Date - 01/09
Venue - Ynysddu Welfare Pitch
Crusaders v Sebastopol
Conditions - Sound!!!

After a poor start to the season the Crue's welcomed Sebastopol to town for this must win game. With captain Nicky Thom opting to take the easy option and jump ship to avoid what looks like a tough season ahead, the Gaffer promoted Johnny Fishcake to Captain and Gilk Jnr to Vice-Captain. The Game had to be played at the Welfare ground due to Fields Park (FP) being Vandalised and un-useable.

The Lads started well creating a few good chances in the first 15 minutes before Pies broke the off-side trap with what can only be described as "Blistering Pace" to beat the keeper to the Ball and delicately chip him and open his account for the season!! This was nothing more than we deserved as we'd been all over Sebastopol like a bout of German measles!! Then for some reason we let a hopeful ball come over the top and a mix up between Scott "Stickman" Gilk and "Randy" Simpkins led to the Equaliser! In fairness to the Lads they kept plugging away and 5 minutes before the Break a delightful ball into the Box by Shane "Bandy Legs" Bowen, was cleverly headed past the Keeper by Evan "Almighty" Hillier. At 2 - 1 up the half time whistle couldn't come quick enough, unfortunately, Stickman Scott decided challenge the Opposing Striker to a race, when a Ball was put through. Now Scott isn't exactly Lynford Christie and was easily beaten to the Ball and the Striker struck the Ball Goalwards, our other Speed merchant "Randy" had the chance to clear the Ball off the Line but Fluffed his lines in a Claude Price type way!! 2 - 2 on the stroke of half time, the Gaffer was not impressed!!

Second half started and Sebastopol seemed to have a renewed confidence and it wasn't long before another hopeful ball was sent over the top only to be put away to make the Score 3 - 2(to Sebast)!!! This sent the Gaffer into a mad rage, how he didn't turn Green and start ripping his clothes off a still a mystery to most!! We'd had 90% of the chances and were 3 - 2 down, was this to be another one of those games or were the lads going to come back!!

It was time for a change, so the Gaffer brought on Steve "Chickman" Prosser up top for Pies who had worked hard, battled well and fully deserved his goal! It wasn't long before the Crue's got their grip back on the game but we couldn't find the finish to level the scores. A number of good plays were finished with Poor balls into the box which were gifts for the opposing Keeper!!! Dan Morris who'd been scoring freely in pre-season hit an absolute pearler from 30 Yards which beat the Keeper but just drifted wide of the Post. Then, finally, Dane Whit scrambled home a ball after some neat team play. At 3 - 3 the Crue's just needed to keep playing the way they were, as they surely were going to score a winner?!?!? Then came a sending off, after a shot was beaten away by the Keeper it fell to Dan Morris who struck it Goalwards only to be saved on the line by the Sebastopol Centre Half's Hand! The Ref had no option but to send him off and the Crue's were awarded a Penalty!! Now we've missed a Pen or 2 in pre-season and in the Race game so the Tension was quite high for this Spot kick but with Nicky gone the Crue's have Fishcake back taking the Pens and he sent the keeper the wrong way to put us 4-3 up!! With Sebastopol down to 10 men the Crue's were now running riot and could have easily added another 3 but poor finishing was again the route of our Evils!! Sebastopol still had a chance or 2 of their own but the Crue's ran out 4 - 3 winners in the end.

I must admit we made hard work of this game but showed great character and fight to keep going for the Full 90 minutes!!

Sudbrook next Sat at FP and they will no doubt be looking for a win to help them with their Promotion hopes!!!

Man of the Match - Johnny Fishcake, Solid as usual, took the Pen well!
Dummy of the Match - Randy Simpkins, was glad to see the back of this game and rumour has it he was still drowning his sorrows at 12.30am in the local Boozer!!