Friendly Match: Crusaders V Unison Caeharris
Date: 08/08/07
Venue: Hockey Field After the Gwent counties hard fought 2-2 draw with the SWA team on Monday night they hoped to stretch their pre season unbeaten run to 3 games.

The Merthyr team, with a side of 15 players intended on returning home to the sticks with a win under their belt.

Dai Thomas’s side was yet again a team of fresh faces, injuries and absences causing the manager a selection dilemma with lads coming in playing out of position. Injuries to Dan Howls and Jonny Fishcakes evident on the side line, the rest of the team wondered “Will Dan Howls ever be fit again?” and “Will Nicky the engine Thomas sign for the SWA team”. With Tommo on afternoons at work the lads could only speculate on what the outcome of his decision would be.

The starting team consisted of Gilky in the nets; Donkey, Jamie, Budgie and Moseley in defence; JJ, Simpkins, Borat and Keown in the Middle with Liam and Kalvin upfront. The manager keeping to his 4-4-2 formation hoped to see the boys pull a win out of the bag.

Immediately from the kick off it was plain to see the opposition’s intent, their manger echoing their boys performance with of comment of “C’mon lads!!! We didn’t come all this way to P#*s about lets put these Bast*£ds away from the start”. Oh Oh!!!!

The Crus were slow out of the blocks conceding a goal within the first ten minutes. This allowed the away team to grab an early lead. A well worked move with some slick passing was intercepted by Twinny only to be given away again and won back, and given away again etc etc. End result a goal for the travelling team.

1-0

The Caeharris team revelled in the space they were being given and punished the Crus further, slotting the ball through the defence with precision. JJ and Jamie both going in for the tackle on the striker resulted in a dubiously awarded penalty that the striker converted.

2-0

The Crus found themselves starting to compete more after an early two goal deficit. Bowen provided some good footwork on the right on numerous occasions combining well with budgie for some good runs.

Chances were beginning to be created and the team performance slowly increased in tempo. Free kicks in dangerous positions had been won but not transformed into goals. Kalvin came close on a couple of occasions following the two goals but the Crus attacked in vain.

Following a Crus chance, the Caeharris side pinged the ball towards the strikers 10 minutes before half time leaving the boys on the back foot. I didn’t see what happened next as I was looking at the Caeharris right backs tongue that was forever hanging out of his mouth in my direction. But after telling the young lad he had dropped his tongue I turned to see the score was now three.

3-0

Another point worth mentioning in the first half was a goal not given to the travelling side. A good strike by the right winger hit the underside of the bar, bounced over the line and hit the roof of the net. Scotty Gilk then cleverly fooled the referee with a scrambled catch and thrust tactic. Good Work!!!! The away team had already returned for a Crus kick off when the decision was given the Crus way. Obviously the visitors had plenty to say on the matter and the referee found himself under scrutiny. Gilk senior saved the day by waving his clipboard at the chops’y lad leading the protest. With his blue clipboard as a shield he thwarted the onslaught mid rant with one of his own. Obviously feeling Scott had performed a good save, Gilk Senior erupted in the poor lads direction…….. At one point I’m sure his nose bled! With Gilk Senior looking as red faced as a Ribena boy the Crus trudged in for half time.

Half Time

Dai Thomas’s rousing team talk at the interval took immediate effect in the second half. The lads had woken up, began challenging for headers and winning tackles. The fresh legs brought on by the manager doing the trick. Morgan on and young Dan up top. It was then all Crusaders!!!!

The Crus began to use the wings and soon found themselves in great scoring positions. Crosses were coming in from the left and the right, how long could the Caeharris team hold out. About 7 minutes in fact I think it was the substitute Dan who got the first.

3-1

Soon after, an injury to Moseley forced a reshuffle. This did not alter the Crus momentum.
A passage of play on the left saw a cross by JJ prodded home by Dan Morgan, who had run a fair old way to get there. Good run by Dan and the Crus were suddenly back in it!

3-2

Relentless pressure from the Crus would result in the equalizer about 10 minutes from the end. With tough tackling from Bowen and Keown in the middle the boys were getting all the ball. With the Crus defence holding very steady a goal was only coming from one team. Another cross from the left from JJ was very well headed home by young Dan who leapt like a salmon to get a nut on it. Great performance coming off the subs bench by young Dan.

3-3

More injuries, substitutions and reshuffles followed for the Crus and with them nearly brought the winner. A lovely ball over the top by Keown was chested down by JJ. However “Tongue boy” the Caeharris ginger right back used all his tongue powers to produce a last ditch tackle. What a come back!!!

Full time……

Hands were shaken, noses wiped and tongues returned to their rightful owners at the whistle with the Caeharris team finding themselves lucky to hold on.

A good fight back in the end and manager Thomas can be pleased with his teams’ second half display.

Man of the Match – Bowen, good footwork in the middle having a nice match.

Dummy – Jamie Edwards, it was plain to see that the one half of the deadly duo was not on song. Running away at half time, with a look-alike appearing shortly after claiming that he was his brother Justin. Could it be………. Changing socks and removing shin pads to fool the boys???????