With 15 in the changing room the mood was good until it was
remembered that there were not enough shirts to go around and outside the wind
chill was severe enough to take the pillage out of the most enthusiastic Viking.
Without last time out MOTM Tom in goal it was volunteer time
and with 13 backward steps it was a half each for Mike & Chris to take on
the threat from Easton.
The game started brightly enough for Barely and although
Easton were pressing there was no way past the imposing bulk of Mike in goal
who repelled all with a series of tip overs and punches. Barely looked equally
dangerous on the break with Jim and Adam having the legs on the Easton defence. The deadlock was broken mid way through
the first half when Jim got on the end of sharp move down the right side and a pass which split the defence - Barely's front man coolly slot past the advancing keeper.
However the lead was short-lived, as the Easton ref awarded a penalty for spot of wrestling by
Ian J (hotly contested that is by this season's front runner for serial Ref
baiter Ian J) 1-1.
Half time arrived with the teams equal and a change of
personnel worthy of an England friendly match with Jim's mates Tom & Will
on, Chris going into goal, & Jim (Batts) on. Mike, James & Adam having
a rest. Danny held himself in deep reserve running the line and giving the pep
talk.
The second half saw Easton take a grip on midfield that led
to one-way traffic and three crosses, three goals for Easton. Barely, never a
team to lie down and whimper started to claw their way back pushing the game
more and more into Easton's half. Somewhere in the middle of the second half
Jim and Chris's recruits fell by the wayside;– Will now warm after a 1st
half on the touchline, got even more heated, fell out with the ref and stropped
off, Tom to a pulled muscle – come back Adam & James. Another fine move down the right
involving lots of player your correspondent can't remember led to the ball teed
up in front of Rich Cormack to slot past the despairing keeper 2-4 and hope
reared its head. More pressure and the Easton centre half's leg wrapping round
Jim's chest lead to a penalty, taken by Jim but tragically turned round the
post for a corner. Still Barely pressed and MOTM James crossed the ball into the hand of a Happy Monday defender – penalty number 2. Jacko took charge this time and
full of precision and cunning as is his trade mark stroked the ball wide of the
keeper and unfortunately the post. Hope kept its head down after this. The
Barely record on penalties this season is a 25% conversion rate – practice on a
Wednesday needed. Ian G has volunteered for the next spot kick if he can get
that far up the pitch in time.
The game ground to an inevitable 2-4 end with Easton
wrapping up the points to go mid table whilst Barely have more in common with
Reading (or Bristol City).
Post game excitement surrounded, missing van keys and the
confirmation that where cars are concerned Batts knows some dark skills.
