 Game Eleven
versus Walcot Allstars lost 0-3
(goals - none; MotM - David Strover; Numpty - Andy Arnold)
The team went into this 'last game of the season' expecting an utter hammering so in the end a 3-0 defeat was not so bad. With all the players relaxed and not getting wound up about the result the game went well and only a mad three minute spell just before halftime put paid to the match as a game. Truth be told The RazorBacks were no match for Walcot Allstars but they had done really well to be holding them to 0-0 so they could have felt aggrieved to be 3-0 down at the break. In the second half it was one way traffic as the Allstars camped in The RazorBacks half but with everyone pulling as a team and David Strover having a good game no more goals wee forthcoming. The final score ran out a respectable 3-0. Perhaps the days of 'f-ing and blinding' and getting wound up during the game should be put behind the team and just going in expecting to have fun and maybe get a few shots on goal might be the way forward. All I know is there were no angry faces at the end of the game but instead lots of smiles. Game Ten
versus Raskals F.C lost 1-2
(goals - Darren Wallis; MotM - Ben Gregory; Numpty - Darren Wallis)
Four games and counting; that's how many games it's been since The RazorBacks won a match yet it is five since they conceded a goal in the first half. Another display where it was obvious the team think that strolling around and watching will cut it. It's not that Raskals didn't deserve their first two points it was the fact they did not really have to work too hard. A goalless first half should have served as a warning to The RazorBacks as their opponents spurned chance after chance without actually forcing a save but the warning went unheeded. Midway through the second half and a great first time shot from a short corner by Darren Wallis should have won the game but within thirty seconds of the goal sloppy play allowed an equaliser and then with only a few minutes remaining the Raskals broke through four on two for about the fifth time in the game but this time converted. The RazorBacks never looked like scoring again and the game ended comfortably for Raskals. Darren Wallis despite a good display gets Numpty for turning up in the baddest of bad moods and then taking it out on everyone but especially the referee. We are not that team Darren! Game Nine
versus Tawny Owl draw 1-1
(goals - Ben Gregory; MotM - Ben Gregory; Numpty - Darren Wallis)
After last week's great display, despite losing, it could almost be predicted that a full strength RazorBacks team would start sluggishly and look disinterested, and so it proved. In the opening five or so minutes Tawny Owl kept the ball and danced around The RazorBacks players with relative ease. But here in lies the rub - whilst having great skills and looking calm and confident the Tawny Owl team how virtually no shots on goal and when The RazorBacks managed to string two passes together they looked more dangerous. This resulted in a very busy Owl keeper who produced three great saves to keep the score at 0-0. The second half started much the same but with a lack of vision and movement only one team really looked like they were going to score. Moments after finally forcing Strover to make a save Tawny Owl latched onto some poor passing and movement (again) and fired home low in the corner for what looked like the winner. The say cometh the hour, cometh the man and up stepped Ben Gregory to lash a slightly high looking shot in off the bar for an equaliser with minutes to go. There was still time for the Tawny Owl goalie to save a point for his team with a brilliant one on one save from Colin Yates with only seconds remaining. After such a display it was fitting that the referee gave his league Man of the Match to David Strover??!! Game Eight
versus 2 Tone lost 0-2
(goals - none; MotM - Darren Wallis; Numpty - David Strover)
With an actual game plan in place The RazorBacks nearly pulled off a shock result as they took on all conquering 2 Tone who were looking for their eighth straight win since starting the league. Pulling all five outfield players behind the ball meant the skilful 2 Tone were crowded out and frustrated and with everyone playing their part there was virtually no shots on goal from either side in the first half. In this type of match a mistake changes the course of the game and unfortunately for the creaking Strover in goal it was he who provided it. A hopeful long range shot from star 2 Tone player 'Peter Mack' should have been an easy stop but the ball squirmed through his legs and trickled over the line for 1-0. After this the disappointed RazorBacks opened the game more and even ventured to have a few shots on goal with new player Rob Dixon impressing with his work-rate and effort. It was a win or lose situation but as often happens a breakaway allowed 2 Tone the chance and they fired past the advancing Strover for 2-0. Now thoroughly disheartened The RazorBacks form dipped and 2 Tone this time brought the best out in Strover with a couple of stinging shots but it was not to be the RazorBacks or the veteran goalies night. A good sporting game played in the right spirit, the best team won and The RazorBacks are now left with a whole host of positives to pick from. Game Seven
