Well bugger me with a fish fork, cover me in eggs and flour and bake me for 90 minutes, that was a result and performance right out of a Delia Smith recipe book and we well and truly rose to the occasion. Let's be havin' ya!!
Whilst the seeds of a performance had been sewn against Walton Horizontals, a little re jig-a-jig-aaah of the team and formation with new signing Paul Hodges from Slough Town slotting in at the No.10 position with Le Git making way and Cards and Sam forming a central mid partnership. Rose was substituted on Saturday and was missing tonight, CJ slotting back in to CB after rumours he was going up be upfront tonight. Some new names on the bench but we mentioned them pre-match, a fullback from Woking and a Pompey youth team midfielder.
If we're being charitable, let's say we were adjusting to a different formation and the missing team El Capitan, because we were as slow out the blocks as me at the 100 metres dash. The recognisable old tormentor Zak Joseph turning Pagèt this way and that and back again, smashing the crossstick and then being slipped in behind our high line and slipping it under Inferno without slipping over. 1-0 after just over 10. Bumholes. This could be a long night.
However, the opposite happened, not in that it went quickly, but that we didn't get spanked. We composed ourselves, took a few deep breaths, put our foot on the ball (for a little too long a couple of times in Sam's case) but we slowly turned the shrew. Reggie was doing all sorts of bits and jiggery pokery down the right, Rickey was stamping his authoritar all over the game and Hodge Podge was growing (maybe not physically but metaphorically). Then we got a freekick in prime Cards territory for another foul on the Youngster. No. 4 "Oh My Days" disagreed but he did for pretty much every foul so it was hard to take him seriously. Nic fancied it. Nic Johnny Wilkinson'd himself. Stomach in, couple of steps, boooooom, top bins, the crowd goes wild. Boootiful. We'd not created much but it twas the tonic we needed. The tonic of an equaliser to go with the gin of possession. Or some other metaphor about taking medicine or getting pissed. I dunno.
The real turning point was when Fernandes took a tumble and got some treatment before trying to hobble it off but ultimately succumbing and lying down for a bit before gingerly walking off and a ginger replaced him, Reece Miller; Gooooal! Will he score a goal? SCORE A GOAL! Reece Miller (imagine that sung by Freddie Mercury).
With a proper actual striker, real not false 9 up top, we had a focal point. The fluidity of the three behind remained but there was someone holding it up and bringing them into play. Who knew hey?!? Round pegs go in round holes.
From them on we were in complete control, with the occasional ocassion for CJ to chuck his whole being in front of a shot, but in the main, he and Seth had this sewn up.
Louie Pagét tucked Joseph into his pocket and then played him at his own game by leaving their left side for dust on several occasions. Tiny Dancer was equally as offensive on their right, rumours were abound that he called their right back a "useless cunt" but were unconfirmed going to press.
Half time was an unwanted interuption and broke our momentum as Chesham enjoyed possession in the early stages of the second half but we soon found the rhythm again and it was going to get them (Chesham).
It didn't take long for the lead to be taken and never relinquished. Some lovely passing and moving; cos it's the Farnborough Groove (a genuine CD complication available in the 1990's) ended up at Reeces doing pieces and volleying goalward which was tipped round the upright stick by their ball bag protector. The current fashion for short corners was ignored and Rickey Holmes, under the hammer, dropped a beauty of a cross onto Seth's bonce and he plopped it into the onion bag. 1-2.
Naturally, Cheese'n'ham had to start taking more risks and went more attacking and for a split second it looked like we'd try and sit back and defend the slender lead. Fortunately, we have some wiley old dogs that have played League football very recently and the midfield was marshalled superbly by Sam and Nic to the extent they never really looked threatening and when they did, CJ and Seth were brick walls. There only looked like one team that would win and after Rickey drilled narrowly over and Louie hit the outside of the post via the keepers fingertips, we made it safe.
The only short corner of the game resulted in a trip on Reggie or Tom, and the ref pointed to the spot. The Chesham Twitter said it was soft, very soft, and yet not a voice in dissent could be heard, not even from No. 4. Oh my days. Up stepped penalty taker extraordinaire, our French fullback going all Lizarazu and finding just inside the post with his plumbs, ballbag protector sent for a Burton. 1-3. Game Over.
Chesham made a half hearted attempt at getting back into it but we were as safe as the huge, walled Buckinghamshire houses we just drove past on our scenic route to the ground.
It all clickerty clicked very quickly but when you get some quality talent from higher up the football ladder, that's more likely than not. That tiny budget is being stretched to the absolute limit of that magic back of the sofa, but lets enjoy it whilst it lasts.
Make no bones about it, as Bakes at Slough put it, paraphrasing, we're looking like we want to be doing something this season and clubs are going to look at the standard of player coming in and scoff at our meagre finances claims. We're saying nothing, but we're going to have to have something to show for it this season. At the very least, we'll need to be competing up there at the top end of the table. Not least if we want to keep the Holmes and Deerings et al.
But let's be honest, it's exciting, we look like a good football team. The first sets of fixtures for the season has been the weirdest mixed bag with Hendon (our next home opponents) winning 4-0 at Truro on Saturday, then losing 6-2 at home to Hayes and Yeading. Walton even beat Gosport. A topsy turvy start.
Maybe this'll be our best chance yet to challenge for promotion. Baby steps though, hey chaps.
We won't be at Poole, previous engagements taking priority, but see you at Hendon and Swindon Maureens.
As always, COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!
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