Solid start for the Reserves

Penn & Tylers Green FC 1 – 1 Ascot United

A packet of Marks & Spencer’s All Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies, a goblet of crème de menthe & ‘The Best of Color Me Badd’, you guessed it, its the contents of Alberts kit bag. But away from that, Penn & Tylers Green Reserves are back in action.

The early team news out of French Meadows sent a shock wave through the streets of Penn & Tylers Green FC with the inclusion of star attacker Graham Potts taking up residence between the sticks for the home team. This was unfortunately forced upon Penn & Tylers Green FC when the first five options were rendered unavailable, no worries Platty has assured everyone that G.Potts is some sort of Utility Man who will be delighted to take the gloves.

Graham being the ultimate team man that he undoubtedly is was only too happy to help out his struggling team. Although he couldn’t hide the utter disappointment at not getting to run around for 90mins chasing channel balls.

The squad were also really quite unsure of Graham being in goal with most coming to the conclusion that at best it was a desperate move. It was summed up in these fantastic words by striker Tim Barber.

“I was having a great day and was confident about the game then I find out that Pottsy is in goal, this on the same same day I discover ‘Would I Lie To You?’ by Charles & Eddie is only 59p on iTunes. Swings and roundabouts people, swings and bloody roundabouts.”

Platty arrived and immediately chipped in with an utter clueless comment about people swimming faster than sharks. I really wish he would just read a book, start simple with Spot the dog and maybe work up to one of the goose bumps series.

Penn & Tylers Green FC started with a standard 4-4-2 hoping to take advantage of their superior pace on the wings. Youngy was playing on the right wing rather than his more familiar left wing role; it was a big day for a player who has really been lacking confidence this pre season.

The game began poorly for both teams with neither managing to trouble either keeper in the first 30mins. That all changed however when a flowing passing move enabled Mikey to unleash a shot which was brilliantly saved by the Ascot goal keeper. Penn & Tylers Green FC then looked to take a hold of the game and were incredibly unlucky to come off at half time with the score still at 0-0.

Of course they could rely on it being 0 goals conceded as G. Potts was superbly mopping up any danger that looked to enter HIS goal area.

The second half was a complete contrast to the first with Ascot well and truly taking the game to Penn & Tylers Green FC and using the slope to their advantage. The home team goalie was forced into making a world class save down low to his left where he just finger tipped the ball onto the post after great work from the Ascot number 9.

Moments later Ascot took the lead. Can’t remember the goal, I imagine it was probably the defences fault. 0-1.

Within moments of the kick off it was 1-1 after Mikey was fouled by the onrushing keeper. Youngy excellently scuffed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. 20mins to go and Penn & Tylers Green FC were in with a great chance of taking all 3 points.

Adam Weedon entered the game on the 75min mark and immediately brought urgency to Penn & Tylers Green FC’s play and linked up brilliantly with Mikey to create a number of chances for Penn & Tylers Green FC. However as the chances went begging the confidence of Ascot went up and the final five minutes were dominated by Ascot attempts. Each of them failing to threaten the Penn & Tylers Green FC goal until a last minute header which looked destined for the bottom right hand corner, well that was until possibly one of the greatest saves ever witnessed at French Meadows was produced by the cat like Potts. A truly amazing show of athleticism.

Luke, Tim B, Tim C and Linds can all be very pleased with their afternoons work. Officially the mom has gone to Mikey Benning, fair enough a performance worthy of it. Well unless that performance coincided with a right winger sacrificing his afternoon to play in goal only to pull off a string of world class saves and ultimately keep his team in the match but then I don’t pick it, but I suspect I know who does.

Match Report by Graham Potts