time in 4 weeks we were a man down.

But, as it had done last week, this appeared to spur the boys on, soon after Long made a good run from the half way line down the left & crossed the ball in, Cass was only able to parry the ball away, but it fell to Long again who ran to the bye line and hit a low hard ball across the box - Dan Joyce had timed his run to perfection & slotted it home from close range! 1-0, which is how it stayed until half time.

At the break I was pretty pleased. I asked the boys to play exactly the same but asked Cass to come back to help Chris a little more. The 2nd half played out much as the first had - all of Mercedes chances coming from range, while Emmanuel, Long & Dan were really testing their defence. Emmanuel particularly looking dangerous, with a long run, turn & strike (with the left boot) just hitting the side netting). Chris & Cass continued to work hard in the middle of the park & the back 4 were organised & vocal (the way I like it).

Late in the half though, Mercedes did manage to break through for a goal, with a clearance only making it to just outside the box, where Bricey (who usually plays in Merc's A's) hit a good shot into the far corner. At 1-1, the boys could have dropped their heads, but to their credit they played some very good soccer. Late in the game Chris came off for Tony, while Dan J had a rest for Juan. Both the replacements did excellent jobs & we held on for a 1-1 draw.

Unfortunately not a win, but for the 2nd week in a row we proved we can mix it with the best in this league (and both weeks with 10 men). The last 2 weeks have been a real credit to the boys, it's just a pity that we lost that endeavour & team play in the middle of the season.

I think there's a lot of positives to take from this year though & hopefully everyone will don the white again next year as well! Well done boys.

StephenTop