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Barnstoneworth Ottershaw are notorious travellers. The amazing point about this is that many people believe this means that they don't play well away from Stadium Barnstoneworth. While this is generally true, Saturday showed the depths of their tremendous travelling travails.
With 20 players in the squad only ten found their way to Napier Oval at Blayney. Five players set out early knowing the troubles they would encounter. Sadly they did not realise their mistakes until they hit the coast in such places as Gosford, Kurri Kurri and Bondi. When these squad members were finally located, they variously explained their non compass mentis as visiting friends, relatives or attending Mother's Day lunches.
The other five non-attendees apparently had visited the Orange Show and happened to visit a fortune teller. It seems that the Madam in question revealed a red card and these five players believing that they would be sent off in the game simply didn't bother to make the journey. Surprisingly two other players also visited the fortune teller and instead of running away in panic stayed to see the next card. This card was white and the combination of red and white was significant for the famous Red & Whites of Barnstoneworth.
Significantly these two players were Paul Crain and Ash McAleese who scored the 2 goals for Barnies. It is believed that if the five who took off had also stayed for the white cards and had played the score would have been 7-5 instead of 2-5.
So the valiant 10 of Barnies took on the young blokes of Blayney. While Barrnies were still thinking murderous thoughts of their team mates, Blayney slotted in two fine goals where young legs flooded past the hapless defence. Keeper Powell was unable to repel the rush although for the second goal his clearance struck the hordes and fell for an easy put away.
Down but not out, the Red & White passion stirred and one goal was pulled back when Dan Kennedy put Crain away for the "easiest of finishes" so said Dan. Blayney rushed for another before the McAleese strike, stumble, fall, roll, goal made it 2-3 at halftime.
The second half saw opportunities on both sides and the play was relatively open. The last gasp defence on each side kept the goals at bay until the tired old Barnie legs could not stop another goal.
Still Ottershaw pressed but could not make the most of their attack. Five quick succession corners could not be converted and, with the penultimate kick of the game, Blayney made the result 5-2. Not a fitting reward for the valiant ten but they are the ones who know that they will be able to hold their heads high at training this week.
Thankfully Barnies should not have to travel away from Orange again so it is only the short travels now that will be the problem. And the word is beware the return to the Stadium in 2 weeks time.
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