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After a week in the media spotlight due to a superb Roy Bailey cup win against Spennytown, it was back to the hard graft of division four this week in a league game away to Rose and Crown. Paul Cully opted for the same starting XI that began the last game, partly because the balance worked very well and secondly because there were no fixed toys ready to be placed back in the nursery school. Cedrone was now 30% fit which is 70% off 100% and Chris Wicks is nearing fitness after his new-found alliance to glucose serum. Paul Dodd was fit enough for a place on the bench along with James Musk and Bradley Hewitt, fresh from his holiday with Marco Neo to the moon.
Despite a warning that you can’t win games on last weeks performance the Geese started sluggishly. The first half belonged to the Rose and Crown who passed and kept the ball better, creating chances down both wings. Only the defensive responsibilities of Craig Norris and Neal Dodd kept the home team at bay. They were unlucky not to go ahead when a shot struck the right post and Matt Cully got back well to clear a chance off the Geese goal-line.
The best chance in the first half for the Geese was a corner that ‘pinballed’ around the six-yard box, and despite protests was deemed not to have gone over the line. As the half time whistle blew, the Geese came off disappointed at themselves; they were second to everything and weren’t making enough chances to deserve anything from the game.
Regardless of a valiant effort form Tony ‘Elderado’ Vullo, he was the man to give way to Paul Dodd in a second half re-shuffle that gave Dan Jordan support up front and Squirrel Bates the nod to operate from his favoured right-wing. The Geese knew they had to find another gear, and to be fair it wouldn’t be difficult to improve on the lack-lustring first forty-five minutes.
The Geese did just that. Early on a passing move down the right saw a Batesy header guided back across the box cleared, then passed back into prize horse Dodd who stung a shot from the acutest angle you ever did see. Soon after, a Neal Dodd pass found brother Paul again who somehow faked two defenders and smashed in his second. The geese continued to make attacks, but with several forward runs dubiously ruled offside by the small opposition linesman. The riled geese fans had to be calmed down by Paul Cully and his no.2, but nobody could calm senior Dodd exploding like a firework at the late tackle on son Paul. However, the fans were soon relaxed when a toy balloon floated from the heavens, entering the field of play and nut-megging the oblivious Simon Hoy.
After such a good first half the Rose and Crown must have felt hard done by, and frustration boiled over as players picked up yellow cards for descent. When Paul Dodd was bundled over down the left, the defender was given a second yellow and subsequent red card. The free kick was floated over and dropped to Bates who rolled the ball down his shin and into the bottom left. News got worse for the home team soon after when Craig Norris was fouled, and the perpetrator was sent off for not co-operating with the referee. Reduced to nine men, the Geese were able to push men forward; number four was scored by Spare Rib Norris sporting his girlfriend’s sports bra, after he took one touch to set a free kick from the left and delicately struck the ball in from close range.
At four nil and playing against nine men the game was judged ‘almost’ over, but as tempers boiled over more cards were given and another Rose and Crown player was sent off, receiving two yellow cards. Jimmy and Brad were both introduced to freshen things up like freshen up fragrance men selling their liquids in nightclub toilets. Within minutes Hewitt producing a wonder back flick pass, pleasing the Geese faithful and almost making up for his one-on-one miss hit. As the game neared its end there was time for one more, Paul Dodd sealing his 45 minute hat-trick with another clinical finish.
The game ended 5-0, but this was an immensely flattering score line, especially weighing the game up at half time. Fortunately the Geese pulled things together second half, commanding the game as their opposition dropped in numbers. Not a memorable performance yet an important three points that sends the Gaggle to the top of the table. Dave Perry still thought the victory merited a Hot-Dog celebration, living up to his Hot-Dog Dave status.
Pino Packer caught up with hat-trick hero Paul Dodd after the game: “It is hard to come on at half time, but with the latest injury worries I could only manage forty-five minutes. In the second half we managed to create better chances. The spotlight seems to be on me today, but let’s not forget our back five who are making our job so much easier up front.”
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