Jim Crowbars an Opportunity

Barely FC 5 - 3  SCS Vets

Goal: Tom

Defence: Ian G, Danny, Batts

Midfield: Adam, Richie, Jacko, Mike, Sam

Attack: Jim S, Chris

Subs: Paul T, Ian J, James, Colin

The print is still drying on last week's report but here are Barely again, building a head of steam as the season reaches it's inevitably climactic conclusion. Will they stay up, and celebrate yet another year in their 20 year plus stay in the top division? Will they go down in a blaze of belated glory? Either way, they are in the mix and have put their destiny in their own hands.

Word from the gaffers was that this would be a tricky game, and for 50 minutes it was just that... only for Barely - and Jim in particular - to turn on the style and notch up some impressive finishing. But the drama of the second half was all to come when he scored his first - giving Barely a lead with a collector's item - a header from a corner. At that point it was half-way through the first half and though SCS were shading possession, they had only forced one save of note from Tom - a sprawling left-handed dive to push the ball away for the corner. SCS were attacking in waves, but they were unable to penetrate the Barely back line, which is growing into its 3-5-2 formation. And SCS's own defence looked vulnerable to the pace and trickery of the Barely attack. As the half wore on the home team grew in confidence, only to have a mini-implosion shortly before the break.

Having finally scored with half-time looming, SCS were suddenly on top and encamped in the Barely half. Clearances were ever more desperate as the confidence proved to be fragile, and sure enough another goal came with a far-post header from a left-wing cross, sending SCS off for their oranges with their tails up. Barely, in contrast, could hardly bring themselves to speak after Danny's pep talk; tumbleweed all but blowing through the wheezy, despondent air. One or two substitutions were made and they traipsed out for the second half looking anything but vengeful and motivated.

However, as Mike has before attested, appearances can be deceiving. As he and Sam decided to yell at the team for the duration of the half (thereby giving themselves an assist of sorts) Barely set upon SCS like gangbusters, tearing at them like the last five minutes of the first half had never happened - and after their third attack they scored, Jim finishing with aplomb to put Barely level.

Belief surged through Barely - if an observer had written the game off at half-time as dead, the corpse had risen from the grave and was staggering around in midfield, kicking wildly. SCS were in no way out of it, and remained a threat, but every time Barely broke forward they looked capable of adding goals to their tally. And so they did; Adam breaking in from the left to put Jim in on goal for number three, then Jim again with a cracking finish from the edge of the box. Somewhere before, between or after those goals Chris got in on the act again, scoring with an insouciant flick after the goalkeeper had saved an effort from man-of-the-match (another walkover) - Jim.

There was time for late drama still - Sam tripped a man in the area and he probably would have got a penalty had he not dived quite so theatrically, hurling himself skyward in order to fall from the farthest possible height. In the ensuing melee/protest the game continued and SCS rifled in a late consolation.

But another game played in the right Casuals spirit - hats off to the opposition - ended, thankfully, with Barely snaffling the points. Two games to go and the thinking in the camp is one victory would do it. They're not out of the woods yet. But they are in quite a nice glade eating a bit of Kendall mint cake.