Bloody sensational!

JoeTop

This week the B's took on Mercedes away and after the disappointment of last week's performance Juan was really looking for the boys to lift this week.

As per most weeks, there were 3 changes to the side which lost last week, with Tim Levett not recovering from a rib injury, whilst Anthony and John W were moved to the bench. Coming into the side were Ryan (fresh from scoring in the A's last week) and the Nguyen brothers Kevin and Long... yes I know they're not brothers...

In addition to this Juan had a deep bench - with 17 players at his disposal.

Early on Chris, Cam and Craig were called on a number of times to clear, but as the half wore on our midfield started winning the early battles and indeed created the first couple of chances, 1 fell to Kevin, who didn't quite get a hold of his shot from just outside the 18, while Ryan managed to sprint clear of his defender on a couple of occasions, but was caught out on his non preferred left foot and couldn't quite get his shots on target.

The best moves however came through our wings - the first was a free kick to Jase on the left, he hit a low hard cross in that Long got a foot to, but the Mercedes defender stopped it, the 2nd chance was almost a mirror image of the first, but this time Wez got the cross in, but somehow we didn't manage to get onto it.

At the other end, Mercedes' size was starting to tell, with Heath making 2 excellent saves from headers, both the result of corner kicks.

Late in the half though, Mercedes got the advantage, as a corner was powerfully headed by their big defender, Heath made a 1 handed save, a goal mouth scramble ensued - with Heath making another save and 2 scrambled shots being stopped by defenders on the line also.

In the end the Ref gave a penalty for pushing, which was unfortunate, as our players had eyes for the ball, but I think we did manage to sandwich their player who went down.

The resulting penalty was well hit, but Heath was unfortunate not to save it, having got a hand to the ball at full stretch on the right.

At half time Juan said to us that we were right in the game and certainly we felt like we were.

John came on just after half time for the injured Ryan and immediately looked dangerous, while Anthony came on for Jason, who had worked tirelessly on the wing.

Late in the game I came on for Juan and Manny for Craig in an attempt to freshen us up. It was unfortunate then for us to concede a 2nd goal, as Mercedes won a free kick about 25 yards out and hit it straight into the wall, the ball bounced out and was hit into the box again, only to fall on their strikers foot, who was able to toe it in from about 5 yards.

Chris pushed into the midfield late in the game and his header under pressure released John and Anthony on goal, they both beat the keeper to the ball, with Anthony claiming a late goal to have the score 2-1.

We pushed hard for the last 5 minutes or so, but we were unable to get the equalizer - 2-1 was a bit disappointing, but the endeavour shown by the boys was really encouraging.

Juan had plenty of positive things to say after the game and thanked the whole squad for their attitude and especially the boys who didn't get a run this week for showing that bit of team spirit!

Cup round next week and the B's take on Mercedes C's - I think we owe them one...

SafTop

Every so often in football, there arrive moments that serve to inspire, moments that seek to remind us what caused us to fall in love with the game in the first place. For many in the Uni Whites camp, this game was one of those moments. With a very brave, though at times nervous display, the A's served to exorcise the demons of so many other encounters with those men in green. What surprised the most was that the decisive blow came from the most innocuous of sources, a long ball across from the right hand channel, chased down and put away gratefully by Polish Paul knocking it past the advancing Mercedes keeper from just inside the 18 yard box.

(The fact that he beat former White Nick Ward to the ball and with his first touch sweetly knocked it with the outside of his boot, slowly looping it into the goal, made it all the more sweet -- Joe)

In so many other matches against Mercedes, the team would arrive with a resignation to defeat etched on their faces; this was not the case this time. Right from the start there was a dogfight in the midfield. Both teams were fighting for the right to play their respective game plans. It must be said, however that this didn't make for very entertaining viewing for the shivering masses on the sidelines.

Chances of any real quality were at a premium in the first half, Sunny showed why he's normally deployed in a more defensive role with a few efforts on goal that could kindly be described as speculative. The home team couldn't get into their rhythm at all until the last few minutes of the half, only then did they start to put together any half decent passing moves. This wasn't enough to give them any advantage going into the break.

If the second half could be described in one word, it would probably be "emotional". Passions became inflamed towards the referee by those supporting the whites. Tim Lev heckling a ref is not a strange sight, but watching Robin lose his normally cool and collected front was a "you tube" moment. While all this went on, the fight in midfield continued. Jonny Aspin was a massive presence, snuffing out attack after attack with his characteristic determination. The youngsters Tim Dudz and "Turtle" worked hard for the team in their respective roles.

The arrival of the goal was a welcome relief, the team deserved something for all the work they'd put in. The goal changed the shape of the game, for the first time, the boys in green were chasing it and chase they did. In what seemed like more than an hour instead of 20 minutes, the home side got more of the ball and more of the territory. As the whites defence stood firm, they got more and more desperate, unnecessarily relying on some award worthy acting performances to convince an already sympathetic ref to give decisions their way.

One such set piece led to one of their best chances, a free kick from 30 metres out, bound for goal, well stopped by Dan, more than making up for some below-par kicking earlier on. As the game wore on, Mercedes pushed further and further up, creating opportunities. As each one flashed by closer and closer to the goal, tension grew.

The Whites made things even more uncomfortable by missing chances that would have killed the game, Baxter failing to convert a 1 on 1; Paul's touch deserting him after being put through on the left by Turtle in what was the move of the match.

In the end, the Whites were not to be denied, a richly deserved win from a great team performance. The A's earned their week off.

ManiTop