Somersaults and Saves !! 1-1 Draw Away at Cirencester A.

On a sodden wet dreary day, a new collective of 2’s players earned a hard fought draw away at Cirencester, who will no doubt be a well organised and strong team at home. It was great to see a number of new young players make their starts this season for the 2’s - Jamie Williams, Dan Dix, Monty Sofflet and Sam Dawson – Well done to all of you.

However, to be fair the game started badly. The whistle blew and somehow, Cirencester went straight through the middle and scored. This was a real wake up call and it was obvious it was going to be a tough game. Marlborough re-shuffled a few people around and started to get back into the game. From then on, it started to be end to end stuff. Will Hughes, Jamie and Monty hassled and chased up front and we started to create a number of chances.

The commitment levels picked up and Marlborough were much tighter at the back. Nick Jephson even had time to start performing somersaults – the less said about the tackle the better! Mike Debney decided he would get in the act and he started performing somersaults (similar tackle!), bu the best somersault was performed by Will Hughes in the 2nd half.

Half Time – Down 1-0. Still in the game and all to play for. Half time message – keep it simple, don’t get caught in possession, put an extra man in midfield and change the press.

Marlborough performed much better in the second half and started creating a lot more chances. The forwards stared seeing a lot more of the ball and it wasn’t long before the second goal game. Will picked up the ball out wide on their 25 and weaved and skipped passed two defenders, drove into the D, cut left rounded the keeper at full speed. At this point, everything went into slow motion , and a variety of sports occurred in a very short space of time…firstly, Will went to HURDLE the keepers right leg (Will jumped high!), the keeper somehow managed meet this height with the outstretched leg, clipped clobbered Will and will perfected and perfect somersault, forward roll. No doubt a Penalty Flick ! Will dusted himself down (metaphorically speaking!) and stepped to take the Penalty flick. There was a long wait, whilst the keeper and Will were having a little chat (presumably exchanging pre-Xmas messages, and wondering when they were going to meet up for a cup of tea!). Will was not phased and drove the ball hard and low to the keepers right. Keeper guessed correct but Will was too good !
1-1 and Marlborough had a newfound confidence and continued to create many chances.

But there was final act of excellence, step up the agile and superflexible RICH NEWTON. With seconds left in the game, Cirencester got a short corner and the final whistle blew. The whole Cirencester team went forward sensing the opportunity to snatch the win. The ball was dragged out, Sam Dawson charged out. They slipped left and the Cirencester striker smashed the ball low and hard. [From where I was stood right behind the shot – the ball was going in was heading for a gap between keeper and defender – OMG NOHHHH!

SUDDENLY, Rich Newton somehow snapped and stretched out a huge leg and toe (he must have pulled a hamstring!) and met the ball perfectly as it ricocheted out wide. YESSSS !

AMAZING SAVE ! Game over 1-1 Draw . A fair result for all our round effort and commitment.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Rich Newton, not just for the amazing save at the end, but for the many excellent saves he made during the game.