17 October Cup Round 1 Leg 1 Vs ELT (Away Leg)

Team:

S. Speroni;
M. Andrews (S. Balogun), M. Vakataka, N. Speroni (c), O. Lindsay (D. Hambridge);
D. Passfield, A. Aryanpour, C. Lindsay, J. Tidman, J. Middleweek (C. Khoshaba);
S. Clarke-Johnson (1) (F. Lindsay);

10 October Vs Blackhorse Road

What an epic!


Having never even scored against Blackhorse in 4 previous encounters, it could be said there was an unwarranted confidence going into this match. However, confidence there was on the back of 3 league wins and 2 defeats, and those defeats by a single goal margin.


Kicking into the wind first half made the job harder, but it was TP that took the lead with help from the wind. Michael, implementing the old adage that if you have no passing options, put the ball into a danger area, did just that and hung the ball up in the wind between goalkeeper and defender, only for the defender to deftly header past the outcoming keeper and into his own net.


However, the lead was not to last and the TP defence were panicked regularly by a very dangerous attacking Blackhorse team. But there was an element of good fortune to their equaliser, with a clearance from Sam B ricocheting off of a Black shirt into the path of a striker, for Nick to make a clean tackle but not quite knock the ball far enough away and the striker to slot past Steve.


But the swing then went with TP, and some very neat play in the Blackhorse half eventually got as far as the penalty box where a Blackhorse defender handled. Arsan took the ball without question and scored.


Swing 4 - Blackhorse again camping in the TP half and winning one of very few corners throughout the game. TP failed to clear and a very hopeful turn and shot from the edge of a crowded 18 yard box left Steve unsighted and slipped in to the far corner.


And then what could have ended the game... a Blackhorse charge into the box saw Ian attempt the tackle and referee award a penalty - even the Ref was not too clear as to whether the ball was played or not, but Ian going to ground and seemingly making contact with the player was enough in his eyes. Jesse advised Steve on the direction the ball was going, but the striker sold the other way to Steve well enough to make the penalty look easy.


Half Time: TP 2 - 3 Blackhorse

Going with the wind in the second half meant that TP were based over the Blackhorse Road side of the half way line, and this meant confidence of getting something from the game grew. The football improved and became more dangerous and clinical, with Blue shirts constantly running at and behind the Blackhorse defence, most notably when Steven Clarke-Johnson came on for his debut, regularly finding the gaps to feed Darryl (who ran the space thanklessly all game) and Johnny who found the Blackhorse keeper in better form for the second 45mins.

Several good saves from the keeper and a couple of good chances going begging suggested TPs first points against Blackhorse may need to wait until another day. (Note to all who have been at TP since day 1 - could a certain Mr. Owen's title of best miss be under threat from Mr. Hill! - check the 07/08 blog for pictures!)

However, where the TP strikers were finding an making chances, Blackhorse were still more than dangerous on the counter. Steve chose to help the Blackhorse cause by forgetting how to repeat what had been sensationally kicking in the first and majority of second half by gifting a chance to the striker only to pull of a sensational save. This was then followed by what will surely be the best double save of the season, blocking a drive from close range with his body and then getting up across half the goal to clear the follow up from 6 yards.

This was the spark needed, and a fairly hopeful ball towards the Blackhorse goal saw Johnny - TP's new John "Will head anything" Helm - leap to challenge the Blackhorse keeper (and defender) to a ball that favoured goalkeeper 90:10, force the ball goalwards and react to make sure the ball crossed the line.

7mins of added time were seen out, with die hard defending from Mez becoming increasingly notable.

In a word... Awesome.

Team:


S. Speroni;
M. Vakataka, S. Balogun, N. Speroni (c), J. Middleweek (C. Khoshaba);
M. Andrews (T. Lindsay), I. Howard (S. Clarke-Johnson), A. Aryanpour (1), O. Lindsay;
D. Passfield, J. Hill (1)


1 x Own Goal (from M. Andrews cross)


Unused Substitute:
G. Goodhew

3 October Vs ELT

Team:

D. Hambridge;
C. Lindsay, S. Balogun, N. Speroni, J. Middleweek;
M. Andrews, A. Aryanpour, T. Lindsay (c), J. Tidman (1), O. Lindsay;
D. Passfield;