Mike
Nick Danny Ian Sam
Adam Jacko Fizzy
John T Jim S John R
Subs: Batts, Dave, Paul L
if you google John Rossetti 1973 this happens
The first day of the new season finally arrived, and Barely scrambled southwards for an opening fixture against Axbridge. The last time they were in Churchill, Barely departed with their tails between their legs, having been spanked 5-0. But even though they arrived, as is tradition, with no specialist keeper (like last time) and a forward line with a combined age of 158, Barely were cautiously optimistic. On that fateful day, three of Saxon's goals had been attempted crosses, one a deflection off a defender when going wide... if they could avoid that kind of bad luck again, surely Saxon would only score one genuine goal, right? - right.
The game began with Saxons shading things as Barely sought to shrug off their rustiness. But despite a rather indifferent start, Batt's novel 4-3-3 venture soon began functioning as though it had been running since the industrial age - in a good way. Although it meant Axbridge did most of their attacking down the wings (more of that in a moment), when Barely had the ball they were causing the Axbridge back line problems. Several times the ball was sent towards the net only for Barely to discover the Axbridge goalie was both mobile and blessed with good handling.
But when John Trimble and John Rossetti sliced through the defense once more around the half-hour mark, the latter picked out the bottom right corner with aplomb, leaving the keeper stranded and finally beaten.
To a large degree Barely remained on top until the break, but when it arrived Axbridge were level, as their right-winger beat Sam to the ball - not for the first time - and finished with a thumping shot past Mike. It wasn't fair on Mike, who had been deftly taking care of business on the odd moments he'd seen the ball. And though Barely nearly snatched the lead again with a classic Paul Loftus effort from a corner; his header sailing a fraction too high with the keeper beaten, the half ended with Barely feeling they could and should have been ahead.
Batts moved Sam to right-back and gave various folk a rest to give himself a run at left-back, new boy Dave taking up the left-midfield slot as Fizzy moved central. Mike took up a midfield position also as Nick went between the sticks. It was the start of an ever-turning wheel of sub-rotation that served Barely well.
The second half began much as the first ended - both teams threatening but metaphorically more of a wagging finger than an attempted punch. Barely's back line tightened with Batts present and Sam more comfortable on the right - but Nick was still called upon to make a couple of saves: one of which belied his status as fifty-something as he flung himself left to beat the shot away with his fists.
At the other end Barely were building a head of steam around the penalty area, but never to the point were the Axbridge keeper was really tested. Shots went either wide or straight into the keeper's midriff, and as time ticked away under an unseasonably hot September sun, the game had the feeling of a draw. Both teams had chances to win, but Axbridge were foiled by the aforementioned antics off Nick, and Barely couldn't quite find their cutting edge - though Rossetti almost stole the points at the death as a loose ball came to him in the area, but didn't quite make the connection.
The whistle went on a fair result then, well-refereed it must be said and generally played in the right spirit. Nick's double shift earned him Man of the Match along with Ian, who had put in a robust a performance as ever in central defense. Barely left the ground satisfied with a point, and optimistic about Batt's favored formation making a convincing debut. A solid start to the new season.
*apologies for naming errors, I don't have a large database of surname spellings
** apologies for factual errors, I don't have the memory I may have used to have