versus Norfolk N Chance F.C. draw 2-2
(goals - Chris Gregory, Marcus Cahalin; MotM - Michael Hinde; Numpty - Andy Arnold)
An important game for The RazorBacks where a win would keep them in the top three and a defeat would move them closer to the 'bottom' group of teams. Typically in the end it finished in a draw which allowed The Regent F.C. jump over The RazorBacks into third place courtesy of their 6-2 win over Shabba. The game started slowly and choppy for The RazorBacks and the few efforts on target all came from Norfolk N Chance. Surprisingly enough Chris Gregory opened the scoring with The RazorBacks first effort on target finishing off a fine move. With this goal in the bag the team seemed more confident and bubbly and several fine passing moves resulted in good saves of the Norfolk goalie or effort off target. With Chris Gregory off for the beginning of the second half things could not have gone worse. A very dubious hand ball free kick gave Norfolk their equaliser a fine finish from the touched off free kick and then moments letter the same player burst clear from inside his own half the rattle the ball home for 2-1 and The RazorBacks were in trouble. Moments later and Marcus Cahalin opened his club account when he lashed home from close range. After this it was nip and tuck but eventually the game ended with neither side getting the upper hand. A disappointing result which perhaps The RazorBacks should have won but in the end poor team defence and concentration let them down - again. Game Six
versus Shabba won 3-1
(goals - Michael Hinde, Colin Yates, Darren Wallis; MotM - Ben Gregory; Numpty - Darren Wallis)
This week The RazorBacks looked more confident and 'up for it'. A quiet start burst into life when a fine passing move was finished off superbly by Michael Hinde to put The RazorBacks in front. The Shabba goalie then produced a string of fine stops to prevent the score being put beyond his team. At the other end chances were few and far between as Ben Gregory stopped everything that came his way, apart from one effort blocked by goalie Strover and another that cannoned off the foot of the post. In the second half The RazorBacks lost their way slightly with hard working Wallis and Hinde starting on the touchline. Strover was forced to produce some good saves to keep the score at one nil. Then with Wallis back on the pitch and the team once again forcing the Shabba goalie to make some great saves a second great finish by top scorer Colin Yates seemed to finish the game. Unfortunately with only a few minutes remaining a breakaway finally rewarded Shabba with their goal and set up a few nerve jangling final moments. As it was some superb control and finishing by Darren Wallis broke the Shabba goalie's resistance and sealed the game at 3-1. Ben Gregory, so despondent after his last game when The RazorBacks lost 8-1, was immense at the back and stopped many Shabba attacks time and time again was deservedly Man of the Match and the it has to be said, the rather unfortunate, Darren Wallis was voted Numpty on account of a wayward shot that cleared the safety face surrounding the pitch. All in all everyone in the squad played well and the result was a great to prepare for some tough games to come. Game Five
versus The Bulldog Boys won 3-1
(goals - Colin Yates 3 - 1 penalty; MotM - Jon 'Paddy' Litton; Numpty - Marcus Cahalin)
