(As I wasn't asked to write a report I didn't pay a huge amount of attention to the periphery of the game so some details will be wrong - apologies in advance - let me know and I'll fix)
On a wet and miserable Sunday afternoon, when all would have preferred to be supping a pint of the lords nectar in a warm licensed establishment, 12 of the ASB squad dragged their hungover bodies down to Old Deer Park for a (so called ) friendly aimed at sussing out some potential new recruits to the thinning ASB squad. Maybe it was something to do with Halloween being near, as some looked rougher than the undead.
After much standing about in the rain, and half arsed stretching, Nueva Aurora finally appeared with 8 players to take us on, clearly feeling confident they wouldn't need anymore to beat us.
With a 3 man advantage, ASB really didn't overpower the opposition - an indictation of their strength, speed and comfort on the ball. But with so much space to exploit it didn't take long for us to start pressing their back line, though they always looked dangeroous on the break with their sole forward in his lime green boots giving Woody, Frange, Orv and Weeman a run for their money.
It took about 20 minutes to break the deadlock. With Slouch and Weeman working well down the left flank, Slouch cut inside, passed a couple of defenders, and with an overlap forming on the right as players were drawn to him, he slipped a ball into the right hand channel to Brian who was through on the keeper. A low drilled shot to the near post squeezed under the keeper and ASB had their noses in front.
The rest of the first half was spent in a stalemate that should never have been gievn our numerical advantage, but with Nueva clearly the more up for it, they pressed and harried in the midfield where the game was to be won and lost. Brian (lazy) and Tina (carrying a thigh strain) struggled to deal with their 3 centre mid's, but the wall of numbers in defence kept them at bay. With about 5 minutes to go in the second half, a ball over the top to Mike to run onto was taking him away from goal, but with a wonder strike from the edge of the area ASB went 2 up.
The cushion was short lived however, when Limey (as he will now be known) pulled one back before the break - following a defensive mix up? (Sorry guys I can't remember!).
With the rain back on in the second half and a wee rest, ASB started to use the slight slope to their advantage and apply some pressure...but without any real results. Nueva took heart from this, and our tiring team, to start applying pressure of their own. With Sharkey having to go, the advantage dropped to 2 players, and sensing the swing in pressure Nueva brought on their manager (?), and older boy, but his presence helped release their midfield to support Limey more.
Eventually Nueva drew level, with Limey getting through 1 on 1 with Naz, and shortly after made it 3-2 with a low drilled shot which skimmed over the wet surface past Naz. This was a wake up call and Immy led the line, taking on their right flank on his own, narrowly missing out when a punt from Naz bounced over their (unconvincing) keeper, came back off the post landing at his feet. Unfortunately for Immy the keeper made a great recovery to save. as the game swung back in ASB's favour, we had to turn the screw, and a well worked move between Slouch and the Hammer saw Slouch with just the keeper to beat. Slotting away calmly to his left, Slouch made it 3-3.
But Nueva weren't finished, and with 5 minutes lef took the lead again, with Naz left exposed in another 1 on 1, this time with their number 19. A late equaliser from Brian, from a Frange ball, looked to have taken a share of the spoils, but with Tina (now refereeing after Zack's 70 minutes with the whistle) being anal and running the clock to the second ASB conceded possesion and were punished by Limey.
Against a full Nueva squad, ASB would have struggled, but can take heart from some good periods of play and that next time we meet some of these lads they'll be playing for us, not against!
Goals: Mike, Slouch, Brian (2) |
