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For second time in recent weeks, the Geese approached a game having hit a low in the previous week. It’d be easy to blame injuries and absences for our troubles with at least five quality players not available for some time, but it has been accepted that we need to fight our way through games, whether that be to a win, loss or draw. Indeed if Rory were here, we’d be rubbing his feathers for some good luck. With Rory still absent, Adamo had arranged for a special visit from Team Weirdo – and as he rubbed his nether regions during the car park meet, we all felt a strange comfort not experienced since the days of Goffs Lane.
With Neal joining the injury list having suffered a sniper shot to the back the previous week, the squad welcomed cruciate ligament victim Brett Norris back after 17 months on the sidelines to make up 15 players ready to face another ‘double header’. The Geese also welcomed back Dave ‘what’s he doing in the bushes’ Enefer to the sideline gaggle, although it was a day when we’d have to go on without Tony ‘oooohhhh’ Perry’s encouragement due to house maintenance – he was hoping for positive feedback from son Dave, to add to his eBay collection. Goose Fan Jack Layzell was in attendance for today’s game too, albeit with a black and red scarf akin to the East Herts coloured kit.
As the teams prepared for kick off it was announced that Paul Simpson would skipper the side. Having reprimanded those that had chosen to leave early the week before, he immediately set about motivating the side – most players asking permission to listen to what he had to say. With Craig back in the side and Dave sporting a new pair of seagull white boots, spirits were high as the Geese went into a tough game against East Herts. There were happy memories of our last outing against them – the Intermediate Cup Final victory last year – and we had confidence. The referee then announced that both linesman were not to signal for offsides, only ‘ins and outs’, much to the surprise of everyone involved. It was a decision that would create many arguments on the pitch throughout the game.
The first game got underway and despite a lot of early work, it was East Herts who enjoyed the better of the play. With the strong wind holding up their long balls, it was Rob Dodd who was called upon twice in the first five minutes to keep the scores level, with a smart diving save to his left and a blocked one-on-one. No deal. As the half developed, the Geese came into the game – the key factor being a willingness to press the ball forcing the opposition to concede possession. With Jamie ‘touchy’ Feeley looking more like Berbatov in every game he plays, the ball was sticking a little more and it was a good open game. In a scrappy period of play, Ced’s unreliable groin signalled pain to the brain, and as the Geese struggled to deal a long ball, a back-header didn’t meet it’s destination allowing the East Herts striker time to pounce, round the keeper and finish to make it 1-0.
With the relentless action of a double header meaning the second half was soon underway, Lee replaced the injured Ced and the Geese took the game to East Herts – half hour to claim a reward for their efforts. With a long throw landing at the feet of Jamie, a neat turn allowed him space to cross for Ellerbeck who side footed past the keeper, making it 1-1. Well deserved. Apart from another long range back header that caused a little concern, the Geese enjoyed all of the possession – but with long throws and corners all resulting in missed chances – the highlight being a Brett Norris header skimming the bar - the scores stayed level. The Geese’s pressing game allowed them to maintain domination with Pete pulling the strings in midfield and the back four looking solid, although a strange booking for Ellerbeck having won the ball with a clean tackle was the only blot on the copy book. No clubcard points for the Tesco man on this occasion.
There was still time for Tony ‘jab jab, grrr’ Vullo to get into the action – having been unceremoniously dumped on the floor by a late challenge by Milky the cartoon-like East Herts player, he showed his anger by flexing the muscles that had been worked on in his gym; Paul Simpson looked on like a proud father.
1-1 it finished, it would have been considered a decent result before the game started but given the possession that the Geese enjoyed, it felt like 2 points dropped. As we prepared for game 2, it was time for Adamo ‘roll neck’ Castiglione to enter the fray, Belsey pushing to left midfield and Bert up front.
The Geese began game two well, continuing to press the ball, the best chance falling to Belsey who was unable to connect properly under pressure having been fed through from a Paul Simpson knock down. The effort was still notable – Adamo typified the commitment with a last ditch wonder tackle when it seemed he could only give away a pen. Cue crowd celebrations. Shortly after, the Adamo we all know and love left an opposition player on the floor having mistimed his tackle.
As East Herts came back into the game, danger struck as a forward was played on by the wing of a seagull. As he ran through Rob Dodd sent him wide and having achieved his aims, was unfortunate to slip and take out the forward – penalty kick. Despite the opposition’s rather shameful appeals for a red card, the forward had lost control of the ball and no punishment was given. As Rob Dodd stood tall, the East Herts Captain re-appeared having gone missing in a cloud of Simpson blue air 45 minutes ago and fired his penalty against the post and back out to him. Another kick and it was indirect free kick to the Geese – 0-0. Deal.
There just enough time for the Geese to squander another opportunity, Paul with a great knock down at the far post but unable to convert. As the teams switched ends for the second half, it was clear that tiredness had started to creep in. With four players who had played less than 100 minutes of football in a year, it was understandable. After some initial early pressure, East Herts began to take control, and with fresh legs up front they began to create several one on one chances.
Eventually one of these went in, and this sent the Geese heads down. Enefer – on his 16th red bull – continued to fight with a mazy dribble that was unfortunate to end in nothing. With men committed forward, East Herts struck again and the game finished 2-0. A deserved win for the opposition but no lack of effort from the Geese in a double header that really should have ended with 3 points each.
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