After last week's real debacle The RazorBacks probably had the best fixture they could get. A game against bottom of the table The Bulldog Boys. With another makeshift team in place after two players dropped out on match day the team could be forgiven for the slow start to the game. At times The Bulldog Boys goal lead a charmed life as their 'keeper pulled off some great saves nevertheless The RazorBacks still looked nervous and it was not a huge surprise when a snap shot through the legs of Chris Gregory wrong footed Strover in goal and put them 1-0 in front. The RazorBacks started to look nervous and despite still having more chances it was difficult to see how the breakthrough would happen. In the end an errant run into the penalty area gave Colin Yates the chance to fire home the club's first ever penalty for a 1-1 turn around. The second half at times was more even although Strover was only forced to make one hard save and The Bulldog Boys goalie was still thwarting Yates and Litton in particular. Ironically it was an awful roll out by the hero of the game that lead to Colin Yates easily stroking the ball home for 2-1. Near the end with The Bulldog Boys pushing hard for an equaliser a breakaway allowed Yates to fire home one on one with the goalie for the two points for The RazorBacks and the club's first official hattrick. Game Four
versus Walcot Allstars lost 1-8
(goals - Eddie Flinthoff; MotM - David Strover; Numpty - The Rest of the Team)
After last week's debacle how The RazorBacks had wished Walcot had not turned up but with The Allstars second in the table and having not lost a game or conceded a goal this was unlikely. In the end the team put out was a bit 'ragged arse Rovers' but nevertheless this was no excuse for the complete lack of team play or cohesion shown from the kick off. Looking lackadaisical from the start The RazorBacks were torn into by the quick-fire Walcot team who capitalised on two early mistakes to go 2-0 in front. A goal back from Colin Yates last minute 'my mate will play' player brought The RazorBacks into the game and another shot a few inches past the post nearly resulted in an unlikely equaliser. Soon after this the Allstars made it 3-1 and the teams swapped around. If the first half was bad the second half was appalling as players failed to track their men or make meaningful challenges whilst Walcot had a field day firing in shots on the beleaguered Strover. Eight could have easily been twelve or more and Walcot Allstars strolled off the pitch at the fulltime whistle hardly out breath and 8-1 victors. On the bright side surely The RazorBacks' attitude cannot be any worse and surely the performance will not be as shabby again. Another plus note was that the moaning and blaming anyone but yourself ethic was high! Game Two
versus Tawny Owl won 4-0
(goals - Darren Wallis 2, Colin Yates 2; MotM - Darren Wallis; Numpty - Colin Yates)
With last week's opponents demolishing their opposition 10-0 prior to this game The RazorBacks went into the match feeling much more confident. In the end this confidence was proved correct and after a slow start the team looked sharper and more able than the Tawny Owl. Darren Wallis opened the scoring with a scuffed shot that hardly had the pace to cross the line and after this with their tails in the air The RazorBacks were going to be the only team to win. Colin Yates soon smashed home a shot from just outside the area and then in a similar move Darren Wallis made it 3-0 and game over. Only minutes later and an errant pass from the Owl's goalie allowed Colin to crash home his second goal for 4-0. Several good saves by the very same goalie kept the score down to 4-0 at halftime. With game over at halftime the willingness and energy was obviously not at a premier level and there was no further scoring. The RazorBacks forced several more good stops from the Tawny Owl's goalie and fired many more good chances wide, to be honest if half of these were taken double figures would have been achieved. At the other end Tawny Owl forced the only save of the game from Strover near the end. All and all a much better performance from the team and a confidence booster all round. Game One
versus 2 Tone lost 1-5
(goal - Colin Yates; MotM - David Strover; Numpty - Ben Gregory)
Not the best start to the season and indeed the history of the club as the more experienced 2 Tone showed The RazorBacks what years of playing together, good movement and youth can do to you. Although the final score was 5-1 and in truth The RazorBacks had no answer for the pace and movement of the opponents the new team acquitted themselves well. Indeed a early strike did not deflate the players and the passing movement was being strived for at all times. A soft goal put 2 Tone 2-0 in front when Strover saved well only for the team to not react to the rebound which was lashed home and then a soft penalty put the match beyond doubt. Colin Yates hammered home a Lee Mason pass in the more successful repeat of an early move to leave the halftime score 3-1. A more determined RazorBacks battled in the second and forced two great saves from the opposing goalie but it was Strover who was much busier and despite a good display two late goals past the tiring RazorBacks ensured it was not a good evening for the club's veteran goalie. | .gif){kind=icon}
