The Days Between
Pearson’s agent came looking for a new contract again. This time at least he waited for a good game as Pearson scored a goal and rated a 7.1. The answer is still no.
Time for more up changing. Changing up? Eff it, time for the Second XI to get some starts.
Southern Counties East
vs. Hollands & Blair, 20 January 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Clark,
Day, Carroll,
Parker,
Cullen, Donaldson,
Jones, Taylor,
Martin,
Macey
Subs: Webb, Maguire,
Spearing,
Al-Ziod, Jefcoate,
Nixon, McAdam,
Pearson, O'Donnell,
Duckett,
Rae, Smith
In the 17th Donaldson get us on the scoreboard after a corner, it was the first action period of the game. Not a minute later they equalize when Legg can’t handle a header courtesy of a free kick deep in our end. Just before 58’ a long ball forward by Donaldson sees a Macey cross from the right side of the box to the arc where Taylor is able to get his hammer foot on it for a low shot to the left corner. Just wish it was Macey who would get off the snide. He does get a clean shot a few moments later but sends it in with a much force as a mouse fart.
And there it is folks! In the 73rd minute Macey gets loose between the two central defenders, jukes right, rounds the keeper and he gets his 20th league goal of the season. I thought that sealed the game but his sub, Rae, scores at 4 minutes and 10 seconds into 4 minutes of stoppage time. A good victory.
POM: David Donaldson (4 key passes)
In the post-game email dump I get notification that Parker is Natural at DL now. That is a relief. If the game/database rights itself next year and I can only use 5 subs, he’ll be a regular back-up for us.
The Week Between
We have 8 games (days) before our next match. It’s against Erith Town who are second in the league. I might use this week to change tactics again. I think I’ll switch the left striker to the Advanced Forward and the right striker to a Deep Lying Forward in Support mode. That way O’Donnell will become the star sooner. I do this knowing that Macey won’t probably be with us once we make it to the Conference South.
I want to try a new formation but I was hoping that Pearson, Duckett, and Jones were Natural as wingers by now. I’ll hold off. I haven’t got a name for it yet but it’s going to have 3 CD, 1 WBR, 1 WBR, 3 MC, and 2 ST. I want to try out the Mezzala role as I’ve not tried it. Maybe I’ll call it Candle because it looks like a candle holder? Because the Central Defenders are the bottom, the wing backs are the lip, the midfielders are the base, and the strikers are the top?
Southern Counties East
at Erith Town, 28 January 2018
Psych! Match postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. See, Erith, you need a Sugar Daddy who’ll build you a stadium that doesn’t suck. Fun fact: Erith Town don’t have their own stadium and have to play in Greenwich. I guess they’re never late for matches as they always know what time it is?
I am able to schedule a last-minute friendly with some team called Bicester. I’ll play the second XI and the U18s. Gotta keep the kiddos Match Fit!
The friendly goes as well as expected, 9-0. Both U18 strikers (remember the Mickey Ds?) got hat tricks and Paul Taylor got a brace.
In Summary
Another excellent, if truncated, month in the books. Like December, January saw no losses, still on top of our league by 13 points, and still in two cups. I’m looking forward to February as it’s a short month that culminates in Youth Intake Day. What was it the kids said like 10 years ago? Squeeeee!? It’ll be an action-packed month as we are scheduled for 7 matches. (Checks math) So one every four days. Joy!
