Goal: Nick
Defence: Andy, Batts, Danny, Colin
Midfield: Lefils, Mike, Richie, Sam
Attack: Jim S, Jim B
Sub: Jay.
After the Barely Reporter missing the last two Barely games (a win and defeat), we were finally able to send a correspondent along on Sunday:
This was one of those times where the hoary old cliché about a game of two halves actually rang true. Barely obliterated the vets in the opening 45 minutes, going in at half-time 5-1 up. But the second half saw AXA surge back into contention in a match that had a little of everything...
Despite midfield stalwarts Jacko and Sir Jim being absent, Barely started with a strong line-up. Mike started alongside Richie in midfield and embarked on a series of ball-winning tackles as the teams sized each other up. Barely thought they'd opened the scoring when Jim S turned the ball back and Jim B bundled the ball in at the near post. But the AXA linesman ruled the ball had gone out of play, much to the former's disdain; and the seed was sown for a rumbling sub-plot that saw Jim S taking out Lefils' usual role as arch-villain to the opposition (what happened to Fizzy? We'll check the alignment of planets and get back to you). And when Jim scored moments later he did seem to enjoy it with a little extra relish.
AXA hit back within moments. They burst through down the left flank and, though Nick pulled off a diving save, the ball fell invitingly for an onrushing attacker, who prodded in. At this stage, though it was a little feisty, there was no indication of the extended drama about to unfold. But Jim S got things moving very quickly as he weaved through the AXA back line and plonked the ball past the athletic AXA keeper. 2-1 to Barely, with the match still in it's infancy.
Barely moved up through the gears. If they had started unhabitually strongly, they grew even more so as a sweeping move put them 3-1 up. It started with Richie, went through Jim S and Jim B, and the latter unselfishly cut the ball back for Richie to volley in as he broke into the box. Like a goal you'd see on telly, as Danny put it later. Not done yet, Richie and Lefils combined on the Barely right to send over a cross, that having eluded the leaping Jim B, was volleyed in by Sam at the far post. His wife kindly made the all goal all the more memorable later by reminding him that he hadn't scored in about 3 years - it's nice to have this kind of thoughtful support away from the pitch.
Another left-flank cross was curiously bounced down by the otherwise safe-handed AXA goalie, and Richie was right in front of him and poked the ball into the net. 5-1 at half-time, and the game looked over.
But cool-headed Danny warned against complacency, noting that the Vets had a strong subs bench itching to come on. Jim B took to the line as Jay came on in his stead; Mike went between the sticks and Nick went on the right wing as Lefils moved into the middle alongside Richie.
AXA posted intent early on though as Barely came back from the break a little sluggishly, pressurising the Barely goal and drawing last-ditch interventions from Batts and Colin in particular. Mike, with his trimmed goatee and tweed cap looking like he was a shotgun short of a gamekeeper outfit, also plucked a couple of crosses out of the air as AXA bore down on the Barely goal. Curiously though, it was having seen off the early storm that Barely suddenly gave away two cheap goals in succession - both of them coming as Barely neglected several opportunities to 'get rid', perhaps coasting slightly on their large lead. But it wasn't a large lead any more, at 5-3 the AXA tails were up.
But again Barely began to pressure, several times breaking into the AXA box only to spurn the openings. And the huge space they were leaving in the middle of the park as AXA countered would have had Alan Hansen spitting out his coffee, if he had been interested/present/drinking coffee. What's more, the ongoing argument Jim S was having with the AXA back line and the ref came to an abrupt end when he kicked the ball away before AXA could take their throw-in. The ref, with an explosion of very unpartisan language, demanded Danny take him off, and after an extended discussion between all parties in the centre circle, Jim S did indeed make way for Jim B's return. The 'sending off' meant Jim S was now running the line, where the ref made a point of ignoring his calls for the rest of the game.
Meantime Barely were still on top with Jay in particular running AXA ragged - but they just didn't look like scoring. And with ten minutes remaining, AXA put the frighteners on the away team with a cracking shot over Mike's head from the edge of the box putting the score at 5-4 to Barely. But despite the nerves, and AXA's impressive comeback, that's the way the scores stayed and Barely pick up the precious points.
Man of the Match went to Richie but we're sure he'd agreed that - the two silly goals aside - it was a great team performance.
