COMMENTARY by JON LEE
As the clock struck 7.00 with the sun setting over the picturesque Basildon skyline, anyone could have been forgiven for thinking that the working day was over. But for RG, business was about to begin.....
Pre-match build up held whispered conversations of ex-African Nations cup players being drafted into the Columbus attacking line up. In addition we had caught wind that the players had an added impetus that they would be working 7 day weeks if they lost the game. Our late arrival due to Sat Nav problems, and typical ill preparation put the ball well and truly in their court.
Quality not quantity had to prevail in this match up if the RG first 11 (only 11) at kick-off were to come through. The first 15 minutes were hard fought with the front pair of Steve McWeeney and Liam Bailey both coming close only to be thwarted by the oppositions keeper. What he lacked in ball control, agility, kicking and throwing he certainly made up for in effort.
Valiantly John Kallend stepped up to don the gloves for our cause and it was a good job he did after Jon Lee made the tactical decision of trying to dribble the ball around 3 players across the face of his own goal. Fortunately the tide was to turn as the RG machine kept on rolling forward and after a series of close calls, the dead lock was broken with both Liam Bailey and Steve McWeeney both turning in fruitful crosses.
At 2 - 0 RG were in cruise control and the Columbus heads were hanging very low. Despite a 14 - 2 drubbing by Sainsburys earlier in the week, confidence was running high, none higher than Chris Lambourn who was twisting and turning like he was Paul Gascoigne. A 2008 Paul Gascoigne it may have been, but it didn't stop him drawing the keeper out only to dink one into the back of the net. Shortly after Mo Halli increased the lead when he ran on to a cheeky through ball only to toe poke past the flailing keeper.
With half time looming, Roy and Mike Schofield plus one ringer, arrived to add bulster and depth to the squad. Reinvigorated, a fresh 11 appeared from the tunnel at the spectacular Gloucester Park Arena to face an equally rejuvinated Columbus team. Tackles began to fly in as tempers flared, even the ref found himself on the receiving end of Steve McWeeneys aggression by taking the ball full in the glasses. Didier Drogba would have been impressed by the fall that followed. And Bailey ran a full 40 yards to take out his frustration on the biggest guy on the pitch ... needless to say he never came back on.
Early pressure by Columbus saw a few goal mouth scrambles put hearts in mouths of the home support as a comeback was not completely off the cards. Despite a confident challenge to win the ball back for RG, Jon Lee proceeded to sell JC completely down the river with a back heel in front of goal that the oppostion gladly tucked away. The ever encouraging Allaway was quick to point out that all his hard work was completely ruined, charming. He then took the mickey out of Rolesy for making himself lower to the ground when he jumps for a header.
Fortunately the RG team went back through the gears as they had in the first half by piling the pressure back on Columbus who subsequently crumbled with Liam Bailey scoring 2 more and Steve McWeeney slotting home unanswered. Even Mark Roles tried to get in on the act with an audacious scissor kick that he managed to connect with twice in one fluid cat like motion. The balls final outcome is not important.
With the game beyond them, Columbus employed the classic formation 1 - 1 - 8 in the hopes of a late burst to save their blushes. However, the formidable defencive line of Casey, Roles, Lahner, Lee, and Schofield held strong and cleared all that came their way. With Lambourn off (smoking and wheezing) it could be argued that a certain flair was missing but Roy Allaway and Jon Shaw had found a Jedi-esque connection controlling the game in the middle of the park. With so many men forward, Shaw was rewarded by his tireless performance with a late pee-rolled effort under the ever flailing keeper to round up the complete and deserved victory that would surely put the critics recent comments to rest.
Well done lads good effort all around. Apologies to all current live jobs as you might have more sleeping security guards than normal. That Steve Barrett is a harsh man.
RESULT
RG - 9 v 1 - Columbus
RG Scorers - Liam Bailey 3, Steve Mcweeney 2, Chris Lambourn 2, Mo Halli 1, Jon Shaw 1,
Columbus Scorers - Emmanuel Eboue
Yellow Cards - 0
Red Cards - 0
SQUAD
Jon Lee, Jon Shaw, John Kallend, John Casey, John Schofield, Jon Roles, Jon Bailey, Jon Halli, Johnny Lahner (single), John McWeeney, John Lambo and Steve Barrett's son, John
GUEST APPEARANCE
Roy Allaway
NO SHOWS
Matt Dobson, REASON - Dentist
Nick Frost, REASON - Ermm....I have to be in Stanway later that night, errrr...... actually I have another football match I completely forgot about,.,.eeerrrrrrmmmmm,..,,.., I have a dentists appointment.
Brendan O’Sullivan, REASON - Andrea
Stuart Hunter - I don't want ot get injured for Saturday but I can play at The Valley
Man of the Match Votes
John Kallend - 1
Jon Lee - 1 (honestly)
Liam Bailey - 7
MAN OF THE MATCH - Liam Bailey
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Editor's note: Thanks for Jon for the match report it's a good start. Just a minor point to clear up. Well two actually. MY 2 GOALS !! I also think Jon Shaw got 2; but then maybe Macca only got 1 - so I make it 11-1
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