Town travelled to Hainault on Saturday to take on Manford Way in their first league game for 3 weeks having been in cup action. They arrived to find a superbly manicured pitch in perfect condition, an absolute credit to the groundsman and a joy to play on.

This week’s selection was made easy by the 7 absentees, just 2 of whom are injured to my knowledge. Still at least we were left with 13 players who wanted to play for the club and this was to be a key issue in the upcoming 90 minutes. Motty, again stepped into the breach at the last minute and took his place on the bench alongside Lewis Headon, younger brother of Chris Headon, who will today be know as “The Puma” who replaced “The Cat” between the sticks. In a cunning plan to prevent “the puma” injuring his hands in the pre-match warm up Steve Neal warmed him up by smashing balls past him into the top and bottom corners from 6 yards out (accompanying soundtrack provided by Steve’s trademark whooshes) and the joy on his little face when the ball hit the back of the net was plain for all to see.

With the wind in their favour Town kicked off, started the brighter and almost took the lead in the second minute when Dave Martin hit a crisp first time left foot shot on the turn that the Way keeper did well to push wide for a corner. Ready met the resulting corner with a firm header, unfortunately straight at the keeper. The game was end to end with Manford Ways two excellent wide players causing Town problems which stretched them but Mark Neal, Lodgey and Ready held firm at the back. “The Puma” then teased a Manford Way player by deliberately allowing a shot to bounce off him into the 6 yard box before winning the resultant tackle in true David Batty style. Going forward Ben Polley, given superb protection by Andy Allen and the returning Flighty had licence to roam and was “running the show” providing a host of sublime touches and incisive passes. After 22 minutes Town took the lead when Polley played in Dave Martin who’s first touch took him past a defender; the ball just “sat up” nicely and Dave, from fully 25 yards, hit a thunderous volley that dipped over the keepers head for a quite outstanding goal, 0-1. 10 minutes later Town scored again with the best goal of the game – Andy “the dragback” Allen got on the ball and despite the close attention of several Manford Way defenders managed, via a few Cruyff dragbacks, to feed the ball out to Polley who’s resulting first time cross, played with the outside of his right foot, was pinpoint accurate and Graham Jeater applied the coup de grace with a clever header back across goal into the bottom corner, 0-2. Just to add to the excitement “The Puma” clearly forgetting he was in goal for the day, then played a bit of keep ball with Flighty on the edge of their own box whilst surrounded by opponents – great for the crowd; not so great for the manager’s blood pressure. The game continued to be an end to end affair but Manford Way then reduced the arrears when a ball broke loose in the area and was smashed home from 10 yards out, 1-2. A few minutes before half time Town were awarded a free kick on the half way line. Lodgey’s superbly taken free kick put the keeper in a “shall I, shan’t I come for it” position and after a brave challenge by Polley the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net, 1-2. Half time.

Kicking against a strong wind for the second half the usual warnings about the frailty of a 2 goal lead were given and Town went back out in determined fashion. They immediately came under pressure and much the same as last week it was a Custers last stand time except this time it was Town who were playing the Custer role. During this spell of pressure the back 3 of Lodgey, Ready and Mark Neal were nothing short of colossal and it took an miss-hit attempted cross which sailed over everyone’s heads and into the top corner to break then down, 2-3. The Puma then made a fine save low down before Manford Way , deservedly equalised 3-3. With the ascendancy definitely with Manford Way now it looked a bit bleak for Town but to their eternal credit they refused to accept what appeared to be the inevitable and raised themselves once again. Andy Allen and Flighty worked tirelessly in midfield and out on the flanks Michael Hall and Andy Martin both summoned up some more energy from somewhere to cope and do battle with Manford Ways best 2 players on the day. Polley and Jeater continued to look dangerous on the break but up front special mention must be made of Dave Martin who gave one of the most selfless, hard working, “for the team” performances you are ever likely to see which inspired everyone around him to raise their game at a time when legs were tiring. With 10 minutes remaining Town scored their fourth and ultimately decisive goal – a free kick from out wide right was fizzed in low and hard and Mark Neal met it with a bullet of a header that flew into the top corner before anyone could move, 3-4. The next 10 minutes were the amongst the longest of my life (beaten only by waiting for Mark Neal to buy a drink) as Manford Way pounded the Town goal – with 3 minutes left the ball broke loose 10 yards out leaving a Manford Way player a clear shot at goal – but out of the blue “the warrior” Ready, barely able to walk with injuries, threw himself into the line of fire and deflected it away to safety – it sort of summed up the day and the attitude of the team perfectly. Just for fun Manford Way then hit the bar in the last minute I shouldn’t have worried though as “the puma” assured me afterwards that he had it covered !!!
The full time whistle went and it is honest and fair to say that Town enjoyed a bit of good fortune on the day, but in all honesty it’s long overdue and the players on show deserved every bit that came their way – to go into a game without 7 regulars and a bona fide keeper (not that he could be faulted for any goals) and come away with 3 points is a monumental effort and the players deserve every bit of credit going.

Man of the match this week is Dave Martin who was quite simply fantastic.


El Col