Disclaimer: All the characters in this report are real, but some of the sections have been embellished for entertainment value. That and I’m getting old and my memory is not what it once was.

On a cold fresh Sunday morning, Fleet Spurs, unbeaten in the league this season, traveled to the ‘fortress’. The home of Hambledon, unbeaten in their last 6 games, for a ‘top of the table’ crunch match.

The Don’s having played the internal Presidents Cup the previous week, had at least had a chance to run off a couple of the Christmas mince pies. Fleet hadn’t played since November and looked decidedly like they weren’t up for it as they lingered in the car park.

Following on from last week’s quick start against the A team, the Dons recreated their intensive pre-game warm up, Stu P taking the drills, whilst stand in Manager Carlo, ran through the game plan provided by the absent gaffer.

Starting 11:

Mayur,
Stu P (c), Nick, Ritchie, AJ
Cookie, Neil, Ross, Graff
Marlon
Cosser

The pitch was in great condition following the Christmas break, and following the coin toss, Stu opted to play downhill in the first half. Spurs kicked off.

The start wasn’t quite what the Dons hoped for. Spurs started quickly, playing the ball around comfortably at the back, and any long balls were dealt with but only cleared back to Spurs. Dons were struggling to put their foot on the ball and play it around, as they had done so well the previous week.

With the first spell contained, Dons started to find some joy moving the ball out to the wings, and it wasn’t long before a throw to Stu on the left, worked along the back line to AJ, who found Graf’s feet. A simple ball along the floor and Cosser (on a current purple patch) was in one on one with the Spurs keeper. Staying on his feet to the last minute, the Spurs keeper made himself big and was able push the shot from Cosser behind for a corner. The resulting corner was dealt with by what seemed like a 7ft centre back, and that started the theme for the next spell of the game.

Ball after ball was sent over the top at head height for Cosser to win, only to be won by the colossus at centre back. On the rare occasion the ball cleared the defence, the ball was carrying through to the Spurs keeper. A rare move to the wing saw a ball to the edge of the box and a Spurs foul. Free kick, well within striking distance. Up stepped Centre back Nick, but as with the theme of the game, the shot was charged down by the wall, falling to the Dons in the box, only for the Referee to stop play for the downed Spurs player. Dons were going to need to try something else if they were going to win this game.

And then it happened. Just like Leicester vs Newport, with Dons dominating possession and play, a long goal kick caused a bit of a mix up between the Dons centre back pairing, and the result was a through ball off Nick’s face (prostrate on the floor) to the on-running Spurs striker. Who duly ran through one on one, with just the full backs left to chase unsuccessfully and questions of the ref as to why he didn’t stop play. Cool finish. Goal stands. 0-1

Fired up, Dons started to play it around better. Marlon, Neil and Rossy getting a grip of the centre of midfield, spraying balls sideways and back, with Cookie and Graf now starting to run at the Spurs full backs. With 15 to go to the half, one such run down the left by Cookie, saw a cut back to Stu P, whose ‘Wand Like’ left foot was used to deliver a dangerous ball into Ross’ feet in the box who was clattered from behind. PENALTY.

Cosser screams for the ball…. ‘I’m having this!’. Never in doubt, bottom left, keeper nowhere. 1-1.

All square with 10 to go to the half, and instead of winding down, the intensity ramped up. Within minutes of the restart, a high fifty-fifty ball testing the centre back again saw Ritchie rise like a salmon winning the header, only to fall badly over the Spurs player, landing hard on his own back. (Substitution: Ritchie OFF / Toffer ON). By now, tackles are flying in all over the place and the ref is looking forward to his orange squash and rich tea biscuit at half time. With minutes to go, and Graf looking like he’s about to skin the full back down the winger (Gareth Bale-esque) on the wing saw Graf bundled into the cordon breaking the wooden post. Bit of a flare up ensued as the Spurs player misheard Cookie accusing him of trying to break Graf’s neck…. He didn’t. Cookie was fired up now.

HALF TIME

With Toffer already on for Ritchie, just one more sub for half time saw Rhino replace AJ at right back. And we’re game on again. A half time pep-talk from Carlo had fired the Dons up even more, and straight from the kick off, Dons were full on pressing. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in concentration saw both full backs up the pitch when the Dons were caught in possession, and a long ball downfield to the lone striker, followed by a sublime touch and turn with Toffer one on one, saw the striker away down the flank. Unbelievably he looked up to see two Spurs players bursting into the box, a simple cross and the Spurs player side footed into the net. 1-2. And we go again.

At 1-2 the game begins to open up. Dons still seeing the lion’s share of the ball, but still unable to beat that centre back with a ball over the top. It turns into a bit of a tennis match, with both sides attacking force giving the respective defence a difficult time. With Graf and Marlon having switch at half time, Marlon and Cookie constantly running at the Spurs defence, but either unable to find a Dons attacker with the cross, or shots being deflected past the goal.

Hainesy replaces Ross in the centre, Boxall on for Cosser, and JT on for Cookie. Carlo freshening up the legs and changing the formation looking for the equaliser. The more Dons pressed though, the further back the Spurs players went, and relied purely on that long ball to the striker. Following an unsuccessful corner, the long ball caught out the Dons who were well covered, but unable to stop the striker getting off a shot, which Mayur dealt with. CORNER.

A deep corner saw the header missed by everyone, but a Spurs player managed a scuffed shot, cleared off the line by AJ but into the path off a Spurs player who dispatched the rebound with some venom. 1-3

With 15 to go, and nothing to lose now. Dons started throwing everything including the kitchen sink at the Spurs. Some clever footwork down the wing again from the fleet of foot Graf saw a cross lofted to the back post with Boxall narrowly heading wide of the goal.
A few minutes later, and another corner finds Marlon on the penalty spot who caught it maybe too well, rattling the crossbar. Spurs despite being 1-3 up, look like they’re on the ropes. Another cross, finds Boxall again at the far post, and his headed effort this time is tipped past the post for a corner. The corner comes out to Ross, who steps past the on running Spurs player and smashes a shot. Deflected again. It’s very one-way traffic now. 5 minutes to go, and the Spurs players look dead on their feet, but somehow they’ manage to get in front of everything being thrown at them.

The keeper finally has it in his hands and decides a long punt down the field for some breathing space. It bounces to the right wing, who doesn’t deal with it, and loses possession to AJ, who delivers a long ball over the top finding Nick, who controls nicely, and smashes it past the keeper 2-3. Just stoppage time to go… could there be a late equaliser?

Spurs comes forward from the restart and are dispossessed. Dons go again looking for the equaliser. Out to the wing on the left is Marlon, inside one player, inside two and a shot is unleashed, it’s going in the top right-hand corner, the keeper is beaten…. Surely! Would you believe it, that bl**dy 7ft centre back pops up and heads off the line and out for a corner.

Last gasp corner and almost everyone is up. In swings the corner, no one connects, the ball bobbles around in the area with several players around. A size 11 is put through it, and it’s cleared…. The whistle blows and that’s it. Hambledon Vet 2-3 to Fleet Spurs Vets

One thing is for certain….. we owe these boys for the return game!