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Mierosoft
today ended Mac Industries 100% record this
season, as they held them to a 3-3 draw at a
packed Hamsters Cage. The match, organised for
the benefit of the Tsunami fund, saw the
Hamsters re-jigged owing to a severe injury
list. Collin dropped out with flu, which meant
that Jamie Farhall moved forward to partner
Peter Chapman in attack. Jamie Jones returned
from a scrotum injury, and joined Doug Lane and
Bert Lloyd in a 3 man defence, while the
Walmsley twins, Tom and Ben were the central
midfield pairing.
A
strong wind was gusting through the stadium, and
with Mac Industries system obviously set out to
defend and counter-attack, their long ball game
was thrown into havoc. Mierosoft started the
better of the 2 teams, as the Hamsters invited
them to attack. The wind carried most of their
attacks through to McCarthy though, modeling the
new gold away goalkeepers kit. The home sides
attacks obviously weren't working - maybe it was
the fact that many of the players have never
played in claret and blue before, a
controversial color mix for the new away kit, as
it strongly resembles arch rivals Southdown
Rovers.
Mierosoft
took the lead in bizarre circumstances - a long
throw was tossed seemingly into the area, and
under no pressure, Doug Lane calmly caught the
ball in the area. Hearing captain Tom Walmsley
shout Scott to his goalkeeper, who was not
paying attention, he mistook it for 'stop', and
gave away a cast-iron penalty. Owing to the
unusualness and comical value of the whole
episode, the referee did not produce a card.
Kieran Elliott stepped up, and thumped the
penalty home, leaving McCarthy with no chance.
Despite
the conditions, Chapman was working hard up
front, but things just weren't coming off for
him. It took a moment of inspiration, this time
from Head Coach Farhall, as he took on 3
players, and finished with the ball in the back
of the net - showing for the first real time
this season his true ability. Mierosoft were not
disheartened though, and nearly pulled a goal
back. McCarthy, bizarrely doing press-ups in his
area after saving a shot, was caught cold, but
luckily Rob Osbourne missed the chance to
restore Mierosoft's lead
The
Hamsters capitalised, and Farhall embarked on
another mazy run, that ended up with his second
of the match. However, Liam Elliott, making his
Mierosoft debut, was played in by Dave Riley.
Elliott's curling shot looked destined for the
top corner, but McCarthy miraculously tipped it
wide of the post. It was a wake up call, and
Mierosoft nearly got in again. Bert Lloyds
attempted back header failing to reach McCarthy,
who stuck out his foot and smashed it into the
Barry Smith Stand. Lloyd again cleared the ball,
but the wind caught it. McCarthy connected with
his knee, but the danger was not over, and the
keeper had to be quick off his line to take out
Dave Riley and deny the Mierosoft captain the
chance to level things. Doug Lane was back to
his brutal best, winning tackles at the back,
while Chapman continued to chase and harass
up-front. One difficult chance came to the
veteran, but he screwed his shot high into the
Non-Clock End. Mierosoft finally got their
equaliser. Jamie Jones miss-controlled the ball,
and took it into the corner. His pass then fell
straight to Liam Elliott, who played in Dave
Riley to make it 2-2 at half time
The
Hamsters long ball tactics began to take effect
in the second half - Farhall and Chapman were
causing trouble up-front. It was Farhall who put
Mac Industries in front again, chasing onto the
through ball to make it 3-2. Mierosoft cleverly
adjusted their tactics though, moving Liam
Elliott to the back, and he was soon dealing
with the long ball. Riley went close to
equalising again, But McCarthy was quick out of
his area to slide tackle the player. Jones was
looking to make up for his earlier era, and his
work rate deserved something from the game, as
he chased and harried endlessly. However, the
Hamsters broke with their earlier tactic of
sitting back, and were left exposed at the back,
when Dave Riley was played in. McCarthy was
quick off his line again, but Riley calmly
slotted the ball past the sprawling keeper to
grab an equaliser.
Both
teams had chances in the latter stages. McCarthy
denied Elliott a superb goal, as his curling
shot was heading for the top left corner of the
Non-Clock End goal. However, similarly to the
first half, McCarthy dived full length and did
enough to tip it round the post. Mac Industries
came close again, when a mix up at the back saw
Chapman in with a chance, but as it had done all
night, the ball didn't fall right for him, and
his effort trickled past the post, denying him
the goal he deserved. In the dying stages,
Farhall went clear, but decided to shoot rather
than squaring it back to the unmarked Chapman in
the box.
Hamsters
Director of Football Scott McCarthy had this to
say after the game: "It was a fair result
to both teams. I think Mierosoft came here, and
adjusted tactically to what we were doing. In
the first half, our counter attacking football
didn't work, as the wind played havoc with the
long ball. We felt that playing on the ground
wouldn't work today, as we didn't have the
outlet that Dan Collin usually offers us.
However, saying that I think we saw glimpses of
the successfull partnership that Chapman and
Farhall forged last season. Jamies goals were
well taken, but he still needs to get his head
up and pass sometimes. I felt most sorry for
Chapman today though. Despite criticism from the
fans, he worked damn hard and I felt he was one
of our better players. His performance warranted
a goal, but that's life. We have a busy period
with another game coming up on Sunday, and I am
looking into bringing in one of two loan players
for it as some of our boys have knocks. It was
overall a very entertaining game of football,
and it obtained the aim of helping the Tsunami
fund - we raised in total £55.60 - so thank you
very much to all those who donated. KEEP THE
FAITH"
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