Barely Athletic 2 Hill Farm 1
Goal: Steve Pinnell
Defence: Andy Lillford, Quentin Alsop, Joe 'Danny' Daniel, Tom Pinnell
Midfield: Manrouf Chanfi, Jim Fry, Rich Jackson, Sam Morrison
Attack: Nick Ambler, Ioan Williams
Subs: Dan Hird, Rich Sloper.
After a prolonged stand-off over whether to use the flat pitch or the one on a camber, these teams kicked off on the latter, having been told not to play alongside some minors enjoying a game that was, frankly, a lot better quality than this one. Having played on Sunday the pre-match talk was all about who was aching the most, hardly a great omen for some quality football.
Sure enough, anyone watching the opening ten minutes might have thought they were witnessing the birth of a soccer-rollerball hybrid, as the teams kicked the ball into each others shins around the centre circle to no great effect. Barely's misgivings about their play were only matched by the relief that, at this stage at least, Hill Farm were performing no better. In truth the team in red shaded the first fifteen minutes as Barely performed their traditionally sluggish opening routine, but Steve wasn't tested in goal due to the superlative reading and intercepting of Quentin and Danny.
Barely, as is their wont, finally got some moves going with Andy and Mani linking up well down the left, and Tom making his habitual bursts down the right. But the final product wasn't there, and Barely were reduced to speculative efforts that the Hill Farm keeper was equal to - Jim's long-range chip being pushed over the crossbar and Ioan's overhead effort producing the same result. Barely couldn't capitalise on the corners. The closest they came to a goal was when a mis-hit ball bobbled between the legs of a defender and found it's way to Nick's feet, one on one with the keeper. As surprised as anyone, Nick still managed to get a shot away, but the keeper saved. At the other end Hill Farm carved out a couple of openings but had the same lack of killer instinct as Barely. The most dramatic moment of the first half came when an unfortunate Hill Farm player twisted his knee and had to hobble off.
At half-time Jim rang the changes in an effort to shake the team out of it's lethargy - a plan of ambition and optimism, almost akin to tipping someone out of their wheelchair in the hope they'll walk again. Nick took to the sticks and Steve took his place up front alongside Dan, who replaced Ioan, whilst Mani took a turn on the bench for Rich Sloper. Sam and Tom also agreed to rotate full-back and right wing duties, which played out it's own sub-plot later on. Everyone agreed that Barely should win this game, the opposition weren't much cop, and in the opposite camp no doubt an identical conversation was taking place.
Hill Farm started the second half on top and Barely couldn't get going. But Hill Farm's long ball game was meat and drink to Quentin and Danny, who can read the game with a casualness that others read cereal boxes over breakfast. But at the other end it still wasn't happening, and Barely had to rely on Nick's safe handling more than once as Hill Farm began taking pot shots when they found the space. The game looked destined for a scrappy draw.
Then with ten minutes left, possibly in a covert bid to be relieved the full-back role, Sam swung a tired leg at a free-kick in his own half and promptly gave the ball away. Two quick passes later and the ball was goal-bound. Danny's despairing foot slowed it, Nick pushed it along the line, but Hill Farm were there to boot it over. Game over.
Or was it? Steve had other ideas, and he wasn't about to be distracted from them by Bob's offer of taking his place for the last ten minute - eyewitnesses said afterwards his meaty fist narrowly missed Bob's chin. With five minutes to go, Tom set Steve away down the right. Steve pounded his way into the box and swept in a low ball for Mani (back on for Jim) to clip past the keeper at the far post. 1-1, and Barely finally moved up into third gear. Could they snatch a dramatic winner? Cue Steve: again darting down the right, another low ball at speed, and this time Pinnell Junior was there at the near post to sidefoot in for the latest of late winners. There was some initial debate about whether Pinnell Senior was offside, but Jim vouched for him being level with the man on the far side of the pitch. They don't call him 'honest Jim' for nothing and Barely could celebrate with clean conscience when Bob blew for full-time.
To put the tub-thumping to one side, neither side really deserved to win this game as neither really produced a vintage performance, though both had their moments. But Barely will take the points nonetheless, and Steve Pinnell took the man of the match award for his dramatic late impact. Next game, however, they will hope the fatigue that gripped them against Hill Farm will be absent, as a similar performace would probably see them trounced by Nailsea Old Boys. Let's hope that they get more than three days rest between now and then.
Thursday 26 April 2007
Sunday 22 April 2007
Barely comeback eclipses Red Star
Barely Athletic 3 Red Star Bedminster 2
Goal: Steve
Defence: Andy, Tom, Danny, Sam
Midfield: Ritchie, Jim, Rich, Jeff
Attack: Manrouf, Nick
Subs: Ioan, Jerry.
