| After a sun scorched weekend,
everybody at Spartak was looking forward to a lovely sunny evening's football. Which
was why the mood wasn't exactly high after a day of rain and a gloomy dark sky which
seemed lower than a politician morals.
Still
though, the prospect of an evening's football cheered them up and in light of the
non importance of the fixture, Spartak decided to go for a radical formation change
and employ a 3-5-2. Would it be a revolutionary new match winning formation or a
total disaster which could lead to a beating worse than Frank Bruno was used to?
Things started well, the Spartak boys were clearly
up for it and worked hard in all areas of the park. The formation was an immediate
success with the midfield battling hard and chances being created. Unfortunatly,
none were converted and soon Spartak were again to pay for that. After a throw in
which was incorrectly given to the opposition, a ball across the square found a
Dobblers forward who shot. Luckily Neil was there to block it with his face but
unluckily as he went down poleaxed the ball rebounded to the striker who slotted
home. One nil down and with all the play, that hurt.
Still though Spartak battled on and after some great efforts on goal
were soon 2-0 behind. This time it was a rare corner for the opposition and a
powerful header which did for Spartak. Half time soon followed and Spartak went in
with most of the play 2-0 down. Bollocks.
Second
half and Spartak came roaring out of the blocks. They took the game by the scruff of
the neck and went in search of goals. And they soon got one when the ever battling
Clive and Dave up front managed to combine for Dave to score. 2-1. Game on.
From then on Spartak had wave after wave of attack,
shots from Steve, Bren, Pete, Clive and Dave but stil they failed to score. Dobblers
had a few attacks and scored a third. This time it was a bit of Spartak's own doing,
some poor clearing and loose marking and that was that.
Still though the boys didn't give up, but tiredness was beginning to
creep in and the game slowly drifted from them.
They were somewhat
rewarded in the final minute by a penalty after an incisive run by Richard, but
unfortunatly Dave's penalty was wide of the post and the game finished 3-1.
Although they lost, Spartak can take a lot from this
game. The 3-5-2 formation certainly gave them a good foundation to push onto the
opponents, something they have not done so well in the last few games. With only one
game to go before the final on May 9th, the management will have some serious
thinking to do on the matter.
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League