The beautiful game

The beautiful game is a phrase that has often been used to describe the majestic tussle of 2 teams who have truly mastered the art that is football. Well what was served up today was the artistic equivalent of the famous pile of bricks that once won a very important artistic prize, the difference being you would need to be exceptionally resourceful to make anything out of this dreadful encounter.

Puke fielded 3 changes in their back four from the team that acquitted themselves so well the previous week, and a further change in midfield and upfront, all enforced for one reason or another. The difference was stark, from playing the team second in the league, off of the park, they instead did themselves an injustice.

The game started brightly enough with Puke enjoying all of the procession and creating numerous chances, including a gilt edged opportunity which was missed from within the 6 yard box. The amazing thing was just how many times we were caught offside, I jest not, when I say that it was probably 20 in the first half alone. That said, chances were coming thick and fast and being wasted just as quickly, and such profligacy would ultimately prove our undoing.

Despite the impending doom, Joe Morris opened the scoring with a great solo effort which saw him round the keeper before slotting home. All good at that stage, unfortunately the finger was soon to press the button marked ‘self destruct’. Onehunga’s first attack, using what we shall term direct football brought an immediate reward. Despite Trent’s effort in getting a hand to it, the goal was truly a gift from some poor defending.

A one – one half time score verged on the bizarre it was about 15 shots to 1, but shots on target were probably only 3 to 1. Tom was a very happy bunny at half time as you can imagine but God knows we deserved a tongue lashing. To say that it could not get any worse would be reasonable, but it did. From a position of total dominance we somehow managed to contrive to get ourselves behind. Onehunga have shipped 7 goals a couple of times this year, and so probably not unreasonably their tactic revolved around belting the ball long at every opportunity and we seemed completely unable to deal with it. After a couple of chances that seemed to surprise even them, a Puke defender got caught in procession and from the resulting break we went 2 down.

Time wasting became the order of the day as a huge upset looked on the cards. Step forward big John W, who floated in a great dead ball for Andy Bond to head home at the back stick and open his account for the season. All was set for us to kick on and take some of the numerous chances still being created. Well that was how it should have gone but with a shade over 10 minutes to go, the long ball came out again, bang 3 – 2 down.

We can count ourselves lucky that the Onehunga goalkeeper had a complete brain explosion. As the ball was headed clear in their box, Joe chased and whilst going away from goal, the keeper did the old 2 handed push in the back and from nothing we had a penalty. Wiz who had taken the 2 previous penalties this season was with the firsts, Bondy who has wanted to take every penalty so far didn’t fancy it, big John W missed one 2 weeks ago and his team lost 3-2 so with the score the same bid a hasty retreat, Aydhan wanted it but to be fair it just was not his day, so the ball was tossed to Joe Morris, who unluckily caught it. Now as if a penalty with 5 minutes to go when you are 3-2 down was not enough pressure, Joe slotted it but the ref hadn’t blown the whistle so he had to re-take it. Luckily Joe has ice in his veins and slotted the second one to claim a brace for himself and a point for Puke.

At the final whistle it felt more like a defeat than a draw, and a bad one at that. Tom decided that there was no man of the match as we all played like poo, so training on Thursday is a must, BE THERE.