Barely recovered from a dreadful start to this game to come back from a two goal defecit and claim the win. On a warm and slightly sticky day the backbone of the squad turned up ready to roll, but unfortunately the liver of the squad wasn't fully functioning after the previous night's escapades saw the gang dehydrate themselves en masse, with Ioan in particular looking slightly shaken, and Jerry, a man who looks underwhelmed by life at the best of times, failing to make the kick off. In his stead came old boy Jeff who began on the right wing.
Despite a tidy first five minutes Barely were making no headway in the opposition half, and slowly Red Star began to make their pressure tell. With fifteen minutes gone the ball was sent pinging around Barely's box and fell kindly to an attacker, who made no mistake in putting Red Star deservedly ahead. To add injury to insult, Steve managed to tweak his back but bravely played on. He was to regret that decision shortly, as Barely failed to get any momentum and Red Star kept them boxed in their own half for lengthy periods. They extended their lead when a quick break down the left saw Red Star's nippy winger cut inside Sam and beat Steve with a deft chip from the edge of the box. Two-nil down, and Barely could have no complaints.
However Red Star were unable to sustain the pace they had set indefinitely, and having performed indifferently for half an hour, Barely suddenly found a bit of form and starting chasing the game. They were galvanised by Andy Lillford's latest goal, a trademark hotshot from the edge of the area that found it's way into the net via a deflection. Only a goal behind, Barely sensed a game, and Manrouf began pulling the defence this way and that as Barely looked for a way through. They began creating chances but could not quite manage to convert them - not that is, until Tom picked up a ball on the left from a corner and drilled it goalwards. Red Star's keeper blocked the shot but Nick had gambled on the loose ball and side-footed in, opening his account for the season and sending Barely into the break on level terms.
At half-time Jerry came on for Jeff, who'd had a stirling 45 minutes winning countless headers, though estimates put the figure at around nine. And Barely began the second half where they ended the first, pressing Red Star and searching for goals. Red Star in turn looked to score on the break and Barely's back line had to be alert, which, relatively, they were. But most of the action was at the other end as Barely battered Red Star's penalty box - and Red Star held out. Mani headed a yard wide. Rich's near-post effort was turned away for a corner. Ritchie's cross-shot cannoned off the woodwork. It seemed like a draw was in the offing. Then with quarter of an hour to go Sam launched a free kick into the box, and the keeper came to gather but found the ball bounced off his chest - and Tom was on hand to slot in his third goal of the season. Certainly an element of luck to the goal - but Barely felt their second-half performance merited the lead.
Red Star had one or two moments as they tried to get back in the game - aided by an obviously bored Jerry - but by and large Barely held sway until the final whistle, with Ioan coming on for the last twenty minutes and firing narrowly wide. Red Star can count themselves unfortunate to be on the receiving end after bossing the first half hour so comprehensively, but in fairness Barely's recovery should be saluted, not least Mani who took the man-of-the-match accolade when the votes were counted, a classy display of line-leading, link-up play along with his patented header-that-goes-just-wide.
Now they have to do it all again (apart from letting two early goals in) on Wednesday against Hill Farm.
Goal: Steve
Defence: Andy, Tom, Danny, Sam
Midfield: Ritchie, Jim, Rich, Jeff
Attack: Manrouf, Nick
Subs: Ioan, Jerry.
Barely recovered from a dreadful start to this game to come back from a two goal defecit and claim the win. On a warm and slightly sticky day the backbone of the squad turned up ready to roll, but unfortunately the liver of the squad wasn't fully functioning after the previous night's escapades saw the gang dehydrate themselves en masse, with Ioan in particular looking slightly shaken, and Jerry, a man who looks underwhelmed by life at the best of times, failing to make the kick off. In his stead came old boy Jeff who began on the right wing.
Despite a tidy first five minutes Barely were making no headway in the opposition half, and slowly Red Star began to make their pressure tell. With fifteen minutes gone the ball was sent pinging around Barely's box and fell kindly to an attacker, who made no mistake in putting Red Star deservedly ahead. To add injury to insult, Steve managed to tweak his back but bravely played on. He was to regret that decision shortly, as Barely failed to get any momentum and Red Star kept them boxed in their own half for lengthy periods. They extended their lead when a quick break down the left saw Red Star's nippy winger cut inside Sam and beat Steve with a deft chip from the edge of the box. Two-nil down, and Barely could have no complaints.
