Conditions: Foggy and mild.
Pitch: Small, bobbly and narrow.

Referee: Shite.

ASB travelled to the town of the Cobblers for an IFA League meeting
against an unknown quantity. The two teams have never played each other before
and Stanley were desperate to put last week’s below par performance to bed, so
no doubt we were in for an interesting afternoon.
Keir & Inga had a relatively healthy squad of 14 players to choose from and
after a prompt 8 o’clock departure (well, almost) the four ASB motors set off
for Northampton .
We arrived a little later than planned but were soon suited and booted and
made our way to the pitch where the team lined up in a 4-4-2 formation:
Rob, Skidz, Peewee, Tina, Task, Mungo, Hef, Tim, Franklyn, Diego, Jools.
Subs: Frange, Admiral, Toby.

Northampton had a similar sized squad to us but were already on the pitch,
warmed up and raring to go. The match got underway with ASB kicking off and for
the first ten minutes or so both teams were trying to suss each other out.
Stanley were concentrating on playing the quick, passing game we are so use
to seeing most weeks and today wasn’t any different.

We started off brightly and clearly had the upper hand with regards to pace and
trickery thanks to the tireless efforts of our wingers, Franklyn and Mungo.
Most of our best attacks tend to come from the flanks, and we knew we could
take advantage this way due to the lack of pace from their fullbacks.

Task and Franklyn in particular were linking up nicely with an array of mazy
runs and through balls between the pair which Northampton simply couldn’t deal
with.
However it wasn’t all one sided and on the rare occasions we lost
possession, the back four were dealing well with the hopeful punts forward that
the home team could only muster up.

We then managed to force a number of corners without really looking like putting
one away. The deliveries were fine but none of our attackers fancied having a go
and Northampton were equally soaking up some of the early pressure.
However it was the visitors who were to get the all important first goal.
Tina had possession in midfield and found Mungo, who sprayed the ball wide to
Task.
Mr Frayling dispatched an inch perfect cross to Jools, who managed to
beat the keeper with a fine looping header to open the scoring.

Northampton 0-1 ASB…………Jools
Within five minutes of taking the lead, Stanley were at it again and Task was
unlucky not to see his long range effort go in after scraping the crossbar.

ASB were starting to get confident and play with a bit of flair. Tim and Hef
who partnered each other in the centre were marshalling the midfield perfectly
and were not only supporting the defence when needed but played important roles
in most of our attacks. Topped off with the many problems Franklyn’s pace was
causing the opposition, we seemed comfortable from this point onwards.

A rare attack down the right flank from Northampton saw them win a free kick
which was aimlessly whipped across goal and out for a goal kick. It was the
closest they had got to scoring so far.

Our hard work soon paid off and we hit the Cobblers net for the second time in
the game. Mungo played a neat one-two with Diego (our new Brazilian signing) who
cut inside and played his team mate in on goal who smashed a fine curling shot
which the keeper could only palm into his own net. 2-0 up and we had a little
breathing space.

Northampton 0-2 ASB............Mungo

We continued to play our passing football which the management had previously
asked for and we were very much in control of the game until another free kick
was given away on the right. The free kick was taken and floated into the area
where a cluster of bodies battled for the ball. The referee failed to see not
only Tina, but Task being body-checked by the Northampton attack and the ball
fell to the feet of their front man who rifled it into the roof of the net from
six yards out.
We conceded just before half time and the game was most definitely back on.
The whistle came soon after and it was time for the lads to regroup.

Half time: Northampton 1-2 ASB

It was disappointing to concede in such a manner because they weren’t getting
a sniff on goal due to the resolute defending from the back four.
The management seemed pleased with the first half performance but had warned
us of the bouncing balls and ‘hoofball’ style of play we were having to deal
with.
‘’Take your chances and keep the ball on the deck!’’ were the instructions
bellowed out to us as we returned to the field.
And we started off the second period just as the gaffers would have liked.
Yet again, Franklyn burst down the left wing and had an effort blocked for a
corner.
The keeper got a punch to it and another corner was given.
Diego wanted a piece of the action and was also unlucky not to get on the
score sheet after another impressive jolt inside the box. ‘DeNero’ is certainly
a livewire in this area and can simply ghost past defenders as he wishes.

The Northampton defence weren’t really up to much aside from the odd last
minute block or tackle and a big cobbler who was strong in the air. This was
helped with our lack of cutting edge in the final third which was strange
because our approach play was mostly working to perfection.

