The weather forecast said it would be a lovely warm day today. Fortunately I never believe those buggers and I went dressed like an Eskimo. It was a good decision. The pitch at Tamworth resembled the Somme after about three months of shelling and thus our normal passing game was not that easy. Aston Villa, who had played very well at Hyde, used a bit of local knowledge and everything they did was in the air.
The match kicked-off at 11:00 and thus I added a new one to my set of kick-off times. I just need 03:00 on a Friday morning and I've completed the full set. We had the first shot - but it was miles off target. Richardson did well wide left and fed Darren Gibson but he fit a first-time shot which was awful. From the dead-ball kick Jones collected and burst into the box, his good shot was well saved. On seven minutes Gibson hit one of his wonderful fifty-yard diagonal balls for Rossi to run onto into the box. Rossi's good shot was blocked out for a corner which came to nowt. The goal came after twenty minutes. Rossi received a ball halfway in their half turned and fed Campbell into the box. He turned his man magnificently and shot, low and hard into the bottom corner of the net. We were on the way. We might have added to the total when Richardson fed Markus into the box with a nicely weighted ball but the resulting shot, which was on target and struck well was saved. The game was a good one with both teams going for the win. The pitch was not helping it has to be said. On thirty-eight Rossi worked into the box and shot. The effort was blocked out to Markus and his shot was, in turn, blocked away for a corner. Just as the half ended Markus crossed into the box, Campbell played and excellent flick-on and Rossi shot just wide. At the half then we were in front and had been the better team. They had worked hard but had not really threatened. Their ale-house tactics had been very comfortably dealt with by No57 and young Evans. Our first chance came after about ten minutes when Campbell did very well wide on the left, fired over an excellent cross ball to the far post but Markus, who might have had a go first-time on the volley, failed to control and the ball was lost. We really pushed our luck on fifteen as they began to press. A through ball left their man one-on-one with Steele but our lad did brilliantly timing his rush forward to perfection and saving (or blocking) the shot which was then cleared away. Villa knew that this was a game they had to win and they were really going for it now. They did have chances but finished them all very tamely and Steele, that one real chance excepted, dealt with everything very comfortably. For the first time the sun began to peep through the clouds and the temperature rose ever so slightly. I was tempted to take off one of my seventeen pullovers but decided against it. At that moment, though, I noticed that Markus and Richardson were both wearing gloves. I ask you, what is that all about? Tarts. Simple as that! After seventeen minutes Richardson worked down the left flank and put in a good cross which Campbell was in the process of controlling when he was kicked in the throat. I thought it was a clear penalty but nobody else agreed. A free-kick was awarded however and Markus shaped to take it. It was then that I realised that the ABU tosser who had referred to Markus as 'Beckham' in a very girly way all through the first half had buggered off. If Markus was going to slot the ball home I wanted to go and find that plonker and tell him that, for dead-ball strikes at least, he IS another Beckham. Anyway the free-kick was excellent (as they always are by that boy) and was brilliantly saved by their keeper at full stretch. The corner came to nowt. After eighteen minutes Richardson was taken off and Mullen came on. Richardson had done a fair bit of work but had not really produced that much. I wish the lad would forget about Ronaldo and his tricks and concentrate on being himself, getting down the flank and putting in the telling crosses. I don't think that that will happen, sadly. Six minutes later and No57 was substituted by Shawcross. No57 had had an excellent hour and it was wonderful to see the lad back in action. Shawcross really endeared himself to us earlier this season. As he got off the coach with Mullen we could quite clearly hear him say, of Ian and myself, "those sad bastards are here again". He's correct, of course, we are, without doubt, very sad bastards, but if he wasn't sixteen feet tall and ugly enough to curdle milk, I might have had to chastise that young man. Rene doesn't think we're 'sad bastards', and made a point of coming over to us at West Brom (Kidderminster in fact), shaking each of us by the hand and thanking us for our support. A very nice gesture by a thoroughly good and decent man. On thirty-three we came so close to wrapping it up. Markus took a good left-wing corner to the far post and Johnny Evans hit a cracking volley which hit a Villa defender