Page 26 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Millbrook 050222

Nick’s Notes. The Resies

So next up for our boys was our seasonal trip to glorious Glastonbury,
always an interesting game . The Stags started well applying some early
pressure that saw Thomas Smart hit the post with a header from a Paul
Uppington cross. Next up a well worked free kick saw Lewis Smart stoop
low to crash a header into the net only for an unbelievable offside
decision to be given. That was to set a pattern for the rest of the game
it appeared every time we got the ball into Glastonbury’s half the flag
went up, some of the calls were ridiculous.
Half time arrived and some choice words with the linesman and referee
but the game continued in its usual way, we probed and probed, our
opposition began to tire, gaps were appearing for us to exploit, only for
some cynical fouls to be committed on our boys but a free kick resulted
from one such foul. Sonny Stiddard rose well in the box to head home,
suddenly everyone looked at the linesman surly not again? But where his
arm had been up all afternoon holding the flag aloft, the blood had
drained from his arm and he was unable to put it in the air! our players
ran over to his direction to celebrate a magical moment . The rest of the
half carried on like the early stages, dodgy calls. The best of the day was
yet to come, as a Glastonbury defender went down in the 6 yard box, we
pressed forward only for the flag to go up, we played on, then as the ball
got scrambled clear the linesman shout was I put the flag up so you
would kick the ball out for our injured player.
Our keeper, Red Clarke didn’t face a shot all afternoon, a wind assisted
corner that looked like it might creep in at the far post that he palmed
over to safety was his only challenge. With 10 minutes left a free kick was
awarded for what looked like a perfectly clean tackle by the outstanding
Sonny Stiddard, the ball tossed into our box hopefully and wind assisted,
Red came for it, unfortunately the ground gave way under his feet and
as he fell to the ground the ball sailed into the net to make it
1-1.
At the final whistle it felt like a defeat but as results went in our favour in
other games, there was light at the end of the tunnel and on reflection a
point on the road aint all bad. It sets us up for a mouth-watering
encounter next game away v Imperial. They are joint 2nd one point in
front although we have games in hand on the 3 teams above us, we need
to keep the momentum going and keep our heads and enjoy every
moment.

UP THE STAGS
Regards Smarty