Fixture: Internet Irons (West Ham) v ASB (QPR)
Venue: Leyton
Date 17/02/07
Conditions: Clear and sunny. No wind
Pitch conditions: Reasonable surface, but very narrow, muddy patches in goalmouths.
This rearranged fixture had the shadow of Jordan and Mungo hanging over it. Jordan had of course resigned as ASB Manager in somewhat acrimonious circumstances and found a new love in the shape of claret and blue. I think he must've been confused by the colour of last years' Arsenal shirt. Anyway suffice to say Jordan and Malik this season had been plying their trade with the Hammers.
It was therefore with much relief, that a repeat of last years' Jordan/Mungo handbag dancing at Wnet would not get a chance to reoccur as both protagonists were not available for selection. I'm sure they'll meet again soon though and give each other big kisses.
Most of us arrived by tube and met-up with the others at the ground. The ref was looking ever so keen as he warmed-up on his own on the pitch with not a player to be seen. I chose to keep him company prior to the game, as I had not brought my kit thinking that with two goalies in the squad, I would not be needed. The Hammers emerged first and I had a chance to talk to their arranger Gary who was so doom and gloom about West Hams' chances of surviving relegation, I didn't even get a chance to talk about QPRs'.
We actually had a decent turn-out of 15 players which was about 4 more than the last time we played them in Leyton.
ASB lined-up like this.
TragiLee
Orville Tina
Woody
Weeman
NickNick Wizz Matilda
Slouch
Jools Sharkey
Subs:
Naz
Frange
Immi
Crouchy
On the line: Inga, Kier, Juzza
It was evident even before the kick-off that this was likely to be a tight game as the pitch was so narrow (probably the width of a professional penalty area) it was going to several cramp wing-play and mean everyone would be crammed into the middle. Getting through to a goal-scoring position was not going to be easy. So the lads were warned to have patience as an early lead was unlikely to come. I wish I had also bothered to mention to watch out for conceding free-kicks near our box, as last year had seen the Hammers go into a lead from just such a position.
Early ASB pressure came to nothing in the first five minutes. After about 8 minutes of play, West Ham crossed the ball into a position on the right of the box. Weeman didn't look in any trouble and I confess I didn't see the incident properly, but the ref blew-up for what might have been a kick on their striker. Whatever, I remember thinking to myself, that's a bloody stupid place to give away a free-kick when the player seemed to pose no danger. Memories of last year, when I was between the sticks and Hammers bent one round the wrong side of my wall and just past me for a bit of a soft goal into the near side of the net came flooding back.
Anyway, we lined-up our wall and this time the shot from about 25 yards out went to the other side of the goal. It seemed to sort of go in slow motion and Rob seemed to have it covered, he dived, the ball bounced in front of Rob and it just went straight through his arm to the astonishment of everyone.
Hammers 1 ASB 0
At this point, Naz turned-up and as he was only available to play the first half Rob was subbed, which was a bit unfortunate because it was almost straight after the mistake, so poor old Rob had a good time to brood on his error before he could get back on again.
Classic ASB concede a soft goal and make life difficult for yourselves. Anyway, ASB applied themselves admirably trying to get back into the game and soon started to win more of the possession and pin Hammers back for the most part in their own half.
Riz went for a 50:50 with the keeper and the keeper ended up needing treatment for bruised ribs.
After 15 minutes, the ball had been worked into the box to Riz and he and a Hammer collided. It was clearly no penalty, but old Riz bless him went down, but the funniest thing was he actually screamed before he got touched. Everyone on the sidelines were laughing their heads off.
This was not a completely one-sided game though and Hammers had some very useful players, the guy up front, the right winger and the captain at the back, not to mention their aged keeper were very capable. Probably as good a West Ham team as the one that played under Rob Ornee many years ago. They had quite well worked tactics. Leave striker up on his own, mass the rest of the team in two rows of four in front of the ball and then break quickly. This was aided by some very well placed diagonal balls from heir midfield to the loan striker who was proving a handful. There were passages when Hammers went forward and they passed it around in a very accomplished manner. Our defence could not rest easy at any time.
ASB had plenty of play up to the edge of the box, but just could not release the shots before they got blocked and could not work the ball through either. What was needed was a bit of magic, but to be honest it never really came. Some of our best moments came when we worked the ball down the left … Slouch was always a threat and was once taken down somewhat cynically after beating three men and almost being through on goal. On one occasion when Slouch and Weeman worked a nice move down the left, I think it was Weeman who put over an excellent cross that looked destined for Jools' head, but the hammer managed to just jump up high enough to deflect it.
