First A Trickle, Then, A Deluge Part II
GPR 4 London Samurai Rovers 0
December is - there’s no light way of putting it - a graveyard for the Sunday League schedule. With Storm Darragh bringing an end to the vast majority of this weekend’s action, chances were looking pretty slim for our game.
We had been advised the day before that the pitch was in a sorry state, but just about playable if the weather held. After a nervy kip, we woke up to heavy winds, but little in the way of rain.
The impossible was no longer impossible.
We still knew that the game was unlikely to proceed, ahead of a 9am pitch inspection. Rushing over to the ground, we made an assessment, and went for it. It wouldn’t be a good game of football, but something would be better than nothing.
Given that we have been accustomed to begging for eleven players on glorious days in years gone by, perhaps the best takeaway from the game is that we still managed to field a full 16 players.
Sure, a few of them were complaining, but they only received half the abuse they normally would for their trouble. The lads who had to warm the bench in the first half were heroes for their vigilance alone.
The opposition weren’t as lucky. Kickoff was delayed by almost half an hour as Samurai waited for their ninth player to arrive, and we were keen to get the game started. Our pitch was already showing the strain, the rain returning at an alarming quickness.
They didn’t play like they had nine men though (eventually ten). Despite the conditions and task ahead of them, Samurai took the fight to us. Though Jack had very little to do in goal in the first half, it didn’t feel like a blowout by any means.
Our desperation to establish ourselves on the scoreline, combined with the bog we found ourselves playing in after only minutes, made for a frustrating affair for both teams. Jeff provided the quality we needed ten minutes in, squaring a ball at pace. It landed comfortably for Rory, and the keeper couldn’t cover the distance to prevent an easy enough finish.
Our first player to reach 50 games for the club, it was Rory’s 44th strike. For reference, that’s a better return rate than the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo. The list goes on. I’m just saying, I’ve never seen Rory and a GOAT in the same room. I’m just saying…
Alas, this was the only goal of the half. Keen not to let the boys freeze, and conscious that giving tactical instructions in these conditions was more futile than nailing jelly to a wall, we asked for a bit more oomph.
Despite their resilience, the Samurais couldn’t hold onto the game for the distance. Robin got his second goal in two weeks - and three seasons, not that we’ve had to start reminding him - with a powerful curling effort into the corner after breaking into the box.
Late on, Marcus, desperate to get on the scoresheet, made it three without reply with a striker’s finish, spinning round the defender outside the box and placing the ball in the corner of the net.
Sina, who had combatted the elements well throughout, had the final word with a clean strike into the corner, having torn past the opposition’s line of defence when he was played through by Gavin.
And I can’t go without mentioning Marcus’ open-goal miss from three yards out after Sam’s ball into the box. The latter would later opine that Marcus had an xG (expected chance of scoring) of 4.66. This would smash the record ever officially given to a goalscoring opportunity, which stands at 0.99.
Make of that what you will.
Four important things came from this weekend. First, we won. Two, we secured our third clean sheet in four, which in Sunday League is rare to the point of being unheard of (unless you’re Newton City).
Thirdly, we now have a half centurion for the club, the first of many I hope. What a servant he has been too - it is not an exaggeration to suggest there wouldn’t be a club without him.
And finally, credit must go to all the lads for braving the storm and showing up in force. At this stage of the football calendar, it makes all the difference, and the commitment to the Salads is something else right now.
We have the chance to make it a perfect month next week against London Tigers. It will be bittersweet, as club manager Jack announced this week that he will be stepping down as gaffer to pastures new.
He deserves the win. We’re going to get it for him.
MOTM 💫 = Sina was his energetic self, battling the weather despite its best attempts, and gets the nod this week. Sam also had a good game, and the entire defence should be proud to have kept yet another clean sheet.
DOTD 👀 = Julian, for another foul throw. Just because it wasn’t given, it doesn’t mean we forget. Maybe I really will bar him from taking them.
