Teddington 6 Chiddingfold 2 (League)
10th April 2005
‘I thought we might lose but I expected it to be close’
Lionel Cozens-Smith
A hugely disappointing result and a very similar
performance to the one against New Haw after Christmas, when a couple of weeks
off seemed to have effected the boys’ concentration, fitness and teamwork.
Things got off to a reasonable start with both teams
putting each other under pressure and after ten minutes Rupert
smacked a superb 25-yard free kick off the crossbar. Theo
was on form marshalling the back line, and Eddie worked hard and
intelligently in midfield but the fluency we know the boys are capable of was
missing, and too many balls were given cheaply away.
Then a double whammy – within a few minutes Teddington
went one ahead when the normally solid Mike in goal let a shot slip past him;
then their
number nine, who looked dangerous all morning, created a
fine individual goal. Suddenly we were 2-0 down having at least held our own.
The boys gamely fought back though and hauled themselves
into the game, with Man of the Match
Scott setting an industrious and effective example.
The boys were now beginning to apply good pressure and
Eddie and the indefatigable Hassie in
particular were unlucky, with new boy Tom King always a bustling presence in
attack. But Teddington scored from a breakaway and we were, if undeservedly, 3-0
down at half-time.
We changed the formation at half-time but things got worse
in the second half when we gifted Teddington a truly terrible goal through a
series of defensive hesitations. At 4-0 down, finally Jon Bn and TK up front
pulled a goal back with some beautiful interpassing and the supporters at last
had something to cheer. Not for long. A careless overhead kick in defence put us
under completely unnecessary pressure, from which a penalty was conceded, 5-1.
To be fair, luck was against us as well. Scott suddenly
broke free and surged into the Teddington goal area with their defence left in
his wake – only to shoot straight at the keeper. Minutes later Jon Bn did
likewise, but shot at the post.
Then we went a ridiculous 6-1 down after gifting Teddington
a goal with a short goal kick, but at least Jon Bn made it 6-2 with another of
his speciality breakaways, unselfishly slipping the ball to TK for an easy
tap-in.
All in all a game to forget; Bookham next week and three crucial points for the taking!