Old Meadonians Vs 4 – 2 OTFC IIIs

I’ll keep this one brief, no-one wants to dwell on an OTFC Halloween horror show. After a difficult previous season (or two, or three) of struggling for players, OTFC IIIs now have a team overflowing with availability.  Even an away trip to Chiswick and a goose shit covered pitch wasn’t enough to scare them off.

Tiffs were in high spirits, talk of how much fun a cup run would be was tempered by the need for taking the opposition seriously.  Tiffs started the game relatively well, and made a few chances that, in hindsight, they could really have done with taking.  Midway through the first half, Meadonians seized on a loose ball in defense and took a somewhat undeserved lead.  Luckily it didn’t last too long, a freekick was launched into the Meadonians box and Aran Hayashi was on hand to volley in. 1-1 surely Tiffs would go on and win from here.

Sadly, Tiffs 3s away from home are a bit of a shambles this season and before the break they gifted Meadonians a 2nd goal from their own goal kick and went in behind at half time.

 

The team talk from long-suffering skipper Conrad Bell focused on how this is turning into the story of our season; play well, make chances and somehow fall behind. If we get the next goal, we’ll go on and win this game.

Barely 30 seconds into the 2nd half and Tiffs were level. Another freekick was sent into the Meadonians box for Tom Hill to head home.

After getting level Tiffs spent a good 30 minutes making a string of good chances and squandering them all. The woodwork was rattled, the Meadonians keeper made a few very good saves and decent chances were fired high and wide when the goal was gaping.

Clearly growing bored of all these missed chances, Meadonians decided to show how it should be done. Winning a corner and scoring with their first chance of the 2nd half to take the lead for the 3rd time.  Tiffs rallied and made another couple of chances that they fluffed and Meadonians sealed the win with a late, late counter attack as Tiffs pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser.

Shooting drills for the next couple of weeks.