It’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten what you all look like - in fact...WHO AM I? Only joking, that was silly. For my absence, I am sorry; the last few weeks has raced by in a blur of injuries, bizarre mid-season friendlies (where we got beat by a second div team) and, finally, this beautiful, beautiful victory. Inspired by the mesmeric limbs and heroic beard of last-minute call-up Mike Airey, Manifest stormed to a win as fine as any to date.
It wasn’t exactly one of those scenic, tica-taca-type performances, more an irresistible mix of grit and flair, blended to just the right degree. And yet it all started so badly. We were a worrying 4-1 down within the first ten minutes, suggesting that we might be in for a torrid evening in the hot, muggy excuse for a northern summer.
However, things began to click soon after – despite a slight anatomical dispute with the referee about whether or not the face is part of the head (note to ref: IT IS!). Tightening up in defence and turning the screw in attack, we stoically dragged ourselves back into the game. The half-time score-line was a delicate six-all, with Kosmirak, Francis and Airey taking the fight to a tiring BW Penman.
The second half was somewhat of a battle of attrition, punctuated by some of the best counter attacking we’ve ever produced. One flowing move incorporated every outfield player before Kosmirak swept a pant-dampaningly good ball across for Francis to apply the coup de grace. That said, BW Penman did begin to crank up the pressure towards the end of the game as they grappled with the very real possibility that they might just lose a game that had seemed such a stroll in the first five minutes.
It helped that Garlick had an immense game – dancing across his goal, blocking shots and generally bullying anyone in his vicinity like Senator McCarthy’s (although without the same level of anti-communist hysteria). Indeed the confidence that his repeated saves generated, rippled through the team and surely played a large part in sealing the win.
The final hammer blow to the BW Penman spirit came thanks to a moment of dual inspiration by Airey; dogged persistence followed by shrewd vision. Having harried a defender into a mistake, he slipped a dainty pass into my feet for the simple finish that settled the game.
If we can play half as well in our remaining games, we can look forward to a seriously lofty league position. BANG.
