Chew Magna 1-1 Barely Athletic
Subs
Al
Gareth
Batts
Laurie
Darren
Sam
Barely emerged from Chew Magna with a hard-earned point today, after the proverbial game of two halves was played out on a windswept, bobbly pitch.
Headline news was the triumphant return of Lefils, drafted in after a long absence to slot in up front as though he'd never been away - claiming the goal and giving the classic Lefils display of indignant outrage - fortunately at the ref.
Also returning was Mark in defence, allowing Batts to watch from the sidelines and adjust things with an objective view. And adjustments were needed, as Barely spent the opening ten minutes on the back foot - Rob and Lefils mere spectators as the Chew number 15 dictated everything from midfield. Barely changed to a 4-5-1 with Lefils dropping deeper, and finally saw not only the opposition half, but also the athleticism of the keeper as he pawed one or two efforts away.
And Barely's pressure, although not exactly relentless, eventually told. Cometh the hour... you know the rest. A Barely corner moments later and as the first clearance was picked up by Dave and chipped back in, consternation in the Chew box ended with an acrobatic finish from Lefils billowing the net.
Disappointingly, just as the away team began to get a grip on things, they conceded from a corner, the ball deflecting off Gareth as he tracked the run of an attacker.
No further goals arrived before half-time, but the concern over the Chew 15 had not dissipated, so when the second half arrived he found himself faced with two opponents whenever he got the ball, as Barely shut down the supply lines. Jim Banton - now in goal - was only troubled by relatively simple catches from the odd hopeful punt, but at the other end it was a similar story, as neither team really threatened to any great degree. Rather than a boxing match where a knock-out blow might happen any second, it was more neighbours waving their fists menacingly from behind the glass.
In fact the most drama came from the small moments - a contested throw-in; an unwanted substitution, and of course Fizzy's haranguing of the ref after he penalised Bob for a foul throw. Nay, fatherhood will not mellow him.
All good stuff and played out in an otherwise well-tempered, and well-refereed game. When the final whistle came both sides seemed satisfied with a point, and the Barely Man of the Match was a scattergun affair with numerous players getting a nod - the winners being a three-way tie between Lefils, Mark and Jim B. Chew demanded that they decide the tie-breaker, so Mark picked up his second win in a row!
One game to go now, before we're all another season older.
Danny
Dave Mark Jim B Colin
Bob R Chris Scott Kevin
Rob Lefils
Subs
Al
Gareth
Batts
Laurie
Darren
Sam
Barely emerged from Chew Magna with a hard-earned point today, after the proverbial game of two halves was played out on a windswept, bobbly pitch.
Headline news was the triumphant return of Lefils, drafted in after a long absence to slot in up front as though he'd never been away - claiming the goal and giving the classic Lefils display of indignant outrage - fortunately at the ref.
Also returning was Mark in defence, allowing Batts to watch from the sidelines and adjust things with an objective view. And adjustments were needed, as Barely spent the opening ten minutes on the back foot - Rob and Lefils mere spectators as the Chew number 15 dictated everything from midfield. Barely changed to a 4-5-1 with Lefils dropping deeper, and finally saw not only the opposition half, but also the athleticism of the keeper as he pawed one or two efforts away.
And Barely's pressure, although not exactly relentless, eventually told. Cometh the hour... you know the rest. A Barely corner moments later and as the first clearance was picked up by Dave and chipped back in, consternation in the Chew box ended with an acrobatic finish from Lefils billowing the net.
Disappointingly, just as the away team began to get a grip on things, they conceded from a corner, the ball deflecting off Gareth as he tracked the run of an attacker.
No further goals arrived before half-time, but the concern over the Chew 15 had not dissipated, so when the second half arrived he found himself faced with two opponents whenever he got the ball, as Barely shut down the supply lines. Jim Banton - now in goal - was only troubled by relatively simple catches from the odd hopeful punt, but at the other end it was a similar story, as neither team really threatened to any great degree. Rather than a boxing match where a knock-out blow might happen any second, it was more neighbours waving their fists menacingly from behind the glass.
In fact the most drama came from the small moments - a contested throw-in; an unwanted substitution, and of course Fizzy's haranguing of the ref after he penalised Bob for a foul throw. Nay, fatherhood will not mellow him.
All good stuff and played out in an otherwise well-tempered, and well-refereed game. When the final whistle came both sides seemed satisfied with a point, and the Barely Man of the Match was a scattergun affair with numerous players getting a nod - the winners being a three-way tie between Lefils, Mark and Jim B. Chew demanded that they decide the tie-breaker, so Mark picked up his second win in a row!
One game to go now, before we're all another season older.
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