5/9/09 Rusthall III v High Brooms Casuals

First Saturday of the new season and we are against Casuals. We are playing at Jockey farm which is a relief as we do not have to put the nets up. The pitch has been prepared and although it is a little on the small side, it’s the same for both sides. We have no manager present at the start but Cliff is there collecting money and Colin Smithers playing in the back row will organise the team on the pitch. John Waters turned up with “Nursey” to watch. We have the bear 11 but it looks a reasonable side. Hippo has managed to pull on a shirt and all his pre-season training has clearly paid off. Stuart is still on holiday so a new man is in goal. His English is weak but warming up before the game he looked good. Scott Parker is to play up front with Big Dave. The Harrison hero’s were on the field with Jeff in midfield along side Stuart Waters, Hippo and new boy Jonathan Elwood. James Gillan and Tom Briggs make up the eleven. Greg is in the danger position, running the line.

A reasonable start and the score is 0-0 at 20minutes. Then their player holds his arm down by his side but controlled the ball with it and we have a penalty. 1-0 to the Rustics, see it’s not going to be too bad this year. We only hold the lead for 5 mins though and are undone in the air. There then followed a really bad spell when 4 more goals are conceded mainly from corners and unchallenged headers. Half time could not come soon enough as the score climbed to 1-7.

Oh Dear. Colin told everyone to lift their heads and put in more effort. Get closer and don’t give up “were a team, lets behave like one” everyone else had their say and the second half got underway. Unfortunately it was the same as the 1^st with the one bright spot being a cross from the left thumped in by Jonathon. But in the end there was no getting away with the fact that 2-13 was disappointing, even the match ball going over the hedge had not slowed their scoring.

This is going to be a long season but I think this is where character will come to the fore. Those who can take it will be separated from those who can’t. At the end of this season it will be the strong ones who are left.