Tina and Peewee were winning the majority of important headers and showed
quick thinking on numerous occasions but would let the odd long ball bounce over
the top.
Skidz was covering well and sweeping up anything that got through.
Mungo was also sticking to his defensive duties on the right flank but was
subbed for a time out after some childish remarks from a Northampton midfielder.

Admiral came on in his place with Hef switching to the right wing.

We continued to press them in search of our third goal but it was Northampton
who then broke and equalised. They were growing in confidence after their first
goal and another long ball was punted into our half. Task decided to gamble and
try and play the offside trap, unfortunately unaware that Tina was still on.
Their burly striker managed to get the better of our captain and raced in one
on one.
I soared off my line in attempt to either win the ball/take the man out, but
hesitated at the last minute allowing the player to squeeze the ball into the
net. It was a tight finish to be fair but was only due to a rare error from the
Stanley defence.

Northampton 2-2 ASB…………Cobblers.

So the game was back to being all square and we had squandered a 2-0 lead to a
goal that could have been avoided. Task held his hands up over the gamble but I
was disappointed that I didn’t at least clatter their forward, which is a part
of the game I enjoy more.

Our new Aussie signing (no, not Stingray) made his ASB debut up front and
nearly made an immediate impact. Unfortunately, Toby’s finishing from two yards
out left much to be desired. It was at this point that Jools re-entered the fray
in his place.

So with Northampton undeservedly back in the game, it was time for ASB to roll
their sleeves up and dig in.
Tim was having a blinder in the middle of the park and we also improved when
Age came on to calm things down a little, similar to that of the recent
performances of Steve Lomas. Although I doubt Lomas can strike the ball quite
like Age did to get ASB’s third goal and put Stanley noses in front.

Diego and Hef were involved in an almighty scramble which the keeper couldn’t
hold onto. Diego fired another shot which the defender managed to block but the
ball only went as far as Age who was lurking inside the box. He allowed the ball
to drop and unleashed a perfectly timed right-footed volley with the keeper at
full stretch.
As soon as it hit the net, he reeled away much to the delight of his team
mates and this was clearly the most celebrated ASB goal so far this season.

Northampton 2-3 ASB…………Admiral

Age’s strike really lifted the team and it was definitely well
timed and needed.
We took our foot off the gas after our early pressure in the second half and
when they levelled things up it did knock the wind out of our sails a little
bit.
But we showed real character to respond to the equaliser and this wasn’t at
all helped with the constant impotence of the referee who was giving bizarre
decisions and letting Northampton get away with blue murder.

Unfortunately, Tina had to be substituted after being involved in a heavy
collision.
Frange, who had already slotted in at right back found himself alongside
Skidz, who was asked to play in an unfamiliar centre back position and he
certainly didn’t disappoint.

So with our captain out of the equation, we knew defensively that we had to be
on our toes and that’s exactly what we did. Task was winning header after header
and constantly creating chances from the back with Franklyn.
Peewee was also as solid as usual and demonstrated what pace he has by racing
back and catching a one-on-one situation which he had no right in getting to.

In pursuit of the fourth goal, Franklyn (who was putting in a MOTM
performance) placed a wonderful ball into the path of Hef who wandered around
the edge of their area before cracking a ferocious volley that screamed past the
wrong side of the keeper’s top left hand post. It was a stunning strike and
would easily be a strong contender for goal of the season had it gone in.

There was still time to wrap up the game and within the last five minutes,
Jools grabbed his second goal of the match.

Franklyn wasn’t finished by a long shot and still had plenty of energy left in
the tank. Another exciting run down the left was followed by our Jesus-looking
centre forward who calmly slotted the ball in the far corner after a tidy
cutback from Franklyn.

Northampton 2-4 ASB…………Jools x 2

The favourable ref soon blew time and ASB had recorded their second away win
of the season. This was a vastly improved performance from the Dulwich game on
Saturday, despite scoring a few more goals last weekend. We certainly created
enough chances but lacked a killer instinct at times.
We also defended well for large chunks of the game but naturally allowed our
opponents to cause us a bother or two. What was most impressive was the attitude
that was shown when we lost our lead and had decision after decision go against
us.
For me this was very positive, especially with the work rate and discipline
that everyone put in and this can only set us in good stead for the remainder of
the season when we are on our travels.

MOTM: Franklyn.
Special mentions: Tim, Hef, Age for his goal and Jools who led by example in
what was an unfamiliar clutch of strikers to choose from. Well done everyone.