Back to Winning Ways
GPR 1 Western 0
I can honestly say nothing is more rewarding in Sunday League than a 1-0 win. Between the clean sheet, comfortable performance and cheeky time-wasting, this week’s display from the Salads was up there with the most mature, showing resilience at the back and constant threat going forward. In truth, the scoreline could have and maybe should have been different, but only for the mighty Salads.
We didn’t have to wait long for the only goal of the game. After just a few minutes, a long ball splayed wide to Joel, who ran at pace towards the penalty area. Jeff turned on his famous afterburners, and a neat dink to the far post latched onto his boot, which slotted the ball past the keeper. After the game, Jeff told me he felt like he’d been stuck in third gear for the last few games. With 11 goals after just 8 games, I’m not having any of that. Elsewhere, the Salads were putting on a show for fanday with some good build up play and strong defensive work. Julian and Alan were knocking everything back, while Sam and Adam’s high-intensity running to cover Western’s pacey wingers kept the ball away from our penalty area for the most part of the opening.
This all changed when, in a heroic effort to sweep the ball up, a 50:50 challenge left keeper Greg writhing around on the floor. It was clear that he had torn his Achilles, which hurt even more following his man of the match display against Sandgate the week before. Greg’s one of those guys that forms the heart and soul of the club culture, and it’ll be devastating not to have him for the end of the season. On the pitch, it forced an emergency re-shuffle of the midfield, throwing Gavin into a double pivot to cover the rest of the half. Western took advantage of the chaos as the boys regrouped, and we were under the most pressure in the game during this period. But credit where it’s due, the lads always managed to keep them at arm’s length, save for one hopeful launch into the penalty area from a deep free kick.
Club legend Jack was watching from the touchline, and got a taste of the action as he stood from the sidelines. As he told me during the first half, it’s ten times more stressful off the pitch as it is on it. But at half time, the key word was ‘calm’. We were in control, and the game-plan was in full effect. The boys restarted the action and the second half was played with assurance, while the opposition committed more and more players forward.
A re-jig of the attack put Dan S up, and he provided a memorable cameo, barging players off the ball with ease. He almost found the net too, when a seemingly innocuous half chance forced a brilliant save from the keeper, the ball skimming of his gloves onto the bar. Joel went close several times, most notably when he drove into the opposition half and let loose a powerful effort that went close to doubling our advantage. Doug and David alternated in the no. 10 role, providing the first point of defence as they aggressively stuffed the midfield play.
With frustration building for the away team, we held our nerve and closed out the game to get us back to winning ways. Clean sheets are the stuff of legend, but to hold Western - the league’s third highest scorers in just 13 games - to not having a single shot on target is testament to the brilliant work in defence. Hopefully, this acts as a solid foundation from which we can build, knowing we have the firepower up top to hurt teams when we get the chance. Every man pulled their weight today, and the commitment to work for each other was palpable. A blank next week gives us a chance to regroup, before going against Hillingdon Abbotts, who beat us 3-1 on the opening day of the season. Come on you Salads!
MOTM 🤌 = Doug didn’t feel like he deserved this one, but our baby-faced assassin was brilliant in starting attacks and breaking up play. He thoroughly deserves the accolade for his symbolic performance of the team.
DOTD 💀 = There were a few half-hearted attempts to throw Greg’s Achilles in the firing line, but I can’t bring myself to do it. He’s such a great guy and Sunday mornings are going to feel a little greyer in his absence.
