Ramsbury FC made it two wins from two with a 92nd minute free kick from Zac Symon to snatch a last gasp win against a stubborn North Swindon FC!
Ramsbury FC Team: 4-4-2
Ash
Jonah Chris (C) James Dan
Adam Leigh Skips Noah
Zac Seany Red Boots
Subs: Ash B, Oscar (GK), Euan, Byron
First Half: Really dull, disjointed and pretty even by both teams with Seany Red Boots going close with a decent header and Chris Roberts dominating every header in defence and telling the opposition forwards to get off the ground and stop whining…..he was ably supported in defence by Jake the peg I’ve only got one good leg Underwood, Dan the demolition Man and Jonah I am not sure I should be at left back. They did an admirable job as the opposition were quick on the break and the Ramsbury FC defence were key in keeping the score 0-0 at half time. Otherwise, it was about as exciting as a Gary Lineker crisp advert or Chris Sutton guessing how many goals City will score in a game (3…at least….obvs!!!). I know as I was there for the first half!
The second half was so much better than the first as I was on my way to Windsor to pay my respects on the death of HM the Queen. As such, this is even more fictional than usual…..that means made up Rob….oh yeah….you weren’t there….that’s no FF points for you big boy!
It was said that Ramsbury FC played like legends…..reminisence of Charlton and Best….i.e ….like dead footballers…..as they went through the gears…..you know the only 3 gears you get on a crappy cheap bike that your parents bought you in the 1970s….ok….that will just be me and Seano then….as Ramsbury took the game to the juggernaut of the North Swindon 8 man defence. It was attrition……that means hard going boys….as Ramsbury tried to play the ball more on the ground and string some passes together. But it was much of the same as the first half albeit that Skips and Leigh had upped their game and were not letting the opposition boss the midfield and were getting more of the ball out to Adam and Noah on the wings and who were playing much better and trying to get more width and stretch the opposition to get Zac and Seany red boots some chances on goal. And it worked in parts as the play was better and there were chances….but it was not clinical enough to get the goal that the game was crying out for. Even the introduction of Oscar in goal and bringing on Ash B, Byron and Euan (for his debut) with fresh legs against a tiring North Swindon could enact the spark to turn the game. It was stalemate.
And it was stalemate up until the 89th minute and still looking likely that it would be a nailed on 0-0 draw, until Adam pushing more forward won a free kick on the edge of the box in a perfect position. The gaffer Seano’s eyes lit up as thought of subbing himself on to take the free kick and without doubt score the winner and be lofted shoulder high and proclaimed the ‘old Messi’ to all….well he couldn’t be hailed the young Messi lets be honest….COME ON….he first started playing football when Brian Clough was in primary school…..Brian who… you say…..really….I don’t know why I bother!
Instead, the Gaffer’s eyes flickered back to reality…..and he turned to Zac…. the £3 FF wonder kid to do his stuff and save the game; the £3 kid who was still fuming with Welsh Leigh…ok just Leigh….. as we only have one Leigh (but he is Welsh)…who had valued him so little in the Ramsbury FC Fantasy Football that he was lower than all the new U17 joiners….and even £1.50p less than Leigh himself….oh the humiliation of it!
But up stepped Zac…the £3 kid….to place the ball on the edge of the box….the opposition didn’t flinch…even when Seano passed wind…..Ramsbury FC held their breath….probably because of the Gaffer…..but also because of the tension, the expectation….the drama. The £3 kid waited….the ref blew his whistle….the kid paused….strode forward and Zac wrapped his right foot around the spanking new match ball and watched it curl up and over the wall and dip deliciously into the top corner off the inside of the post and the bar to nestle into the North Swiindon FC net. The crowd….ok about 15 people…..went wild as Zac threw his arm in the air knowing he had won the game….was worth more than Leigh had valued him in FF….and had Seano the gaffer reminiscing of Roy of the Rovers and other sporting legendary wonder goals…..it was a majestic strike (so Zac told me) and a worthy match winner.
The opposition were gutted, Ramsbury FC were elated, and the ref had had enough and blew his whistle to end the game with Ramsbury FC winning 1-0 and making it 2 wins out of 2. An awesome ending….. apparently….and beers were had afterwards in the Crown and Anchor…..with Chris Roberts getting man of the match for a towering display in defence and no shirt of shame awarded this week as Seano was too happy with the last-minute win and the 3 points.
So, there you have it. A 1-0 win from the Theatre of Dreams that is Ramsbury Recreation Ground…and a win that will live long in the memories of those that witnessed….ok….at least until the week after next as the £3 kid returns to Uni and is a distant memory…..but at least at Uni £3 is worth something….a jaeger bomb or 3 pints on pound a pint night…..such is the glory of grass roots football!
See you all at training on Tuesday where reality beckons, and you can all get ready for the next game…a cup game…i think…but then I could be wrong….more to follow…..
Cheers
Jon
