Neil vs Phil (Last 4 games - Round 1 of 4)

Well, after a long tough season, yet again we come down to a close few weeks for the decider. With 16 players turning up it left Phil, in 2nd place, with the first choice as picking got underway.

Teams were as follows:
YELLOWS: Phil (C), Gary, Blake, Andy E, Richie, Andy S, Carl & Laurie
WHITES: Neil (C), Nick E, Mark, Geoff, Dave O, Andrew M, Ben, Mac

Line-ups are available as shown on the twitter feed (@plus30fc - for those who are on twitter).

Anyway, to the game...
Conditions on this night played a major part in the opening 10 minutes or so... I think both teams must have scored with their first attack! Firstly, the whites immediately put high pressure on the yellow team. With a cross fizzled in from the right wing caught Carl on its way through and then deflecting into his own goal - 1-0 Whites.

Straight after this the yellow team moved the ball up the field quickly, with good link up play from their midfield of Andy, Richie and Blake, with Gary dropping back from his usual spec upfront. After a series of passes Andy Eyres found the ball at his feet and unleashed a good shot, hard and low into the bottom right corner of my goal. 1-1 Eeek!
The game ebbed and flowed from then on, again I think both teams passing well, but the Yellows with the quicker of the play. Next the ball fell to Gary who also shot from a distance and scored - terrible goalkeeping from myself as I saw the shot all the way but the ball ran over my foot! I know it's one of those goals he won't let me forget either! Grrr. 1-2 to Yellows.

Further persistence and good running from the Whites allowed Mac to next play a pass to Dave Owen who finished neatly putting us back level - apologies for detail, I was up the other end of the field and still grumbling to myself over Gary's goal.

At this point we called half time and switched ends, for the remaining 20 mins or so. I had switched with Mac and put Geoff up front as the outlet. Unfortunately none of our attacks, which included corners and throw-ins really paid off for us for the rest of the game. And sadly for our team, The Yellows managed to snatch a third goal through work from Richie and Andy Eyres. 2-3.

Full time.
Unfortunately it just wasn't my night as captain. Well done to Phil and his team, thanks to the efforts of the Whites. These last few weeks are going to be close!!!

My Man of the match? - I'm going to say Nick, besides being on the losing team; his play was very good, great movement off the ball and great positioning as a defender to intercept - especially in the first half.