A 'Fine' Performance

The pre-match dressing room chatter was focussed on the gaffers late withdrawal, and what size the fine should be for such behaviour, but that wasn't the only fine to be dished out!

Scrap took the managerial duties and opted for a 4-4-2. There was a good buzz and energy amongst the team and that was demonstrated from kick off with everyone working for each other. There weren't a large number of shots in the early stages, from either team, but Bloxham were doing more of the attacking. The first chance of the game did fall to Sibford when a shot missed the target but headed towards an on running player who slid in to push it the wrong side of the post. Bloxham were next to have a couple of chances as a cross from the right, dropped onto Matty's left boot but it was guided over the bar with just the keeper to beat. Crosses and corners were causing Sibford problems with one being cleared from the box to a waiting Scrap who sent the ball into Bloxham School!

It was Sibford who opened the scoring though as they broke the offside trap, rounded the keeper and tucked it home. Frustrations were evident and a few choice words cost Matty a booking and the second fine of the day. The frustration was simply a demonstration of how well we'd played to that point and thankfully we got ourselves back in the game shortly afterwards. A corner fell to Ian who turned and poked it across the face of goal for Andy to pick up. Things seemed to go in slow motion from here on as Andy thundered the ball towards goal. A snail did it's best to track back from the 6 yard and nearly cleared it off the line but it did see us to half time with the score 1-1.

The second half didn't start as we'd hoped as we ended up being 2-1 down within minutes of the restart. A ball over the top left the back four looking for offsite but Sibford ran through and scored. It felt undeserved and we were on the back foot again. Crosses and corners continued to be our best method of attack and it was Ant who found space down the left hand side putting in a deep cross to the back post that was both close to going in and someone getting on the end of it.

Sadly it was a Sibford corner that pinged around the box and couldn't be cleared, settling on the edge of the box for a Sibford player to put them 3-1 up. It was beginning to feel like one of those games where a decent performance wasn't going to be rewarded with any points but we kept going. Knaggsy was making a nuisance of himself up front and causing them problems, winning a freekick in a dangerous position that again gave us a chance to get back in the game. The opportunity eventually came with a corner being delivered right into the path of Knaggsy who leapt and burst the net! It was game on and confidence was back. The next chance was thwarted by a late offside flag that didn't go down too well with Matt, who collected the third booking of the day! We didn't have to wait much longer the equaliser as Gary picked up the ball on the right and crossed it for the on rushing Brooksy to this time power home.

It felt like there was going to be only one winner but time was against us and we have to settle for a point rather than 3 but it was a great comeback and a team performance that we can take forward to the next one.