OTFC Is v Old Pauline IIs (A)

24th October 2015

Old Pauline II 2 - 1 OTFC Is

S Goodings (1)

The first fifteen minutes showed signs of what could have been a classic game of Saturday afternoon football as both teams battled it out on a damp day in Ditton. That all changed when Tom Wightwick got up-ended by their keeper inside the Pauline box, who was harshly dismissed for his clumsiness. Dave Harry stepped-up to fumble the penalty towards the goal line which the stand-in keeper casually palmed wide of the post. This pretty much set the tone for the rest of the match as a stubborn 10 man Pauline refused to let Tiffs dominate the scoreline, despite a big possession (and weight) advantage.

Tiffs promptly conceded and didn’t show much more appetite for the challenge until Steve Goodings fired a warning shot at the Pauline keeper which he clung onto tightly. They didn’t learn their lesson though as Goodings repeated the feat with the last kick of the half, only for this one to rocket into the back of the net to draw Tiffs level.

This was probably the worst thing that could have happened to an uninspired Tiffs side who returned to the pitch with little to offer. Half a dozen unnecessary bookings later and it looked like the match was fizzling out with a draw on the horizon. With the last kick of the match, the Pauline striker spotted a weary Seb Rose off his line and lofted the ball into the corner of the goal. A weekend to forget for Tiffs. And the Springboks.

MotM went to Goodings for producing the only positive piece of football from a lacklustre display.