Report:
STICKS AND THE CITY
Dear Diary,
The Christmas break was great. So many presents; such fun! And then, of course, there were those few weeks of snow – how exciting!
An unfortunate consequence though was the postponement of Cheam’s first league match back against Camberley and Farnborough. Worse still, that weekend, Wanderers had sneakily crept into second place, narrowly beating bottom-of-the-league Walton & Weybridge 3-2. I felt angry and cheated. How could they have snuck higher than us in the league when they know full well that our rightful place is above them? I trusted them and they broke my heart. Upon seeing the horribly disfigured and skewed league table before this weekend’s match, I decided that I would punish them for what they did to me.
Upon their arrival at the Fortress, Wanderers were clearly embarrassed to have overtaken us in the league. They didn’t even come up to us at the dugouts and say “hi”; they just changed at the entrance to the pitch. This was going to be an icy encounter.
It was good to see some Cheam support at the sidelines – I would need the support of friends to face Wanderers after what they’d done. But Wanderers seemed unfazed by the small crowd (I hear they’re used to playing away).
During the first 20 minutes, we dominated Wanderers, maintaining possession and pressing them hard. But they wouldn’t give in. In one of our attacks, I received the ball at the far post but the opportunity was scuppered with a scuffed shot from close range. I felt small. I wanted the ground to swallow me up. But no, I’m better than that. I’ll show you, you stinking cheat. Just you wait...
Wanderers had a golden chance to take the lead in the first half. Cheam goalkeeper Jon Kinchington made a great save at close range and, with the help of a relentless back line, managed to prevent the Wanderers front men from forcing the ball into the goal with a rebound. The first half ended 0-0.
At the start of the second, Cheam had visibly began passing and controlling the ball more simply, shunning more complicated moves that hadn’t worked in the first half for simple, direct hockey. Cheam gained their first and only short corner of the match and Omar Shibli decided to drag flick. As usual, his flick was to the top left corner (can he flick anywhere else?) and the Wanderers ‘keeper pulled off a nice save, which the backs cleared well.
Later in the half, Andy Ventris received the ball near the top of the ‘D’ and, after rounding a few players, struck just wide of the left post. I was distraught. I had been open in the middle. I could’ve dealt a hard blow to Wanderers. I could’ve settled the score. But it wasn’t to be. There was still unfinished business.
In another Cheam attack halfway through the second half, Dom Beales received the ball in the away team’s ‘D’. His shot was saved by the goalkeeper and the rebound fell to me. I swept the ball on the reverse at goal – but it was stopped by a defender on the line. He didn’t control it well, however. I scrambled in and forced the ball over the line at the right post. As the ball crossed the line, a flurry of emotions came flooding over me. “What have I done? Does this feel right?” “Yes, of course it does. Remember what they did to you. That’ll teach them.” With a tear rolling down my left cheek, I ran back to the halfway line, glad to have drawn a line under this rocky relationship.
The final memorable moment of the match came a few minutes before the final whistle. Gareth Lautenberg, emotionally playing out the dramatic final scene of the match in his head, took a little longer than usual to take his 16. Insensitively, a Wanderers forward knocked the ball away from him, spoiling the moment. Young Gareth was hurt and channelled his anger well. As soon as the Wanderers players turned around to appeal, the little lothario struck a beautiful ball down the line. He went from violated to vindicated in one second flat.
For the rest of the game, Derry Brophy, who umpired, continuously congratulated me on my finishing. Truth be told, he was somewhat clingy and visibly emotional. At the final whistle, I left him sobbing into his hands at the sidelines, distraught at the tragic beauty of the encounter between the two sides.
Although not the best win we’ve had, it was 3 points well earned after an extended Christmas break. With Camberley and Farnborough having only taken one point this weekend, Cheam are now back in second place with a game in hand over the leaders, EUHC Gamblers. I felt relieved. We all did. But there was still anger at EUHC, who continue to mock us, masquerading as league leaders – clearly some sort of sick joke. But that’s another story.
Off to buy some shoes now, or something.
Signing off,
Barry Cradshaw |