Saffron Rangers 1 – 0 City Life 5/4/08

After last week's brief effort it was back to the usual match reports. For this one I am sat on the toilet seat! (“ “ - I bet that sentence doesn't make it through the editors cut!)

Was this game lost in the changing room? Some might say so. City Life returned to the scene of the debacle that was the Dalehead game hoping this was the week that they didn't have to play on grass. The prospect of playing on a nice flat artificial surface once had opponents of Luton, Preston and QPR facing many a problem. The England football team went searching high and low for pitches to train on before their ill-fated trip to Russia. All those teams had a differing opinion to City Life this Saturday afternoon - they had seen, and in fact, played on the grass pitch that was on offer.

Everyone had hurriedly cleaned their boots Saturday morning and 'Astros' were at the ready for a meeting with a pitch conducive to attacking, free flowing football. The arrival at the sports hall reception was greeted with a bounce in the step. The question came from Dave's mouth. The answer seemed to hang in the air like a bad smell (nope, sorry, that's what I just produced!!). GRASS!! GRASS!! Whatever next, who plays on grass! From that moment the atmosphere went down like a wet weekend on the North Devon coast in February, or given the current weather, the first weekend in April. Still, there was much to play for. A win would continue the unbeaten record and momentum into a patch of tough games. It was still all there, still to be fought for. Who wanted it..........?

Out everyone trudged from the changing rooms. Oh, not that pitch! Oh, it's too cold! Oh, it's wet! Oh, we have to play on grass!! Then Ian stopped talking!

With a lack of Mike due to a pre-stag stag weekend (What's all that about?) Sam stepped down from the board room and took on managerial duties. Not usually one to meddle in team affairs Sam set out the formation, organised the marking from corners and during practice was very wary to header each one away from his own goal. No Colm today meant a switch to centre back for Matt, Wayne back to his accustomed position of left back. Dave went left and Luke joined Martin in attack. James moved forward into the midfield with Lewis deputising for the injured Matt in goal. Rich had finally got fit again and was like a little schoolboy on the side lines itching to make his reappearance. Since he had been injured his beloved Sunderland had suddenly found some form, possibly hauled themselves out of relegation trouble and the prospect of 3 wins on the bounce seemed more achievable than picking a grand national winner!


Halse	Cashman (no official photographs available)

The pre-match sprint made a re-appearance. With Wayne having succussfully avoided racing in the last few weeks everyone was resigned to the fact that his defeat in the sprint challenge would have to wait a while longer. It was Tom and Dave in the firing line today. The course opted for was an unusual halfway line start to goal line but this was to take advantage of the slightly easier 20% gradient downhill slope. Early money was on Dave however Tom had been a sneaky outsider and when news came through of Dave's illness problems it was 50/50 as to who would take it. Off they went and from the start Tom edged ahead slightly. Dave relaxed into his running and started to hit full stride. Unfortunately just as this was happening Tom crossed the finishing line followed by an exasperated Dave. The favourite had been knocked out but in this, the short sprint, it seems that the advantage goes with the shorter person. Those over 6 foot having been knocked out early.

With the sprinting over the players got into position and the game kicked off. Saffron were looking very much a different team to the one that had rolled over and died two weeks earlier in the blizzards. They started with purpose as the City Life boys were getting used to all the positional changes that had gone on. The Saffron strikers found early holes between Matt and Sam as they struggled getting to grips with the changes. A few chances and a few corners were squandered by Saffron with Lewis making some good saves. Matt was on the other end of a telling off for a change as the referee requested to speak to him and told him not to be such a naughty boy again. 20 minutes into the game and the boys in purple started to get more of a grip on the play, using the width and starting to get John pulling a few strings in the midfield. A few chances were created but a mixture of good goal keeping and poor finishing kept the score at 0-0.

There was a yellow card for John as he and the Scottish referee swapped a few Celtic pleasantries. Unfortunately for John it wasn't an Anglo-Saxon referee today and the man from the Emerald Isle may have felt a little fortunate to still be on the pitch.

Although not playing great football things were beginning to appear tighter at the back and there were no real causes for concern. Chances were being created at the other end suggesting that should one be taken this game was there to be won.

Half time came with the score at 0-0. In the second half it was the creating of chances that proved to be a problem. Neither team looked all that menacing in the second half with both defences well on top. Positional changes from both teams failed to bring about any further fortune.

The nearest City Life came was when Ian was put through down the left after an excellent sweeping move. He managed to guide the ball with the outside of his right foot past the advancing keeper only to see the ball go inches wide of the post. A few moments late a kick up field by the Saffron defenders was misjudged by the City Life back four. The lively Saffron striker pounced on it from 40 yards out and sent a lobbed pass-come-shot towards the City Life goal. Lewis in goal slightly misjudged and the ball ended up in the back of the net. At last this seemed to ignite the City Life players. Rich came on for injured Martin and the team went to a 3-5-2 formation in search of the goals needed to win the game.

There was more urgency about the play however clear cut chances were few and far between. That was until 3 minutes from the end when an excellent piece of play down the right saw Dave receive the ball on the edge of the area. He looked up and saw Mason steaming into the middle and flicked a lovely ball in to him. Mason controlled the ball and shot in what seemed like one breathtaking moment. The ball had ended up in the net. A goal from another played who had not scored-and what a timely one. There was a huge exhalation of breath as the City Life players went off in search of Mason to mob him for scoring an all-important equalising goal.

OFFSIDE?? OFFSIDE?? There he was, the linesman, with his flag hanging out in front of him. Only the Sky TV cameras could have determined the validity of the decision and they had decided to go to Arsenal v Liverpool that day. Robbed possibly of a goal but, in truth, a defeat was probably deserved. And so the game ended.

Matt Double

Dave Halse, 08/04/2008