ASB notched up there 10th league win of the season with a hard fought win over West Ham in East London. Goals from Tina, Sharkey and Jools ensured ASB came away with all 3 points after a gritty and determined performance. Hopes were high during the week, previous to the game as the squad numbers for the game looked pretty healthy but so often happens with ASB being a yes on paper and actually being at the game are 2 totally different things. We only had 12 players for the game, with the sub being a goalkeeper. The prospect of bringing back the points to West London with a bare 11 seemed that bit harder. So Jordan picked the team during the pre match teamtalk and we lined up as follows:

GK : Juzza
RB : Orville LB : Slouch
CB : Peewee & Tina
RM : Malik LM : Sharkey
CM : Riz & Task
S : Jordan & Jools

Subs : Rob

It was important that we went at West Ham from the very first whistle, the pitch was hard and muddy with a fierce wind blowing wind from right to left. With such short numbers it was inevitable that we would tire as the game went on so it was vital that we stayed with West Ham In the first half as they had the swirling wind behind them but the game kicked off with ASB doing most of the attacking play, some neat passing moves down the right involving Orv, Sharkey and Jordan led to a couple of half chances that we were unable to capatalise on.
 
After 15 minutes, Malik went down under a challenge in the penalty area and got up holding his right leg, he looked to be in some discomfort but in true ASB style he battled through the pain and carried on. Although it meant another switch in positions. Malik went to left back, Slouch to left midfield and Sharkey switched to the right of midfield. ASB continued to try and pass there way into some attacking positions but once or twice got caught in possession which led to a West Ham breakaway effort but the defence dealt with these efforts quite comfortably. Unfortunately, Malik was unable to continue so he went off and Jordan stuck to the 10 men instead of bringing on Rob. The whole team re-grouped and like last weeks win over Brentford, there was a touch more steel about us with 10 men. We all stuck together and put in that extra bit of effort which was pleasing to see. Our hard work and determination paid off just after the half hour mark, a FREE KICK on the left was swung over and Tina was on hand to guide the ball home to spark mass celebration as he finally reached 50 goals in his ASB career. No mean feat for his age, lets hope the next 50 isnt to far away.

So, 1-0 up, it was critical that we kept our heads and concentration. Riz and Task were still trying to control game in the centre of the park. After Peewee's nock on his ankle, he seemed to be moving freely again, to the relief of the rest of the team. As the half wore on, Task and Tina forced a succession of dangerous corners that failed to reap any rewards. While at the other end, disaster struck. A long high ball from the West Ham defence was sent deep into the ASB half and from inside the West Ham half, the referee adjudged peewee for holding on to his striker, harsh decision to say the least. So, West Ham had a free kick from just outside the penalty area to the right. Juzza organized his wall but the West Ham player sent over his shot over the wall and into the net, it was a very good finish but Juzza will feel hard done by with a blazing sun in his eyes, not to mention the wind which clearly helped West Ham’s cause. We kicked off and the Referee blew for half time. 1-1
At half time, not much was said but to carry on as we had been playing. It was tough to come in at 1-1, having dominated most of the first half with 10 men. Rob was sent into action in an unfamiliar forward position.

The 2nd half kicked off with the wind in our favour and 11 players back on the pitch, the confidence started to grow throughout the team. We put West Ham under a lot of pressure but they were dealing with everything we threw at them until good work on the left from Jools, he went past his man before putting a cross over for Sharkey to poke home his 6th goal of the season and from no more than a yard or 2 out, he wont score any easier goals this season! ASB got that all important lead and from then on, it would be very tough for West Ham to get back into it. Riz was seeing more of the ball in midfield and was spraying some delightful passes out to both wings. Jordan was dropping deeper in order to try and create some openings and it was from one of these situations where he received the ball just inside the West Ham half, turned 2 defenders in an instant. He took the ball on and had a shot from 25 yards, the ball seemed to be in the air for an age as it headed towards the top right hand corner but from nowhere the keeper threw himself and turned the ball away for a corner, it was a spectacular save but great work from Jordan which led to the chance.

Half way through the 2nd half, Riz played the ball to Orville on the half way line who then flicked it out wide to Sharkey but as he followed through with his pass a West Ham player got his attempted tackle all wrong and caught Orv on the side of the shin with his studs. A nasty looking injury which led to a few minutes of treatment but Orv eventually got up and battled through the pain barrier. It was at this point where West Ham were starting to pressurise the ASB defence, a couple of corners from our left were dealt with by Juzza in goal, meanwhile Rob (the keeper) was having a blinder upfront. He was putting himself about, Just like the management asked. Winning headers, flick ons but it werent just his aerial threat which was causing the West Ham defence concern. His neat footwork put paid to there left back a number of times and brought about a few promising opportunities in the penalty area but unfortunately we just lacked the cutting edge to finish them off.

As there was no-one on the touchline, strangely the ref said No offsides to everyones amazement. This meant we had to be very careful in defence. Orv was once again taken out down the right and unfortunately was unable to continue, after having his right leg targeted in the 2nd half, he finally had to go off with cramp in the same leg. So once again ASB were down to 10 men but the determination to get the 3 points was evident, we didnt sit back and take what we had. We went for the killer 3rd goal and we got it in the SIX minutes of Orville Time Sorry, I mean Injury time. The ball was worked down our left and the cross came over for Jools to get past his man to smash the ball home. 3-1 and surely that was game over. West Ham heads dropped as the ref blew the whistle for full time and the joy on the ASB faces was evident.
 
Under the circumstances, of having to play parts of the game with 10 men and a goalkeeper upfront against one of the stronger teams in the IFA was very satisfying. Everyone played there part in making sure we got the win, anyone of the players that played could have been named man of the match. Special mention to Rob who did a really good job upfront, have we found a new position for you? But man of the match went to Orv, which was mainly due to guts and determination to carry on when injured for the ASB cause.

We are now 3rd in the table and rising, we must continue with this current form and get some sizable squads out for the coming games. Especially with a titanic match against Rotherham on the horizon, it could well have a major bearing on where the IFA trophy ends up this season.

Orville.