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BEAST FROM THE EAST(MAN)

Reports Michael Radley

Danson Albion B 4 – 2 Hayden

Danson Albion B’s final game of what has been a good year for the team was at the Co-Op and they were hoping to bring the glorious year to a close in fitting fashion against the side that broke their 100% winning record at the start of October.

Back in October it had been a stifling day with the main concern being dehydration, whereas the reverse fixture also featured a reverse in the conditions. With temperatures in low single figures, the team warm up was abandoned in favour of having a big cuddle in the corner of the changing room. This was looked upon disapprovingly by team captain D.Jarman, but all could tell he was just masking his desire to get involved.

During the second warm up, our resident big gambler, Barry, was in the Christmas spirit and offering to buy Christmas lunch for whoever could hit the crossbar from near the half way line with 3 attempts. The terms were that if any of the challengers failed, they would instead have to be the ones buying a lunch for the hairy defensive midfielder. Eastman and Redpath were the two who were confident enough to have a go and to the despair of poor ol’ Bazza, both stepped up and a duly smashed the ball against the bar to claim their free lunches.

The freezing cold weather had also been in the referee’s thinking and there was talk of postponing the game due to a frozen pitch. However with both teams keen to play and with the sunshine slowly softening the ground, the game kicked off after a delay of 20 minutes.The first half was a tense affair in general, but in the first three minutes, J.Radley had a chance to extend his lead at the top of the Danson B top scorer chart.

Having taken a decent first touch from the through ball, his shot drifted over the top of the bar. His later claim that he was “not used to playing on the right of midfield” was dismissed as the worst excuse ever, especially as his elder brother had been thrust into that position last week and still had managed to score.There after the first half was something of a battle in the middle of the park. Indeed, the players leaving the pitch at half time were so filth-covered; they looked like they had seen action at the Somme.

Manager T.Jarman, who is currently on the injury list, had concerns that the left side was looking shaky and there would be changes before long if things did not change. The first five minutes of the second half were then played exclusively down Danson’s left flank to the extent that Danson’s heroic right-back and the number 12 for Hayden had a plenty of time to discuss Kim Jong-Il’s untimely death and what this could mean for security on the Korean peninsula.

The first goal of the game came from a free kick midway inside the Danson half. The ball was floated over and despite at least 8 defensive bodies flying toward the ball and a punch by goalkeeper Silley, the combined efforts could only knock the ball 12 yards away from goal and straight to the feet of an on rushing Hayden forward who thumped the ball into the back of the net. Danson felt harshly done by to be behind to the first real effort on target from the visitors.

After giving the team five more minutes to make amends, the Gaffer sent on Dishot for Tarr at left back, Eastman on for Jelliman and then swapping Redpath to left wing and putting Eastman up front.Dishot’s excellent reading of the game coupled with Redpath’s robustness in the tackle shored up the left side whilst Eastman’s pace up front created a whole new host of issues for the Hayden defence. Within minutes the Griffins had secured their equaliser.

Another through ball released the fresh(ish) legs of Eastman and the bleary eyed substitute slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner. Cue pandemonium from the home team and supporters as they felt a huge surge of belief following a losing streak of 3 games which was completely unconnected with M.Radley’s return from Australia.Soon after, Danson were leading after J.Radley chased down a seemingly over hit pass onto the right wing. Against all odds, the ball was kept in play by the diminutive marathon trainee (http://www.runningsponsorme.org/jofradley) and with all around him expecting him to shoot from the good position he had worked hard to get himself into, he selflessly pulled the ball back for Eastman to easily bury and move within 1 goal of the younger Radley at the top of scorers chart.

With the team now in front, T.Jarman moved to seal the game off and prevent any further chances for Hayden by bringing on “Mr Work Ethic” T.Kersey for Barry in defensive midfield. For about 10 minutes this seemed to be going to plan and the game descended into the pattern of the first half with neither side really getting on top of the now slippery conditions in the middle of the park.

Then came the first in a series on contentious decisions by the officials. M.Radley was caught too far forward and a ball over the top into the channel had to be covered by Hewitt coming across from centre back. The nippy Hayden forward poked the ball towards the by-line and then tumbled to the ground as he passed the builder who seems to specialise in bringing people down. A standard free kick you may think. However the referee appeared to see what no one else had and claimed the foul had taken place inside the box and gave a penalty whilst at the same time declaring that Hewitt was lucky to still be on the pitch. The smirk on the the young Hayden forward’s face was there for all to see.

The penalty was calmly put away and Danson had to start from square one once again. When the game resumed there was a odd curiosity as Hayden’s rotund lineman appeared to completely forget how the offside rule operates.Twice in quick succession Eastman was put through by good passes and the plump part time official saw fit to raise his flag.

The second occasion looking particularly dubious even to Danson’s right back who was over 50 yards away. The referee blew his whistle in good faith, but must have thought twice about that decision as the next time Eastman was put through and the pudgy linesman raised his flagged, play was waved on. The Hayden defence was slow to react and within a moment the goalie had the formidable foursome of Eastman, T.Kersey, J.Radley and M.Radley bearing down on him. Eastman scuffed his effort, the goalie got his body in the way, but it fell kindly to T.Kersey who stroked the ball home with his left foot.With only minutes left in the game, Danson pulled almost everyone behind the ball.

Hayden threw forward attack after attack, but the Danson defence was determined not to let the lead slip a second time. Players put their bodies on the line and such was the force of their convictions that time itself appeared to slow as the injury time added on seemed to be much longer than the 3 minutes the referee had declared was coming. There was time for one last breakaway attack for Danson B and as Eastman and J.Radley raced clear from a tiring Hayden defence, it seemed that there was going to be a return of the earlier Christmas gift from Eastman for J.Radley, but every Christmas has it’s Scrooge and Eastman decided to go for glory instead and completed his hat trick by sticking the ball beyond the keeper and into the bottom right hand corner.

Danson celebrated a good victory with a well earned Christmas lunch at the Nag’s Head and head into 2012 with their eyes firmly fixed on returning to the top of the table.

Team: Silley, M.Radley, Hewitt, White, Tarr, Barry, D.Jarman, Jelliman, J.Radley, Potter, Redpath. Subs: T.Kersey, Dishot, Eastman.

MOTM: Ebenezer Scrooge AKA Eastman. His hat trick in half an hour won the game.

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