Match Report

Goals scored
J.Wilson, G.Mayo, D.Szymanski

Man of the match
Ben Tarrent

Landsdowne were away today to Reecon Rovers who were a strange team to say the least. On their day they have beaten the top teams and on other days have drawn or lost against teams lower in the league. So, if Landsdowne were to continue their winning streak, hard work and concentration would be needed.

Landsdowne took to the field today hoping to extend their unbeaten run to 9 games. Whatever the result, 8 wins on the bounce is commendable no matter what league you are in. In 8 games Landsdowne have scored 33 and conceded 9. It is a statistic that every player who has taken part should be proud of. Whatever the final outcome of today or the season, everyone should be proud as 8 wins on the trot is truly amazing. Already this is a Landsdowne statistic and any Landsdowne team in years to come will have this record to beat. So hopefully with the right application long may it continue. Unfortunately like Arsenal found out one day that statistic will stop, let’s just make sure it’s not now and with the right attitude may it long continue, and when and if it does stop, then as a team find the strength in depth to say, okay that was great! But now we are going to surpass it, we won so many but now we are going to beat it!

With this winning mentality installed into the team and all the dangers pointed out by the Manager, surely this bunch of young individuals and Mark and Tony, would not be complacent considering the importance of today’s game. Landsdowne had another record to set. 8 was good, 9 would be better. With this in mind, Landsdowne took to the field.

Reecon kicked off and were clearly focused; their intent was purely the 3 points to be obtained today. They saw this as 3 point’s to gain on Landsdowne the way the League was shaping up. Unfortunately for Landsdowne, they decided not to heed their Manager’s advice and decided to play the most atrocious football you have ever seen. The pitch was awful, but to be fair as the saying goes what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Reecon bought the ball down and pushed high up the pitch, forcing Landsdowne into their own half. Landsdowne defended so deep it invited the oppossion into their half.

Reecon passed and moved the ball around the muddy surface, attacking down both flank’s at every opportunity, Landsdowne were sitting ducks, however despite their inability to press play and pass the ball, one thing this side is not short on is, TEAMWORK. Every player dug in deep, every player spoke and communicated to find their way out of this chasm.

Despite their lack of quality today, you could not take away that team spirit, they all fought, they fought all for 1 and 1 for all. The needs of the many by far out weighed the need’s of the 1. This was not about individual performance, this was about a team game, and today every player had to dig in deep.

Reecon attacked and passed the ball well, and created many chances only seeing them thwarted by the Landsdowne defence, and when they could not clear it, up-stepped Landsdowne’s inform keeper, too keep the opposition at bay,

This was Lurches 11th game and he was focused on winning. Landsdowne were lucky he was here as he had been in bed all week with food poisoning. Landsdowne players knew it wasn’t bird flu as he had never been that close.

Lurch pulled out the stops to make today, and he also pulled out what can only be described as top drawer saves and decisions to keep his team in the game.

Attack after attack reigned down on Landsdowne goal as Reecon set siege to their opposition, their was no mercy shown, it was as if Landsdowne was a wounded animal and Reecon could smell the blood. Surely it was only a matter of time before the creature would roll over and succumb to it’s fate, but not today!!

Landsdowne licked their wounds and with the ferocity of a tiger struck when their opponent’s least expected it. After a well taken corner, Tony Bush managed to flick his leg up to make contact with the ball. Unfortunately for him he saw it ricochet back off the bar, but fortunately for the team it fell into the path of none other than Landsdowne’s answer to Dumbo, but their was no flapping of the ears or anything else and with precision he rifled the ball into the back of the net leaving landsdowne 1-0 to the good.

Hopefully with this in mind Landsdowne would now play football. However, the game remained the same, Landsdowne on the back foot and Reecon the driving force, but despite their superiority, Reecon just could not capitalise, when some good work by the animal (Gav), saw Landsdowne take a 2-0 underserved lead, what a goal!! For years the talent was there to see, but today it was displayed in abundance, what a sensational free kick. This was right out of the top top drawer, this was Beckham territory, but Gav shoved him aside and showed why on his day, he actually was the best free kick taker England have got. What a free kick and what a goal. However, despite their best efforts half time approached and the score remained 2-0 to Landsdowne, totally undeserved but yet about time Landsdowne had some bloody luck.

