McVitee FC on tour - Colchester United Net Team (a)
Martin Ford
Colchester United Net Team 2 McVitee 4
There's only one pot noodle...
Another early start beckoned, a few more hours on the road before I pulled
on a shirt again to represent McVitee FC, this time in Colchester. After 4
hours on the road, I managed to find the pitch and sat there waiting for
the others to arrive (maybe I could have had that extra hour in bed?). By
1:00 there was still no-one around, my thoughts drifted to Middlesbrough,
no team, what to do? The rest of the team finally drifted into view but we
were short of numbers, only nine against a squad of 14/15 Colchester lads.
The Colchester team decided in the interest of fair play they would play 9.
So, McVitee FC lined up:
Rich S
Dave B Lee G Martin F
Gavin H
Rob H Spenner Andy C
Lee H
The formation seemed to work; although hectares of space (or so it seemed)
were available, there was always a man challenging. Although McVitee had 9
players to Colchester's 14/15, we created a lot of early chances that went
begging. The Colchester goal seemed to lead a charmed life. In fact the
post was hit twice (at least), the 'keeper and other players blocked
goalbound shots and several conversions were sent over the bar (something
Clive Woodward would have been proud of). It was worrying the number of
missed chances we had, Colchester were always a threat, especially on the
break. However, the nerves finally settled when Rob opened the scoring,
something to finally settle the nerves.
However, the lead was only brief and Colchester equalised with what was
only their 2nd/3rd attack, a sharp shot from the edge of the box after
some good work by their number 14! Any pressure Colchester had was soaked
up and a quick ball up front relieved the pressure, some neat play up
front creating chances that went begging. Colchester swapped and changed
players which kept them fresh. McVitee on the other hand had to play on
with the nine. Lee H scored the second goal to nudge us ahead and the
confidence rose, hold out to half time and then regroup. That idea fell
flat when yours truly missed a tackle (next time the ball's going to end
up in Suffolk, rather than trying to play a smart little flick); the ball
fell kindly to the wingman, whose strong run and shot into the roof of the
net equalised the score at half-time, 2-2.
It only acted as a catalyst not to let the game slip from our grasp; if it
had been a boxing match I honestly think we would have been rounds ahead
(except if Don King had anything to do with it). Colchester kept swapping
players and in some cases this helped McVitee; they removed their quicker
players. The second half was another strong tussle, with McVitee slightly
ahead through strong midfield work. It was left to Lee H to ease the nerves
with City's third, a 25 yard curling shot into the top corner which gave us
much needed breathing space. It also acted to make Colchester come at us
again. However, with some desperate defending and goalkeeping we managed to
hold them out.
Spenner grabbed his first goal of the season and McVitee's fourth of the
game, the most decisive. He cut in from the left, beat a man and kicked
through the ball (� la Gav's coaching), with the shot ending up right in the
top corner. Time for some celebrations and a huge sigh of relief. Could we
hold out for the remaining few minutes. Still Colchester came at us, once
more last ditch tackles, good keeping and some luck preserved the lead.
Colchester's last chance came from an inswinging corner that hit the post
and was fortunately blocked.
The final whistle brought relief, it has been a tough match with both teams
thoroughly committed, though it was played in great spirit, a true example
of how footie should be played.
After the game there was time for drink and a bite to eat in the Colchester
lads' local (The Dragoon) and time for an amble upto the ground. There was
also time for Spenner to nip into a convenience store and grab a Chicken and
Mushroom pot noodle, it just wouldn't be the same if he didn't have one of them.