However Red Star were unable to sustain the pace they had set indefinitely, and having performed indifferently for half an hour, Barely suddenly found a bit of form and starting chasing the game. They were galvanised by Andy Lillford's latest goal, a trademark hotshot from the edge of the area that found it's way into the net via a deflection. Only a goal behind, Barely sensed a game, and Manrouf began pulling the defence this way and that as Barely looked for a way through. They began creating chances but could not quite manage to convert them - not that is, until Tom picked up a ball on the left from a corner and drilled it goalwards. Red Star's keeper blocked the shot but Nick had gambled on the loose ball and side-footed in, opening his account for the season and sending Barely into the break on level terms.
At half-time Jerry came on for Jeff, who'd had a stirling 45 minutes winning countless headers, though estimates put the figure at around nine. And Barely began the second half where they ended the first, pressing Red Star and searching for goals. Red Star in turn looked to score on the break and Barely's back line had to be alert, which, relatively, they were. But most of the action was at the other end as Barely battered Red Star's penalty box - and Red Star held out. Mani headed a yard wide. Rich's near-post effort was turned away for a corner. Ritchie's cross-shot cannoned off the woodwork. It seemed like a draw was in the offing. Then with quarter of an hour to go Sam launched a free kick into the box, and the keeper came to gather but found the ball bounced off his chest - and Tom was on hand to slot in his third goal of the season. Certainly an element of luck to the goal - but Barely felt their second-half performance merited the lead.
Red Star had one or two moments as they tried to get back in the game - aided by an obviously bored Jerry - but by and large Barely held sway until the final whistle, with Ioan coming on for the last twenty minutes and firing narrowly wide. Red Star can count themselves unfortunate to be on the receiving end after bossing the first half hour so comprehensively, but in fairness Barely's recovery should be saluted, not least Mani who took the man-of-the-match accolade when the votes were counted, a classy display of line-leading, link-up play along with his patented header-that-goes-just-wide.
Now they have to do it all again (apart from letting two early goals in) on Wednesday against Hill Farm.
Thursday 5 April 2007
Monday make a bleak Wednesday for Barely
Easton Monday 2 Barely Athletic 1
Goal: Steve Pinnell
Defence: Ioan Williams, Tom Pinnell, Quentin Alsop, Sam Morrison
Midfield: Ritchie Cormack, Jim Fry, Rich Jackson, Nick Ambler
Forward: Manrouf Chanfi, Martin Remmers
No subs.
Barely can look back on this game and feel reasonably proud. It was, age gags aside, by no means vintage but against an obdurate and well-organised Easton they, for the most part, held their own. But the game started off in farcical fashion when Easton managed to smack home a goal before Barely had limbered up, which they prefer to do once the game starts to save energy. Cutting a swathe down the middle, Easton caused chaos in the Barely box before an attacker volleyed home from a narrow angle.
Against a team who battered Barely 5-0 last season, this wasn't the greatest omen. And sure enough, like vultures sensing the imminent demise of a footballer crawling across the desert, Easton continued to circle as Barely tried - and failed - to attack on the break. Twenty minutes in, it had been pretty much all Easton and Barely could only hope that as they swayed against the ropes taking body blows (this is a boxing analogy now, forget the vultures) they could find and opening and hit someone in the face (metaphorically, obviously) when the chance arose.
In the first half no such chance did, but after weathering that prolonged storm Barely started finding some inroads and began testing the Easton defence a little bit more, forcing a few corners and sprinkling some barnstorming breaks from deep by the impressive Tom and Quentin. One such foray from the latter forced a free kick some 25 yards out, and Sam, demonstrating an impressive speed of thought, quickly blasted it high and wide. After an earlier corner that he curled into touch, it wasn't the day to resuscitate a dead ball for the marauding right-back. But Barely took heart that after such a gruesome half they were only a goal behind and, possession-wise, back in the game.
Such optimism was shortly consigned to the dustbin of nostalgia though, when Barely replicated their sluggish start to the first half by conceding a second shortly after the break. Allayed to Ritchie's calf-strain and an absence of subs (the voluble Lee Douglas and less-voluble but still-there Rich Sloper aside, who were attendant but injured) this meant things looked a little bleak for Barely in terms of an Ali-style comeback.
But to be fair Barely carved out some chances. A decent move ended with a powerful Manrouf header flying narrowly wide, and the Gallic speedster, who caused concern with his direct running all afternoon, will be disappointed not to have connected better with a sidefooted effort shortly afterwards. Sam felt he might have had a penalty after he was "cynically chopped down" - his words - in the box, but no-one else appealed.
