AFC Dons 4 - 4 ASB FC
Scorers for Dons - Eddie, JJ, Keir and Newman
3 nil and they fooked it up 3 nil and they fooked it up, but alas still got away with it
On saturday 12th april the travelling ASB took to the streets and made their way to coliers wood, i think, in some place that is unfamilar to the writer of this report. Thankfully Frangi knew where he was going, or at least claimed to, after turning off and doubling back on himself only to find the road he claimed would have set us straight was closed, the more than able Task took over directing and guided us to the priory, quiet apt for a car full of drunks. Upon getting there Frange took back over the directing and just as well, seeing as Task was trying to get us to surbiton, and as this lost soul found out, colliers wood is not in surbiton. But between them laurel and hardie had managed to get us there.
And so to the changing rooms, or a portakabin that even stoke would have been embaressed by, re: sun article from same day, we went and changed we got and out to warm up we went.
the squad was, for a second week in a row, of a strong number that Gretna would of been proud of - trust me bri and wee man will get it :@), this a sure sign that things are going in the right direction for ASB, either that or that tina canny hack it and eddie is still banned from the big boys.
the team started off strong, with rob pulling the gloves on for the 2nd consecutive week, a return either flank for Pee Wee and Task with the heart of the defence filled by 2 stalwarts, the rock that is Orv and the poof that is Tina, this week sporting less of a yellow barnet. The midfield started slouch on the left, eddie and kendrick in the centre and JJ on the left, with the front line being run by Kev and Sharky.
And so to kick off, the first 15 mins didnt exactly go to plan, within 5 mins ASB found thmselves 1 down, a scramble in the box saw 2 ASB players trying to hack away the ball but the melly of players in there made it impossible and a poke by the AFC Dons player, oh aye we were playing AFC Dons, found its way to the net and Jezzas whistle sounded loud and clear. Unfortunately not loud enough to wake the ASB up, as 5 mins later a dodgy free kick was awarded to the dons, the ASB held the line on the edge of the box but alas as it was floated in 2 of the ASB line followed a dons attacker in and playing him on side his floating header went over the advancing rob, who couldnt have been blamed for coming to block any shot, and into the net, 2 nil. then with only their 3rd attack of the game after 15 mins dons went 3 up, the ball was played into the box and as an AFC attacker charged down on rob he played the ball away, unfortunately it fell to a dons midfielder who, with the calmness of stilian petrov, hit a pin point accurate shot back towards the empty net for the 3rd, dont worry rob it happened to Roy carrol and he plays international.
So after 15 mins ASB found themselves 3 down and having done little wrong other than maybe not waking up.
That changed and for the next half hour ASB took control of the game and while Rob and his defence had little to do the ASB forwards were causing the dons defence some problems. Some nice balls from Eddie and kendrick along with some fine inter play and runs from slouch and JJ saw ASB create a few chances for Sharky and Kev, but miss firing, some good defensive play and a couple of good saves, including one for the cameras that must have got lost on way, meant the 1st half finished 3-0 to the dons.
Inga the gaffer gave his usual half time talk, geeing everyone up and telling them it wasnt over, many a weak manager would have crumbled at 3-0 down but Arse'n Inga, sorry lol, was unphased and saw that the only reason that the dons were ahead had come from our own doing and that if we kept pressing them as we had done for the last 30 mins of the 1st half, our reward would come, well either that or he was just making it up. But, with one switch, immy for kev with JJ playing up front now, he sent them out for a 2nd half buoyed with excitment that this could either be the monumentous fight back of teh season, or just another defeat.
The 2nd half stated brightly for ASB, with immy impressing on teh right wing and even managing a couple of ronaldo esk step overs and tricks, which actually came off. The fact he was, yet again, wearing man u shorts was maybe the inspiration for this. A couple of chances passed, but yet again good keeping kept the ASB score at nil. A horendous challange by the dons defence gave ASB a free kick about 10 yards out the box to our left. The dons keeper pulled to his right hand post to sort the wall out, but with the quick thinking of a terry henry in his arsenal days and the same acurracy, eddie floated the ball round teh wall and into the empty net. The dons were fuming but rightly the dons ref awarded the goal and so the come back looked on.
