THRILLER IN THE MUD, 22-11-2009

HUNTERFIELD 5 MYS BLACKS 5

Although just about all the other games in the area were off after heavy rain, we went ahead on a quagmire of a pitch, with one area of the pitch a total mudbath.

Finding the pitch was hard enough, but playing on it was even worse. We started defending the Mudbath End, but took the early initiative and Seth had a snapshot well-saved after some neat interplay. We took the lead when Scott muscled a defender off the ball and rounded the keeper to score - but were soon pegged back when the ball held up on the line when it looked like it was going out. A Hunterfield player pulled it back and his team-mate side-footed the ball across Ross and in off the post.

Ross was playing in goal as it was an eight-a-side game and Cammy Brown was back in his old position of right midfield. Ross made some good saves and Connor and Jason made some goal-saving tackles in the mud as Hunterfield came at us, but we created plenty of chances too but struggled to find the target. Callum smacked the ball against the post but made up for it when he chased a long ball from Connor that looked lost - and pounced to score when it squirmed away from the keeper.

Again, we failed to hold on to the lead as a long-range shot slipped away from Ross and rolled over the line to make it 2-2 at half-time.

We were almost straight back into the lead after the break when Seth broke clear and hammered the ball against the angle of post and bar. Soon after, Scott played a great ball to Cammy, who whacked the ball across goal for Brandon to meet with a superb left-foot volley.

Unfortunately we then started to lose possession too often as Hunterfield roared back into the match. First, a long-range shot just inside the post left Ross with no chance, then he was badly exposed as a free header put the home team 4-3 ahead. We were in real trouble when a speculative shot looped in off the inside of a post at 5-3 down with less than 10 minutes left.

Jack had played superbly in the second half and got us back into the game with an excellent header from a pinpoint corner by Scott.

Scott then played a lovely ball in to Jack to run clear for a great chance of an equaliser. His first shot was saved, but he reacted well to score from the rebound to earn us a deserved draw.

Squad: Ross, Connor, Jason, David, Jack, Seth, Scott, Callum, Cammy, Brandon.
Scorers: Scott, Callum, Brandon, Jack (2)