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Hit the Bar Vs Vasko De Gatley
This match against unknown quantity Vasko de Gatley was never going to be easy. Hit The Bar were down to the bare bones for the second time in three games, with Dancing coming in for G-Man (who was busy watching his premiership side's title chances fade) and Hew off busy doing whatever it is that he does. Vasko meanwhile had six keen young lads ready to play, along with one other of questionable gender. The game started well for HTB but, after some early chances were wasted, they found themselves one down against the run of play. However, some fine work from Nez and Ricky Organ produced a few great goals and, thanks to some fantastic keeping, HTB went in at half-time with a healthy lead. The ref was in no mood to hang around and the second half began with HTB struggling to stand unaided. An increasingly tired HTB struggled to hold on but managed to keep their noses in front thanks to some timely strikes from Dancing. As the end of the match approached, HTB showed their tactical awareness by utilising Squirrel in goal as much as possible and frustrating the opposition's attempts to get back into the game. A well-fought 9-6 victory justified HTB's second place in the league.
Player Ratings:
Squirrel - When Ashford and Simpson sang "And now it's solid (Oh), Solid as a rock" they surely must have been inspired by Hit The Bar's keeper. A string of outstanding saves in the first half and an accomplished second half display led one member of Vasko to conclude, "he's like a brick wall", albeit with a layer of moss growing on top. A match-saving performance earns him SURERANDOMALITY STARMAN - 9
Ricky Organ - Some excellent interplay with Nez in the first half helped HTB established the cushion that they needed. More provider than finisher yet he also claimed one for himself. Drifted in and out of the game in the second half, but would more often than not be available to receive possession from Squirrel when the rest were marked/knackered - 8
Nez - The other half of the early goal-scoring partnership, he deservedly added three well-taken goals to his tally. Some excellent periods of play but tired rapidly and was only a shadow of his usual self in the second half. However, he blocked, battled and tackled when it counted - 8
Dancing - A non-descript first half with a hat-trick of missed one-on-ones with the keeper, although a superb goal from a strike from within his own half redeemed him slightly. By the second half he had more stitches than Frankenstein's monster but always seemed to score when HTB needed them most and added an excellent hat-trick, this time of the right kind, to his first half goal - 8
Owen - Like the others, he faded in and out of the match. Did some excellent work in holding the ball up early on and played some intelligent passes. Scored a corker in the first half but then had to concentrate on defence in the second, and did a fine job too. A solid display - 8