The tactician that is Inga decided to withdraw sharky from the fray and throw keir into the game, hoping to take advantage of what were now tired dons legs, due to the pressure the whole of the ASB team were now relentlessly placing them under. 5 mins went by and a couple of sniffs at goal but still 3-1. Inga, realising that Task had put in a solid performance, and also some exquisite balls that harked back to the bye gone days, or so i was told, had run his last, and that some more pace was required on the left mid. so he moved slouch into left back, tina into left mid and subbed task for scottish dave, who fitted into centre half.
within 2 mins of the switch it had paid dividends. Newman (thats scottish dave) blocked a through ball with his head and collected the ball, after faking a long ball slipped it up the wing to tina, he clamly played JJ through and who cooly slotted it past the on rushing keeper to make it 3-2 to the dons.
Come on ASB, still 15 to go
The dons kicked off and we won the ball back and immediatley set up an attack, which resulted in a free kick out on our right, eddie swung in a delightful ball straight onto Newmans head only for his glancing header to fly inches past the far post.
Then in yet another ASB attack, the ball was worked to keir who, on his comeback after 2 years, had the coolness to place the ball beyond the dons keeper and bring ASB back to level terms, you never lose it. His celebratory run ending up at the touchline and, having done what was needed of him, was honest enough to say that he was knacked and replaced himself. and in what would turn out to be yet another master stroke from Inga, threw james on for the last 7.
ASB were in dream land, 7 to go, on the accendancy and back to 3-3, chants of 3 nil and you fooked it up could be heard, well at least in this writers head
the game went on and with ASB yet again on teh attack, am not making this up, dons really had nothing in teh 2nd half, or atleast nothing that found its way past teh rock that was ASBs defence, anyway, with ASB on the attack yet again they found themselves in the right hand corner and eddie took a quick throw in which, had the ref been paying attention would have resulted in an ASB corner, but as he was asking the side line for time, asked for the throw in to be taken again. Now this is where the cynical side of me comes in, the line, with ASB obviously on teh attack said 30secs to play and so with one last throw of the dice ASB crowded the box and eddie prepared for a long throw, in it came a flick on found its way to a dons defender who poked it back out to the right, the ASB picked it up and rattled a shot in that was blocked and the ball found its way to james facing away from goal, james then had the collectiveness to lay the ball back to scottish dave who, through a mellay of players where only accuracy would have done, found the gap he needed and slammed the ball into the back of the net. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY
4-3 to ASB, and they really did go wild.
With ASB in exstactic mood they were baying for the final whisle, surely that was the 30secs up, well 2 mins were then found and in what really was the first time that the dons had got beyond the ASB defence in the 2nd half, they managed to create a chance, rob was unlucky to be out paced to the ball by the dons winger and with only scottish dave and tina back the Dons attacker was shouting for the square ball, knowing what was coming newman made a run to interven the square ball and as he stuck out a leg to block what would have set up an easy tap in, he clipped the ball rather than stopped it and it spun up and as if to rub it in took an age to float over tina and into the far top corner, not even the luck of the bar to keep it out. 4-4
distraught asb kicked off but alas that was it and the game ended in a draw.
Over all a well earned draw from being 3 down after 15 mins, but the Dons would have felt alot happier with it than ASB did, which considering being 3-0 down, shows how much we put into the game.
A special mention to Woody, Frange and Zack who, as the manager said "to my eternal shame" didnt manage to get a run but still cheered on every ball. the manager was then quoted as saying "All of them will get 45 mins next week at least, as will you if your free. and after your goalscoring exploits you get to play up front."
This writer would like to thank Dons for a well fought yet clean game and the never say die attitude, shown by both teams, is why this league is so competative and so enjoyable for the fans and players alike.
MOM for me - everyone played their part but big desicions were made, and from teh changes made, 2 goals were scored by subs and 2 were set up by subs, so MOM is Arse'N Inga
Next game Hampton and Richmond - a team that put us out on pens of the Cup so payback is duley required
peace out
David "trigger" Newman |
