| Report | After a
disappointing league defeat after some of their best play all season,
Spartak were looking forward to a strong cup run, starting away from
home vs the mighty Genetics. Had the genetics department learnt from
previous years struggles and had a review of their worker selection
procedures/criteria, perhaps moving to something somewhat akin to the
HumGen group at Sanger several years ago, trying to pick footballers,
(how did Greggors get in?), or was it more similar to the Sanger stores
or FISH group...., or had they been scouting the male undergraduate
dorms for any talent (ahem)? The match had been switched to an afternoon
kick off, reportedly for TV rights (later switched to cover the Chelsea
game), or perhaps for players to empty the night clubs/catch up on the
latest 'news' in the sunday rags/get up to date on the goings on Chester
way. Loyalty was rewarded in the team selection with
the prodigal dancing feet Withers returning on the bench, well
sidelines. Spartak chose to chance it in the first half and started
with the strong wind against them.
Taking nothing for granted it took a while for Spartak
to get a hold of the ball, and even longer to control the ball, and play
it on the ground. Actually this didn't really happen for quite a while,
with the long 'panic' ball still dominant, more importance being put on
clearing the line in the strong wind, without it coming back. Spartak were slowly beginning to get on top, Genetics only
real possession was in their own half, building from the back, but not
really getting further than the edge of the Spartak box, with Miles
managing to clear up as required. The occasional
Spartak long ball was getting through to Keith and Dave upfront, but
leaving them too much to do, still requiring satellite navigation to
know where the goals were. Spartak eventually became at ease with
themselves, well not moaning at each other, and built from midfield,
making a few chances, but missing. Chances were wasted including poor
freekicks, overhit corners, snatched shots high and wide, or sliced
badly, with the wind playing havoc with the quality of controlled
football, well providing an excuse anyway. It took a defender to locate
the oppositions net, Doc weaved round two of the opposition on the left,
and poked the ball though (quickly before damage limitation), finding
Bowman in the area, to slot it home. Genetics came storming back from
kick off, but failed to break though the fragile Spartak defence before
half time. During the ad break, and half time analysis
Withers was switched on as rightback. After the turn around the
wind was now behind Spartak, (don't think it was anything to do with a
curry or 6 pints of Speckled Hen making it's way through the defenses
digestive system). Again Genetics came out fighting, (not literally in
a Isleham type way), and it took a while for Spartak to get on top. It
was Keith that took the initiative, taking control in the Genetics area,
and finding the net. It was a harsh call to sub him later to give Clive
a run out, whilst Chris came on on the right. The ball
was now down the Genetics end 80% of the time, with attack after attack.
Their keeper and goal kicker were finding it difficult to clear their
lines with the strong wind against, and Spartak battling in the middle
of the park, (well common). The next goal came again
from the defense, with another assist from Doc, a quality corner from
the left, (ok I forgot about the s41t one that didn't even go in play in
the first half), headed home by Knights, and celebrated appropriately.
Spartak were flowing with chances now, Fricker sloting one after a selfless pass from Bren, literally
placing it nicely to the side of the keeper to make it 4-0. The next
came from a break out of defense on the right, the balled passed out to
Bren, breaking forward into space before squaring to Doc moving into
space from the left. He managed to get there first before the defender,
connecting and curling it from well outside the box over the keeper
(with a little help from the wind). There were several half chances
falling to Chris, Clive, Bren, Graeme and Doc, as they dribbled and cut
their way through the static disheartened Genetics defence to make
chances, often releasing the ball quickly to save getting cut down by
the on coming opposition. The best chances fell to Mr Fricker enjoying
his some would say overdue spell up front, some through passes on to
goal by Doc, and a notable 2 yard, or was it just 2 feet out, slice wide
(extra thick that Hovis would be proud of), keeping him from the
outright Golden Boot at this stage. Give him a Man U video someone to
see how to finish, not the mouthing, diving etc, he can do that already.
Other notable features were the ability of the Genetics
keeper to kick to touch 'rugby union style' and find the Spartak left
wing on numerous occasions, the Gallic reffing being pretty lenient on
foul throws, but having to give one that was just outrageous, and
generally solid all round otherwise.
Match attendance was high, possibly 4 or 5 by the end
of the game, with the away family enclosure doing a roaring trade. Spartak finished their first game on the road this season
5-0 winners moving on to the next round, hoping for a big draw to get an
even bigger crowd (or actually some minnows so they might scrape
through). |
CDFL Challenge Cup