on the back (he knew nothing about it) and went for another corner. As the game came to an end we had yet another chance. Fortune took a good throw-in and Mullen made a great run past two defenders, went into the box, played a good ball into the near post where Rossi had a good shot blocked for a corner. Mullen featured again two minutes later when he picked up an excellent ball out of defence by Shawcross. Mullen sent Rossi into the box but the lad kicked the ground rather than the ball and the shot went tamely wide. We were now all counting down the seconds. As always in that situation the hands on my watch started to go backwards. Then the referee blew for time and the ground erupted. There was no doubt that the majority in the 2100 crowd were Reds. A large flag was up at the other end with 'Beswick' on it. Made us feel quite at home! Team: Steele: was tested once and did very, very well. His handling was sure and his command of his area even better. This kid really does shout for the ball and I like that. Marsh: Had a good first half but did not feature that much second. As always he was steady without being spectacular. Fortune: It was so good to see Quint back and I'm going to miss him. Fortune has been a model professional as far as I'm concerned and I wish him well wherever he ends up. Possibly Bolton we are led to believe. Heinze: Got through his hour very well. The MUTV lads told us he was only going to play the first half so the extra fifteen was a definite bonus. As always he was calm and collected in everything he did. As they were throwing everything in the air he was tested and never once found wanting. An excellent comeback game Evans: I like this lad. He has filled out a bit over the season and is now a big, powerful centre-half. Good in the air and solid on the ground. He has decent pace and, unlike Pique, is not easily turned. A good prospect. Jones: Like his namesake (one of the thirteen who the Bastards took off 'us' to lend out) he is strong in the tackle - if a little wild at the moment - and reasonably clam in possession. Obviously he has a long way to go but shows great promise. Neumayr: A tart. I hate to criticise one of our own but this lad couldn't tackle a good meal. His striking of a dead ball, corner or free-kick, is as good as I've seen, but his contribution when we lose the ball is woeful. Sadly I just don't think you can teach somebody to have 'heart' - it is either there or not. In this lad's case it isn't. My main worry is that he'll get badly hurt one of these days by pulling out of an 90-10 ball. Yes, he is that scared. Gibson: A very powerful lad who has made the step up from the Academy. His long-ball passing is excellent but he does sometimes try the long pass when there is a better short one on. Must be told to calm down a bit and look for the better ball. But a good lad who might go far. Campbell: Along with Rossi this lad has been a revelation this season. He has good pace, strength, is good in the air, unselfish and takes his chances. In many respects the perfect centre-forward. If he can continue to develop, and it must be said he has done wonderfully well this season, then this boy is a real prospect. Rossi: Much has been said of Rossi - but not today. He had a very quiet game. That said he drew two/three defenders EVERY time he got possession. He has a wonderful left foot and balance that the best ballet dancer would give his right leg for. Whether he has the strength to compete at the highest level we shall have to wait and see. But for shear ability alone I have not seen anyone to match him for a very, very long time. Richardson: Showboating too much. Ask anyone who follows the Reserves regularly and they will tell you that there is very little end-product from this lad. For any old farts out there then remember Ian Moir and you have Richardson. I don't like show-offs, particularly when they are in 'my team' (the Reserves) and are amongst a group of kids running their bollocks off to win matches. If he wants to show off he should go on the bleeding stage. Subs: Shawcross: The label 'big daft sod' was never more appropriate than in the case of Shawcross. But he has a very steady season and has held the defence together on several occasions. He is more reliable than Pique (who can so easily get turned) and, on balance (and notwithstanding his terrible rudeness to us earlier in the season!) I do like this lad. Mullen: The epitome of the 'simple' winger and a player I like very much indeed. Never, ever, tries the fancy stuff. Just gets the ball under control (with an excellent first touch) and then goes past his man, either side, to deliver good balls into the box. Think of any of the bog-standard wingers we have had over the years and you have another to add to your collection. I really like this lad Zieler/Rose/Lee; Did not get a game Keep the faith, Pete Please use [email protected] for general discussion. 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