After 38 minutes, Nick had a shot from inside the box that was handballed by the Hammer defender and the ref had no hesitation in giving the penalty, much to the chagrin of some Hammers players. Riz, under some pressure, duly slotted past the RHS of the diving keeper. A very good penalty and another goal from a set piece.
Hammers 1 ASB 1
We then rather stupidly conceded territory and possession and almost let Hammers go back into the lead.
HT Hammers 1 ASB 1
Half-time came and we talked about closing the gap between defence and midfield and playing further up the pitch. Crouchy was brought on for Matilda who looked a bit of his usual pace. There was still a belief that this game could be won.
The second half was very like the first, we huffed and puffed for 10 minutes and nothing happened.
Rob made an excellent take on a cross early in the half to settle his nerves.
Then Orville got his traditional injury, which to be fair to Orv was a pretty atrocious tackle. The ball came across to Orv and he went to clear with his right foot up the line, but a Hammer had chased it down and dived-in studs-up and caught Orv on his ankle in exactly the same place as last year. Like last year, Orv was out of the rest of the game and Frange came on in his place. The gaffers also took the opportunity to swap out Naz, who had had a reasonably untroubled, but solid game and get Rob back between the sticks again.
ASB stepped-up their efforts to get a winner. After 65 mins Jools had an overhead effort from the edge of the box that floated and looked like it was dipping in over the keeper, but the keeper reached-up and tipped it over the bar. After 25 minutes the management had to make a change and it was a very difficult decision for them as we needed Immi on, but frankly both Sharkey and Jools were playing really well. In the end, Sharkey was swapped for Immi. Immi started doing his trade-mark dribbles, but he was so good he ended-up on his own with no-one to pass to. It looked like Immi might be able to break them down, but nothing came of his efforts. Around about 75
minutes legs started to get heavy and some tackles were going in.
With ten minutes remaining, a tactical substitution was made and Sharkey was brought back on in a 3-4-3 and poor old Frange had to make way having only had 25 mins and just about getting into the game.
This did the trick and although the remaining back three had to be on their toes several times to not concede, it pushed our play into more dangerous areas. Particularly down the left Tina and Slouch were combining well.
Rules of the game interlude …
Some funny moments in game/ lessons to learn:
1) Jools standing on the toes of a Hammer trying to throw the ball in. he conceded a free-kick as he was unaware the rule had been changed a couple of years ago and you need to stand a couple of yards back.
2) We are often guilty of this one. A free-kick was awarded to the Hammers after the second call by one of ours to "leave it". Nope you're not allowed to do that as it is a misleading call and can lead to a member of the oppo leaving it. If you want to call that, put a name on it.
Anyway, back to the fray…
Despite our pressure, Hammers still threatened on the break and one moment on 40 mins had all our hearts in our mouths as Rob left it and Tina, under pressure, headed back safely into Robs' hands.
Tina was however now doing his flying squirrel impression, appearing all over the field and one such foray say him cross the ball from the left to Nick on the RHS , but Nicks' shot was blocked on the line. It was a real backs-to-the walls defensive performance from Hammers who were throwing bodies in front of shots and doing everything they could to keep us out.
A winner almost came from the most unlikely scenario … Woody not to be outdone by his centre-half partner matched the flying squirrel with his own overhead kick. Again the keeper reached up and finger-tipped over the bar. Now this was one hell of a performance when you think that the old fella had been carrying a rib injury for most of the game.
Into injury time and Tina broke into the box on the left hand side and had a shot from a very acute angle frustratingly cleared off the line. It was just not to be.
Ref blew up and that was that.
FT: Hammers 1 ASB 1
On the whole it was a pretty good performance, but we never really clicked. This was down to a combination of the narrow pitch, some excellent play from West Ham and looking a bit ring-rusty after having 4 games in a row cancelled. Frustratingly, this now means that even if Preston come out of their bunkers and play us, and we can beat them, that won't be enough to get past them should they win all their three remaining games.
My MOM was Tina, but the gaffers will undoubtedly allot their own scores.
Rather too many pints in the pub, the cheese toasties and the good results from our relegation rivals eased the pain a bit.
Juzza 18/02/07 |
