Barely draw hope for next season

BARELY ATHLETIC 2 RUSSELL ATHLETIC 2
(Was trying to work "leaves Russell" into that headline but it wouldn't take.)

Goal: Danny

Defence: Dave Baines, Jim Perret, Matt, Colin

Midfield: Rich Bats, Richie, Sam, Andy

Attack: Ioan, Nick

Subs: Lewis, Luke, Mani.

Barring an unlikely reunion with Reunion, this was Barely Athletic's last game of the 09-10 season and they signed off in some style, very nearly grabbing both points against a Russell team fighting for the first division title. In a game dotted with superlative performances it'd be tricky to pick a man of the match. As Bats said after the game, it was a proper team performance and everyone put in a shift.

No less than four debutants were called on yesterday and all played their part. Matt was imperious at centre-back, Dave Baines a regular outlet at right-back and Lewis and Luke both had impact as subs, the latter especially.

From the off Barely were up for this game. Even the usual pre-match talk of how they might not lose was nipped in the bud as being 'presumptuous'. Nick's warm-up shoulder injury looked to be catastrophic as Barely prepared to start the game with ten men, but no - scampering across the field like a latter-day cavalry comes Danny, taking his place between the sticks and making Barely eleven (Lewis and Luke, who are 'younger', and therefore work to a slightly different clock, turned up later).

Barely kicked off and the teams went at it as teams who-were-almost-fighting-relegation or fighting for the title are wont to do. Russell are a big team physically and not ones to say "after you" in a challenge, but it's a credit to both teams and the ref that the game was played in good spirit. Unsurprisingly, Russell were the first team to create a chance on goal, but it took a good while for them to do so as the jerry-rigged defence were playing like a unit borne of long-standing relationships. Jim blocked and bludgeoned, Colin and Dave shut off approaches down the wings, and Matt was simply always in the right place, displaying some weird quantum relationship with the ball. When Russell did break through, Danny pulled off the saves to keep the game goalless, and Russell began shooting from further and further out, with wayward results.

At the other end Andy showed them how to do it, After a spell of Barely pressure, he gave the team in orange and black the lead with a Lillford special, cracking low shot into the far corner from just outside the box.

Russell replied almost immediately however, when a corner was headed into the net shortly before half-time to put the score at 1-1. Rich Batten made no immediate changes as Barely were right in the mix at this stage.

The second half was a similar pattern to the first, with Russell shading things in terms of pressure but unable to break Barely down, although they came very close. Danny pulled off a spectacular double-save at one stage and at least once Russell failed to hit the target from headers as they pounded the Barely penalty area. Barely continued to look to counter-attack and, with the introduction of 'faster than most' Luke, found their second goal on such an occasion. Barely broke and Richie, at the heart of almost everything Barely did offensively, found Luke on the right-wing. He darted to the by-line and crossed. After a short melee the ball fell to Ioan, who scored the most insouciant of goals, dummying past a challenge and flipping the ball past the keeper into the roof of the net. It was the second of two brilliant goals and no matter how much the Russell centre-back protested disdainfully that Barely didn't deserve it, his argument went counter to the accepted wisdom on how games are scored. See end of previous post for bottom line on winning and losing.

However Russell were never going to lie down and continued to pressure. Despite some breaks of their own - Dave Baines put a shot oh-so-narrowly wide - Barely looked to be holding on slightly and just conceded that one corner too many. With the seconds ticking away, the ball broke loose in the box and the Russell forward was on hand to poke it into the net as Rich and Sam desperately tried to clear. There was no time for either team to net a winner though, and the game - a cracking one - ended honours deservedly even.

Let's all take a moment to consider what Bats has achieved this season. Barely's first division status, thanks to results elsewhere, was achieved before kick-off yesterday in the face of multiple and prolonged absenteeism and praise be, the squad have another year to tilt at mid-table safety despite, as was the case again in this game, the team regularly being patched-up and/or thrown together at the last minute. Hats off to Bats, and thanks also to all those who have stepped into the breach, no matter how glorious or humiliating the result on the day. Ioan, for instance, has appeared on numerous times looking like he might be more comfortable on a gurney. Let's see if we can't have a strong turnout next season, meantime there's end-of-season boozing to be down, possible poker, and certainly some kind of partisan voting to be made on player of the season and that kind of stuff. Well done all!