Post by Dave on Apr 25, 2009 17:02:57 GMT
I must love football, love my son, or just be mad, that is what I told myself as I walked the whole length of Clennon Valley to get back into my warm car. I had parked in Brentwood Drive forgetting that Marldons first team play on the pitch that runs alongside the Goodrington Road.
When I got to Clennon valley I was surprised no other games were on and I could see the Marldon and Watcombe players far away in the distance. As I walked across the pitches on my way to the pitch the game was on, I had a good look at the pitches at Clennon. I must say that for Torbay they are really not too bad, flat and well grassed.
I was soon aware of the wind and as I got closer to the pitch I could feel it was getting much stronger and had a real chill to it. The sun was out but the wind was so strong at times it moved me as I stood and watched the game.
So it goes without saying that on a rock hard pitch and the wind being so strong, I was never going to see a game the way I like to see it played. This is the second time I have seen the first team and my view is that the reserves are a far better side and can play football.
As the game went on I would not have been surprised if Ant just gave up making all his good runs, unlike Tuesdays cup game where the midfield played good quality balls into Ant, he made the runs but the ball never came anywhere near him. So often the pass was on but the Marldon wingers just wanted to beat their man for the third time when once was enough and ended up everytime just losing the ball.
The midfield never looked to play the balls through the defence, instead shooting from so far out and hitting poor and hopeless shots that sailed on the wind and were close to going out to sea.
The goals all came in the first half Marldon came close with a drive by Ant on the edge of the box, but it was Watcombe who took the lead. To be fair they were the better side and passed the ball far better so it was no surprise when they scored.
The ball came in from a corner and then got knocked back to a Watcombe player who was just inside the box, he hit the shot but not cleanly and it came of the outside of his right boot and it went in of the right hand post. Marldon levelled the game shortly afterward, Ant often with two men on his back brought the ball down from a long high goal kick, he cleverly flicked the ball around the corner to his strike partner, who was then clean in on goal and he shot across the keeper into the right hand corner,
Ten minutes before half time Watcombe regained the lead, an attempt to clear the ball near the halfway line saw it hit a Watcombe player inside slightly on the left hand side of the Marldon half of the field, it looked like he moved it on with his arms to me but nothing was given. 25 yards out he just hit the ball; it seemed to just pop up a bit as he went to strike it and looped up and over the keeper.
With the very strong wind blowing the way Marldon were attacking in the second half, they failed to take any advantage from it. So often failing to take any pace of their passes and over hitting balls that gave the forwards no chance and the Watcombe keeper every chance. The midfield players started taking even more shots from way outside the box. Ant started to come just a bit deeper and ended up being more of a provider; you just wished it was him who could get on the end of the clever balls he did play to his team mates.
It was mostly Marldon in the second half due to the wind, but the few shots they had were wild or at the keeper, the only good half chance fell to Ant. Headed goals are rare for this veteran striker, but the ball was flicked on from a corner, it had no pace and was just dropping down on the six yard line. Ant got his head to it and directed it goal ward, but it skinned of the top of the crossbar.
Not a good game to watch, my ears have only just recovered from the chilling wind and I’m sure its going to make tomorrows game look like a premiership one.
When I got to Clennon valley I was surprised no other games were on and I could see the Marldon and Watcombe players far away in the distance. As I walked across the pitches on my way to the pitch the game was on, I had a good look at the pitches at Clennon. I must say that for Torbay they are really not too bad, flat and well grassed.
I was soon aware of the wind and as I got closer to the pitch I could feel it was getting much stronger and had a real chill to it. The sun was out but the wind was so strong at times it moved me as I stood and watched the game.
So it goes without saying that on a rock hard pitch and the wind being so strong, I was never going to see a game the way I like to see it played. This is the second time I have seen the first team and my view is that the reserves are a far better side and can play football.
As the game went on I would not have been surprised if Ant just gave up making all his good runs, unlike Tuesdays cup game where the midfield played good quality balls into Ant, he made the runs but the ball never came anywhere near him. So often the pass was on but the Marldon wingers just wanted to beat their man for the third time when once was enough and ended up everytime just losing the ball.
The midfield never looked to play the balls through the defence, instead shooting from so far out and hitting poor and hopeless shots that sailed on the wind and were close to going out to sea.
The goals all came in the first half Marldon came close with a drive by Ant on the edge of the box, but it was Watcombe who took the lead. To be fair they were the better side and passed the ball far better so it was no surprise when they scored.
The ball came in from a corner and then got knocked back to a Watcombe player who was just inside the box, he hit the shot but not cleanly and it came of the outside of his right boot and it went in of the right hand post. Marldon levelled the game shortly afterward, Ant often with two men on his back brought the ball down from a long high goal kick, he cleverly flicked the ball around the corner to his strike partner, who was then clean in on goal and he shot across the keeper into the right hand corner,
Ten minutes before half time Watcombe regained the lead, an attempt to clear the ball near the halfway line saw it hit a Watcombe player inside slightly on the left hand side of the Marldon half of the field, it looked like he moved it on with his arms to me but nothing was given. 25 yards out he just hit the ball; it seemed to just pop up a bit as he went to strike it and looped up and over the keeper.
With the very strong wind blowing the way Marldon were attacking in the second half, they failed to take any advantage from it. So often failing to take any pace of their passes and over hitting balls that gave the forwards no chance and the Watcombe keeper every chance. The midfield players started taking even more shots from way outside the box. Ant started to come just a bit deeper and ended up being more of a provider; you just wished it was him who could get on the end of the clever balls he did play to his team mates.
It was mostly Marldon in the second half due to the wind, but the few shots they had were wild or at the keeper, the only good half chance fell to Ant. Headed goals are rare for this veteran striker, but the ball was flicked on from a corner, it had no pace and was just dropping down on the six yard line. Ant got his head to it and directed it goal ward, but it skinned of the top of the crossbar.
Not a good game to watch, my ears have only just recovered from the chilling wind and I’m sure its going to make tomorrows game look like a premiership one.