It was a topsy-turvy kind of a day weather wise, hot and sunny one minute, peeing down and threats of showers intermittently. Starving and thirsty and ready for some footy, I headed off to the theatre of wet dreams to watch the boys entertain Conference/ Blue Square premier league outfit – Farsly Celtic. There were now a massive 4 divisions between the teams.
In 2004/2005 season, we played these guys in the Unibond Prem, losing 2-0 at home (30-10-04 in front of 222) and a 3-1 defeat at their place on the 9th April 2005, with Steve Heath getting the goal.
I raise this point as we were competing with these guys 4 years back, now there’s a huge gulf, sadly.
It would be a real test for the lads against, effectively, a full time semi-pro outfit. This would be a sterner run out than that against a Hull XI recently.
I think we started with a 4-3-3 formation and battled well with some good forays into the opponents half. Farsley though, were much sharper, better vision and more comfortable with the ball – as you’d expect really. We only conceded one in the first half, which looked soft from where I was (a mile away) but you have to give credit to the Farsley scorer who made it look easier than it perhaps was. I had a good chat with Mr Allanson (the don of the family) whose undoubted knowledge and tactics have obviously rubbed off on his boy and his grandsons – was a real pleasure to have a chat with him.
Raffle continues in the same vein – 0 wins out of /2 entries
We had a real problem dealing with things down our left side in the first half and the two fullbacks were left a little exposed, 2nd half came and changes were made – goalie and out field players. Poor old Jody Barford went in goal and “had a bit of a mare” for 10 minutes early into the half – lobbed from 20 yards, then he passed to their centre forward whilst clearing wide to a full back and then..something else that I couldn’t remember – oh yeah two more goals. He did make a few good stops in the half, but was under pressure throughout from the traveling army, taking the piss out of him big time.
Craig Palmer scored a peach of a goal, and on my little digi camera, I got the moment he cracked it from outside the box – but thats it, coz the camera’s sooo sloooow !! Great goal though. Eventually we lose 6-1, a very smartly taken 6th goal by the visitors. Towards the end of the game, they stretched us far and wide and we struggled to contain them – again as you’d expect.
I think our lads have seen what they need to achieve if they want to move up the ranks in the footballing world, but I think they gave good account of themselves.
Games seen : 6
Goals Seen : 12 home 14 away 1 other
out of 10 : 8 another good run out, Ash Allanson was absolutely awesome today, can’t see him staying for long, be a shame for the team if he does move, but great for the lad if he can better & improve himself elsewhere, somewhere higher up the pyramid.
Herewith some pics – Palms taking his shot (a long way off i know), Chibs free kick in the first half (just over the wall, the bar, the building….) and todays starting team sheet.
