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Although today’s game was scheduled to be played on Broxbourne wreck, club Chairman Chris Cedrone had other ideas and took a taxi with pop Tony Cedrone to Enfield playing fields. Luckily it wasn’t a wasted journey as father and son set up Karaoke for Chinese tourists. The rest of the team arrived promptly, welcoming debutant Peter Enefer to make his first start in a Goose shirt playing in centre midfield. Worries about injuries continued to rock Graham Wick’s ship of physiotherapy, but his healing hands are ridding demons and spreading a little light, spreading a little love.
The Geese started very well forcing Redwing back and playing most of the football in their half. Corners and long-throw possibilities were plentiful early on; it was only a matter of time before a loose ball sat up for Matt Cully who drilled in a low shot that was scrambled through the box before finally reaching Brett Norris to tap in. The Geese were taking advantage of a high defensive back line, clipping balls high and low to create space for the front two. Building on their one goal lead a ball played over the top to Craig Norris saw him use his pace to get between the two centre backs and chip the goalkeeper with a brilliantly executed shot. The Geese were well on top, Highgate not being able to get out of their own half. Another ball over the top from Ad Cas allowed Paul Dodd through who rounded the keeper and slotted home. At 3-0 Redwing were clearly making there annoyance heard, but spirits were still high, centre back Dinkle offering his experience to his younger counterparts. At half time the Geese made one change Andy Perry resting for Golden Musk to take centre stage.
In usual circumstances the Geese would, and probably should have held onto their lead comfortably, matching the same tempo and set-up in the second half. However manager Paul Cully was on holiday in Lapland polishing Reindeers, the Geese turning to Captain Neal Dodd for advice. Neal’s words were reminiscent of Master Cully and everyone new what had to be done – but what promised to be a contented 45 minutes, simply wasn’t. The shape of the team did not change dramatically but perhaps wandering thoughts did, a sort of schoolboy error thinking that the game was won and the opposition were going to sit back and play the same way. Not long into the second half, a free kick was headed onto the bar, then out, then in, then Neal Dodd climbed aboard the Party Bus and spread himself across the back seat, jumped off then headed the ball into his own net.
Within minutes, Redwing were on the attack again with tricky striker Bruno running through in a move that saw him carry the ball through, pacing his run luckily so that a tackle couldn’t be made, the shot shifted past Rob Cully who couldn’t press the circle button quick enough. In a flustered spell the crowd looked agitated, Dave Armstrong whistling his concern and staggered Bellini’s watched on, perhaps scouting out potential points and concerns. The Geese changed tactically, pushing Musket up top and bringing Craig Norris the defender into the game, holding in midfield. The Geese now had more rhythm in their passing. A free kick whipped into the box saw Steve Adamson pushed in the area and the referee point to the spot. Paul Dodd stepped up and blasted home. 4-2. Church bells rang, Rob Cully sang.
Just when the game looked over for the second time, the bookies were wrong again, as a second scramble in the Goose box saw Bruno convert with his hand, but the goal stood, Rob Cully stood, and Craig Belsey reversed his truck onto the pitch and fly-tipped 100 beaneys onto the grass. Jenny reached to the inside of her coat, but her son was gone, taking his ever-growing female fan club with him.
4-3, and the game was back on, as tempers heated up, a mild session of old school fisticuffs and handbags produced the first Goose to be shown a card. It was Craig Norris and it was yellow. The game really was end to end, the Geese being able to recharge their batteries it seemed when a goal had been conceded. At this stage in the game Tony “jumper and pint” Vullo was replaced by Bradley Hewitt, recalled to the squad after impressing in training. Back down the other end a looped ball ran along the goal line and was netted by James Musk. Although Brett Norris claimed it light-heartedly, Jimmy got the goal. Before the game was wrapped up, a corner was converted by the Redwing Keeper, many Goose were close to it, but the celebrations on the way back into their own half proved no-one had got a vital touch on it.
6-3 to the Geese in a game of two halves, and a game that saw both teams play like two different teams in either half. The Geese are capable of scoring goals, that has been clear thus far, but defensive errors are costing goals against. “If you score more than they do you win the game” – Something that Andy Koala bear Gray would say, but it is that quote that handed the Geese a bag full of bread with three points in it today. Our win see’s us now lead division six by 5 points due to Lea Valley Royals Reserves defeating AC Enfield.
Pino Packer watched the game with Paul Cully, via Tony Cedrone’s video link. Paul expressed the following, “Unbelievable really, a good game for the neutral lets say. I was pleased with the first half, but mentally in the second, the team might as well have been here with me. We need to work on our mistakes, but luckily enough our mistakes aren’t costing us points, but in a different game they will. Next week its County Cup, I’m back and I want to see a better performance, the lads know that. And yes the table is going back, they didn’t send us the screws for the expandable centre. Dinner, Lunch and Breakfast too, stroke your meat before you chew”.
Ratings - R Cully 6, A Castiglione 9, S Adamson 9, N Dodd 8, T Vullo 6 (B Hewitt 6), B Norris 7, P Enefer 8, A Perry 7 (J Musk 7), M Cully 7, C Norris 7, P Dodd 8. Subs Not Used - C Belsey, D Perry, C Cedrone
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