Civil Service Vs 5 – 2 OTFC IIIs

After a tough run of defeats you sometimes need to make a change to fire up the team.  OTFC 3s skipper has so far tried everything, an ageing midfield, an ageing back 4, sitting deep, pressing high up the pitch, giving the team a bollocking and even being supportive.  Sadly, nothing seems to have worked, so all we had left was the tried and tested technique; win the first and second balls (and hypothetical thirds) and see what happens next.

The day started with roadworks, satnav diversions to avoid the bloody rugby, half the team not being able to find the pitch and the, now standard, changing room chat about colour theory (look, purple and orange are complementary colours and can go together.  Just not as a football kit – maybe if it’s mostly purple with some orange highlights, but a solid orange shirt and purple shorts just doesn’t do it for me. Is it because I’m old enough that “Do I not like orange?” lives rent free in my head?).  Anyway.

For most of the first half it was a very even game.  Tiffs heeded their captain’s words and got stuck in, maybe overly stuck in, and made sure that Civil Service weren’t allowed to settle on the ball.  Both teams made some half chances but it was a traditional OTFC weakness that allowed Civil Service to take the lead, with a near post header from a corner breaking the deadlock.  Playing well, Tiffs pushed for an equaliser but ended up shooting themselves in the foot.  A break down the right wing led to a very ambitious crossfield ball that was cut out and allowed Civil Service to break and score.  2-0 was a little flattering to the Civil Service and a late chance to grab a goal back from a corner was spurned by Tiffs just before the break.

I might just give up on half time team talks, they never seem to work.  Keep it tight, do the same as the first half and chances will come, and remember that momentum will change games at this level – so stay in the game at 2-0 and we’ll have a chance to get back into this match.  Instead, Tiffs struggled to stay in the game, and seemed to have lost some of the energy that they had in the first half.

Midway through the half Civil Service finally fashioned a proper chance and their striker made no mistake when through on goal.  At 3-0 down, in the past Tiffs have crumbled, but this week saw a brief resurgence.  Deciding not to go out with a whimper, they raised their energy levels and started pressuring Civil Service higher up the pitch.  It quickly paid dividends as Joe Campbell dispossessed a Civil Service player around 25 yards from goal, drove forward and decided to try his luck. A lovely finish to make it 3-1 and give Tiffs some hope.

Sadly, it’s the hope that kills you.

Almost immediately Civil Service were able to kill the game off with two quick goals.  A deflected freekick landed nicely for one of their players to prod home from close range before the 5th goal, which I can’t remember and don’t really care, put the game out of reach.

With almost the last kick of the game Tiffs were able to score from a corner, but it was scant consolation.  A promising start to the season has turned into a bit of a slog.

POTM Jack Taylor