Dacorum 3-1 Gloucester by W.C.Fields
The time was 12.24pm, Saturday 19th November, a day with an Autumnal feel given the wooded location and auburn leaves that littered the surrounding area. The venue was Westbrook Hay School on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead.
It had been a 7.45am departure and a pretty straightforward journey to Hertfordshire via the somewhat salubrious surroundings of Beaconsfield Services and another great value breakfast from Gregg’s. Despite missing the well disguised right turn that led to Westbrook, arrival had been pretty much spot on and we changed in a wooden cabin that made you feel like a trapper plying his wares somewhere in the American mid-west.
Dacorum were the best footballing team we’ve played to date. They moved the ball effortlessly on the big pitch, utilising the width and playing one and two touch passes that were almost a pleasure to watch. We defended well though, everyone working hard and funnelling back to restrict the opposition’s shooting opportunities.
Moroney was solid in goal, Blackburn, Mclean and Lawson in the back line gave little away. Jones as always worked hard in central midfield alongside Liggett, while Chamberlain and Clifford on the flanks funnelled forwards and backwards and Smith continued his effort to close down where possible and try to feed on the proverbial scraps.
With three minutes to go till half time however, Dacorum scored a fine individual goal to gain some tangible reward for their dominance of possession and there were a few sullen faces at the interval.
With Lynam, Wilkes and Blacker now on, we created a couple of half chances and eight minutes in, at 12.24pm, something happened. But before that, Mclean won the ball and fed Liggett, who in turn played in Blacker to outpace two home defenders and slot in the equaliser.
And then came the moment. No-one needed to be told, no hint given, no command barked. All seven outfield players sprinted over to celebrate, the second the ball nestled in the corner of the goal. It might have been relief, it might have been excitement or it might have been that rarity in the lives of all men – joy. The spontaneity of the moment, the reason why we play and the raison d'etre of a sporting life lasted about three seconds.
Okay, they then scored two more, we lost, everyone’s disappointed. But a celebration without thought, not a performance to wow a crowd or win over a mate, is a moment to savour.
There’s a lot to work on; we need to try to get the ball down and play, work to retain possession and start to create opportunities. We need to take notice of how Dacorum moved, then passed and moved. We need to look & think and think & look – they don’t always happen in the same order. And we need to remember those few seconds on a field in rural Hertfordshire. Because we want that to happen (far) more often.
Gloucester: Moroney; Blackburn, Mclean, Lawson; Chamberlain, Jones, Liggett, Clifford; Smith. Subs: Blacker, Lynam, Wilkes.
It had been a 7.45am departure and a pretty straightforward journey to Hertfordshire via the somewhat salubrious surroundings of Beaconsfield Services and another great value breakfast from Gregg’s. Despite missing the well disguised right turn that led to Westbrook, arrival had been pretty much spot on and we changed in a wooden cabin that made you feel like a trapper plying his wares somewhere in the American mid-west.
Dacorum were the best footballing team we’ve played to date. They moved the ball effortlessly on the big pitch, utilising the width and playing one and two touch passes that were almost a pleasure to watch. We defended well though, everyone working hard and funnelling back to restrict the opposition’s shooting opportunities.
Moroney was solid in goal, Blackburn, Mclean and Lawson in the back line gave little away. Jones as always worked hard in central midfield alongside Liggett, while Chamberlain and Clifford on the flanks funnelled forwards and backwards and Smith continued his effort to close down where possible and try to feed on the proverbial scraps.
With three minutes to go till half time however, Dacorum scored a fine individual goal to gain some tangible reward for their dominance of possession and there were a few sullen faces at the interval.
With Lynam, Wilkes and Blacker now on, we created a couple of half chances and eight minutes in, at 12.24pm, something happened. But before that, Mclean won the ball and fed Liggett, who in turn played in Blacker to outpace two home defenders and slot in the equaliser.
And then came the moment. No-one needed to be told, no hint given, no command barked. All seven outfield players sprinted over to celebrate, the second the ball nestled in the corner of the goal. It might have been relief, it might have been excitement or it might have been that rarity in the lives of all men – joy. The spontaneity of the moment, the reason why we play and the raison d'etre of a sporting life lasted about three seconds.
Okay, they then scored two more, we lost, everyone’s disappointed. But a celebration without thought, not a performance to wow a crowd or win over a mate, is a moment to savour.
There’s a lot to work on; we need to try to get the ball down and play, work to retain possession and start to create opportunities. We need to take notice of how Dacorum moved, then passed and moved. We need to look & think and think & look – they don’t always happen in the same order. And we need to remember those few seconds on a field in rural Hertfordshire. Because we want that to happen (far) more often.
Gloucester: Moroney; Blackburn, Mclean, Lawson; Chamberlain, Jones, Liggett, Clifford; Smith. Subs: Blacker, Lynam, Wilkes.