The special one gave his half time team talk which consisted of, being higher up the field and to pass the ball, and basically stop playing like a bunch of muppets. He also re-iterated the importance of the next goal, his word’s were "the next goal is crucial to the game and to remain focused".

Landsdowne took to the field and the game restarted. Landsdowne however had not started, again they sat deeper and deeper and within 5 min’s it was an onslaught. The only team in this was Reecon, they continued to attack down both flank’s but could not find a way through, when eventually after some good work, Reecon cut inside and hit the ball with venom, the ball was destined for the bottom of the net, the score 2-1, the player’s jittery, but just and I mean just still in the game.

Landsdowne perked up and had a good 10-15 min spell, when Gav, Vegas, Bushy and Rixy linked up well upfront creating 3 chances as in as many minutes. Unfortunately this only saw Vegas and Rixy’s shot saved and Gavin’s hit the side netting. Still 2-1 with 20 min’s to go, when a long ball was played over the top down the right, the winger cut inside and with precision unleashed a powerful strike, this was destined for the corner of the net, when out of no-where Ben flung his 6ft 2inch frame to his right and at full stretch palmed the ball onto the post. It was a magnificent save, absolute stunning save, the result of the save was as equally impressive Landsdowne were still winning, and 9 games on the trot still looked possible.

However, time wait’s for no man and Landsdowne looked like they were waiting for the final whistle, when Vegas pressed their defender, he launched a long ball in hope, which found an un-marked un-pressed striker, wallop 2-2. Landsdowne’s record shot to pieces with 15 min’s remaining, If landsdowne didn’t concede still it would have been 9 unbeaten but they still had 15 min’s to hold on.

Hold on, there was a signal from the bench, there was a substitution about to be made. This time the ref let the substitution go ahead as the manager had named them as subs. Bit of a result really (WORDS OF WISDOM) name all 3 substitutions before a game this often help’s, however we like to say thank you farmyard I'm sure it’s not the only time you have lasted 30secs.

Vegas and Perry went off and Terry and Dariusz entered the field of play. On come the inform striker, his goal form stands at 2 goals every 10 min’s, Manchester united have Ole Gunner, and Landsdowne have Dariusz.

5 mins to go and the game had 2-2 written all over it when up stepped Gavin to take a corner, the corner had pace and purpose and who was there, none other than super Polski. He used his striker instincts and again was in the right place at the right time, he poked the ball in to the corner of the net, the score 3-2 completely underserved but like I said about time Landsdowne caught a break.

Polski was off running to celebrate when what happened next was hilarious. Graham tried to trip over Dariusz to get him muddy (remember that for tour Dariusz, have a word with ya mate’s he aint that important and we are open to cash deal’s). Anyway, Dariusz stumbled onto the Manager who in normal clothing fell on his back straight into the mud. It was hilarious and somehow someone managed to take a picture amongst all the excitement. See below:

The score remained 3-2 and Landsdowne won, they say it’s a sign of a good team to play badly and win. Landsdowne now completed their 9th win on the trot. Outstanding and let’s re-group this week, work hard and try and make it 10.

The only sour point was unbelievably the ref booked us for celebrating that goal. I understand by the letter of the law, but get real, it’s Sunday League, the celebration lasted a minute top’s. However, unfortunately this is the PC world of madness, and it’s a law and must be adhered too, so careful lad’s if you score a goal be careful how you celebrate, big brother is watching, or we can forget that and remember were human being’s and bloody celebrate, with passion and dignity.

Man of the match

Man of the match was Landsdowne’s keeper Ben Tarrent. All the way from Clacton (clap clap clap clap clap) Ben was pleased with his man of the match award but was unavailable for comment due to the fact he had to rush back to Clacton as he was in a local photo shoot for playboy. However, not was he only early for the game he was also early for his shoot, and that’s where his interview ended.