The one thing that this game wasn't was a pretty game of 22 technically adept footballers plying their trade. It was gritty, rough, local derby with none of the edges sanded down, on a bobbly old pitch in blustery conditions...and with a dreadful referee.
We started with the same 11 that beat Bournemouth, except Bamba in for Bellusci, and in the same formation. Within minutes Wells had had to off following a clash, which was a bonus for us. Then a something and nothing ball clipped into the box (by Murphy? - I haven't seen any replays yet so this is written only after seeing it live and after a heavy night in Skipton!)...the ball was met by a combination of Byram and their defender and looped over keeper softly into the back of the net. 7 minutes gone. For the next 20 minutes or so the game was all about Leeds midfield, all five of them, playing as decently as the conditions and the whistle happy ref would allow. Anything that came by the middle five was snuffed out by Bamba, who was my MOTM, or by Cooper who spent the whole 90 minutes wrestling with their forward. Then they got a corner...and the shortish number 9 came and stood on Silvestri...arms all over him, stepping on his boots. We had to get Morrison back to try and stand between them. but it didn't really help. The pushing and shoving caused the ref to stop things and call both players over. He had a word, sent them back, waved the corner to be taken and the fella starts grabbing at Silvestri again, cross goes to the back post, where an unmarked shortarse heads his first ever headed goal. Silvestri meanwhile claiming he was being held...probably was, but I was watching the ball, and I think a bigger problem was an opposing player being unmarked in the 6 yard box. Anyway, 1-1 and two soft goals. And so to half time. And Clyde Wijnhard picking the lucky numbers in the lucky number drawer… Second half began much the same…Austin got involved after a HT defender had a go following what he thought was a late tackle by Rudi - handbags ensued, both got booked - thereafter the crowd booed everything Rudi did and the phone callers into Radio Leeds afterwards thought he should have been sent off “three or four times” one person with a limited grasp of the laws of the game said. Taylor got booked for slightly late but not really dangerous challenge on their winger - the only guy on their team who held any kind of threat. The nonentity that was Mowatt yesterday got subbed for Antenucci on about 75 minutes. The game continued being a lot of huff and puff…HT fired a low cross that ran all the way across the goal mouth…then Sharpe came on for Cook, who had got a knock - and we had 3 forwards on! 5 minutes to go, attacking our end, Byram and Wootton combined down the right, Byram flew into the box, got blocked, the ball fell loose while we all appealing for a penalty, Antenucci just got in before the keeper and he went down…2 possible penalties, neither given. Leeds fans start going ape…the ball pings around a bit Byram again into the box on the right, following a great little ball through to him, looks like he should shoot, instead pulls it backs to Antenucci who is standing all on his tod on the penalty spot, he has time to take a touch, instead he hits it first time and spoons it horribly over the bar…that feels like it. Our chance gone. Until on the 90 minute, Byram and Antenucci combine down the right, the Italian floats one of the great crosses to the back post where the keeper, Smith and Sharpe all throw themselves as the ball is dropping just inside the far post, Billy gets there first…2-1…very brave header…he goes loopy and somersaults into the Leeds end (gets booked)…meanwhile Smith hasn’t moved, and doesn’t for the 8 minutes he lies there with 7 medics around him. They eventually put him on stretcher, very gently, and after the game he is flown out the ground by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. From this morning’s press it sounds like he is recovering after being unconscious for several minutes. It would nice to report that Leeds fans behaved with respect and decorum while this poor fellow was getting his treatment, most did, but there were some numpties yelling pretty nasty stuff… We looked good in the opening 25 and last 15 minutes and were nowhere in between. Huddersfield were generally poor. SILVESTRI - some dreadful clearances, partially to blame for the goal, but some other decent if mainly routine saves WOOTTON - credit to him, he seems to be making a go of it at RB - he doesn’t fill me with any confidence when he pushes forward, but at least he has a go TAYLOR - quietly getting better - he had the toughest game of any Leeds player yesterday, got booked a little harshly but he stuck to the task BAMBA - in command of the back 4 from the first minute, won his headers and his tackles, brought the ball out with reasonable comfort and made some very timely interventions - star man COOPER - his kind of game I suspect - a right old battle from the off and he came out on top BYRAM - close run for MOTM - involved in everything good we did, got no protection from the ref…great work to keep the loose ball in play just before our winner. COOK & MURPHY - when he was good we were good…faded in the middle of the game…wrestled it back by the end (well Cook was off by then…) MOWATT - deeply anonymous apart from one decent shot on goal from 25 yards MORRISON - our 3rd most effective forward of the day, which given that Antennuci had 15 minutes and Sharpe 5, tells you quite a lot - he was anonymous and ineffectual AUSTIN - great job at harrying the defence and no-one in Huddersfield appears to like it up them. Subs ANTENUCCI - possibly penalty; dreadful miss; brilliant cross to set up the winner SHARPE - touched the ball once…scored the winning goal Marvellous day out - very cold - but it helped set up the enjoyment of a few pints later. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