However Easton shaded the action, with the Barely defence the busier of the two outfits and Quentin and Tom in particular called upon frequently to stifle attacks before they bore fruit. When Easton did break through, they were denied by the safe hands of Steve, who even threw himself into a post at one point, such was his dedication to the cause. And Barely finally got a reward for their efforts when Jim slalomed © his way through midfield, exchanged a one-two with Ritchie and walloped the ball into the net. "It only goes in when I close my eyes" he confided later, presumably talking about the goal.
Barely had renewed hope, but renewed energy, alas, was beyond them, and as the sun disappeared behind the trees and the players shuffled about in the gloaming Bob Lynn sensibly called time on proceedings. Despite the result, an enjoyable game for Barely and a decent performance from which they can glean several positives. Once again the centre-back pairing were impressive and Rich Jackson offered a composed head in midfield amidst the blood and thunder, with some tidy passing. But if Barely could start each half at full-speed they might be looking at a draw in these types of games. That said, Easton were worthy winners and Barely look forward to crossing swords (or sparring) (or crawling across the desert in search of water) with them again.
Goal: Steve Pinnell
Defence: Ioan Williams, Tom Pinnell, Quentin Alsop, Sam Morrison
Midfield: Ritchie Cormack, Jim Fry, Rich Jackson, Nick Ambler
Forward: Manrouf Chanfi, Martin Remmers
No subs.
Barely can look back on this game and feel reasonably proud. It was, age gags aside, by no means vintage but against an obdurate and well-organised Easton they, for the most part, held their own. But the game started off in farcical fashion when Easton managed to smack home a goal before Barely had limbered up, which they prefer to do once the game starts to save energy. Cutting a swathe down the middle, Easton caused chaos in the Barely box before an attacker volleyed home from a narrow angle.
Against a team who battered Barely 5-0 last season, this wasn't the greatest omen. And sure enough, like vultures sensing the imminent demise of a footballer crawling across the desert, Easton continued to circle as Barely tried - and failed - to attack on the break. Twenty minutes in, it had been pretty much all Easton and Barely could only hope that as they swayed against the ropes taking body blows (this is a boxing analogy now, forget the vultures) they could find and opening and hit someone in the face (metaphorically, obviously) when the chance arose.
In the first half no such chance did, but after weathering that prolonged storm Barely started finding some inroads and began testing the Easton defence a little bit more, forcing a few corners and sprinkling some barnstorming breaks from deep by the impressive Tom and Quentin. One such foray from the latter forced a free kick some 25 yards out, and Sam, demonstrating an impressive speed of thought, quickly blasted it high and wide. After an earlier corner that he curled into touch, it wasn't the day to resuscitate a dead ball for the marauding right-back. But Barely took heart that after such a gruesome half they were only a goal behind and, possession-wise, back in the game.
Such optimism was shortly consigned to the dustbin of nostalgia though, when Barely replicated their sluggish start to the first half by conceding a second shortly after the break. Allayed to Ritchie's calf-strain and an absence of subs (the voluble Lee Douglas and less-voluble but still-there Rich Sloper aside, who were attendant but injured) this meant things looked a little bleak for Barely in terms of an Ali-style comeback.
But to be fair Barely carved out some chances. A decent move ended with a powerful Manrouf header flying narrowly wide, and the Gallic speedster, who caused concern with his direct running all afternoon, will be disappointed not to have connected better with a sidefooted effort shortly afterwards. Sam felt he might have had a penalty after he was "cynically chopped down" - his words - in the box, but no-one else appealed.
However Easton shaded the action, with the Barely defence the busier of the two outfits and Quentin and Tom in particular called upon frequently to stifle attacks before they bore fruit. When Easton did break through, they were denied by the safe hands of Steve, who even threw himself into a post at one point, such was his dedication to the cause. And Barely finally got a reward for their efforts when Jim slalomed © his way through midfield, exchanged a one-two with Ritchie and walloped the ball into the net. "It only goes in when I close my eyes" he confided later, presumably talking about the goal.
Barely had renewed hope, but renewed energy, alas, was beyond them, and as the sun disappeared behind the trees and the players shuffled about in the gloaming Bob Lynn sensibly called time on proceedings. Despite the result, an enjoyable game for Barely and a decent performance from which they can glean several positives. Once again the centre-back pairing were impressive and Rich Jackson offered a composed head in midfield amidst the blood and thunder, with some tidy passing. But if Barely could start each half at full-speed they might be looking at a draw in these types of games. That said, Easton were worthy winners and Barely look forward to crossing swords (or sparring) (or crawling across the desert in search of water) with them again.
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