Under 28's vs Over 28's
UNDER 28's
Steve Cook
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vs
1
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OVER 28's
Stuart Green (28)
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Match Report
Polegate Town's Over 28s tackled the clubs Under 28s in a game to finish the season.
The day started with the club's players lining up to take part in a Soccer AM style cross bar challenge. Although nobody hit the bar. Junior starlet and Under 28 manager for the day Josh "The Monk" Preece did come close, while club captain Mark "Mavis" Davis doing well to get close to the corner flag, while Glenn "Mitch" Mitchell did well to reach the 18yd box even the ref Mr Hollibone, who went on to have a good game, joining in.
With a number the over 28s being old enough to have children older than their opposite numbers, the game started in some great weather, despite the downpour just before the game.
The Veterans manager Stu Black decided that he would refrain from starting, so the old 'uns lined up with Stu "Da Ref" Green in goal, a back line of Paul "Critch" Critchfield, John "slither" Stewart, Luke "Sir" Sadler and David "Shep" Sheppard, averaging an age of 36. The midfield was a youthful one, with Club Captain Mark "Mavis" Davis, Louis "Dixie" Dixon, Liam "Brooksy" Brooks and Glenn "Mitch" Mitchell, averaging an age of 31, whilst the forward line included, after a season of bitching about how easy striker have it, was Craig "Brillcream" Fullerton and Dave "Lefty" Martin, average age 42.
The old 'uns took the field with seven players wearing arm bands to ensure young 'uns knew they were inexperienced in matters of football.
This tactic didn't work, as the young Polegate players started at great pace, hoping to catch the older players off guard, as Ben "Who" Smith, closed down full back Shepperd, quicker than he was expecting, which caused him to misplace his pass, straight to Preece who slipped Smith in with Shepperd now out of position, and drilled the ball home passed Green.
Worse for the olduns was to come when again the more experienced Town players should know better than to dally on the ball at the back, and Stewart was caught on the ball by Preece, who raced on and crashed the ball home for 2-0.
The undies made it three without reply, when Joe "Simba" Lyons linked well with Joe "trenchboy" Green to release Smith, whose interchange with Preece allowed Chris "CJ" Jackson to make it 3-0.
Old 'uns manager Black now took off Fullerton, who had made little impression upfront and Stewart, putting himself on along with Rob "Gravity Always Wins" Hamliton and soon they were back in the game when good work by down the left between Shepperd and Brooks, allowed Davis to reach the byline, to pull the ball back to the on rushing Dixon, who kept his shot low into the corner, to make it 3-1 at half time.
The old 'uns best other chance fell to Brooks, whose attempted lob over Cook went the wrong side of the post. The young 'uns thought they had extended their lead when a rasping effort from Jackson crashed onto the underside of the cross and bounce down on the line. Despite the appeals of the young 'uns, the ref didn't award a goal.
The young 'uns went off the pitch in a joyous mood, having raced into a lead at half time, but the old heads of the Over 28's new that there was still 45mins to go, and an early goal would unsettle the young 'uns. The change of ends also helped the old 'uns as the infamous Polegate slope helped the aching legs.
However, it was the undies that increased their lead soon after the restart when good play between Harper and Green released Smith through on goal. Calls from the ageing back line of the overs were ignored, as Smith slotted home an easy finish giving keeper Green no chance.
Town veteran players knew they need to up their game, and according to Mitchell, it was a "Cruyff-turn" by himself on the half way line that changed the game, as the Veteran's gained confidence that if Mitchell could pull it off any of them could. And it was from here where the come back started. A good move down the left saw Dave Martin swing the ball into the area, the ball was half cleared and fell to Brooks, who showed great ball control as e skipped round a Justin "Chippie" Leatham challenge with easy in Gareth Bale-esq fashion, and with Brooks in the area, a leg was stuck out by Mark "Tourettes" Standen, which Brooks was more than happy to fall over it. Hamilton suprisingly took the responsibility of the spot kick, and converted it well sending Cook the wrong way to make it 4-2.
With the game now back on, the undies stepped up their game, showing that their fitness levels were good, despite the warm afternoon in Polegate, and Lyons was unlucky when he hit the crossbar and both posts in three attempts, leaving him frustrated as Green watched helpless each time.
However, with the young pushing on in search of more goals, their inexperienced showed as they left holes at the back, and a quick counter attack, followed by a glorious lob by Dixon from a good 40 yards out was inch perfect (and far better than his cross bar attempt pre-match) made it 4-3 as Cook watched it sail over his head.
With 10 minutes left Blackie left the fray, as the referee finally noticed that the OVer's were playing with 12 players in the 2nd half, after Sheppard had sneaked on the pitch whilst no-one was lookign. The oldest player in the Old 'uns squad, Alan "Lino" Brooks, at the age of 61 came on to replace his boy, and became the oldest player to pull on the orange of Polegate Town's history. And it was only fitting that Brooks Snr set up the equaliser for Mavis, albeit complaints by the young 'uns, after Brooks Jnr kept the ball inplay despite being linesman at the time. The referee played on and allowed the goal, as it was all in the good spirits of the game.
Soon after, the final whistle went, and it was only fitting that penalties should decide the winner. With no lack of volunteers, battle commenced again. Leatham stepped up to tuck away his penalty, before Hamilton handed teh advantage to the young 'uns, as his "shot" only just reached the keeper. However, Joe Green saw his penalty excellently saved by his name-sake Stu Green, giving him a bloody nose (surely it was better to use his hands rather than nose, but a saves a save I guess). Critchfield levelled the scores, much to the delight of his twins who only just screamed louder than their Dad 1-1, Lee "The Chilian Miner" Lock scored 2-1, with Sheppard again levelling the scores at 2-2. Preece made it 3-2 after the longest ever run up for a penalty, only to scuff it into the corner, but Martin missed, as Cook guessed the correct way, and it fell to Richard "DD" Dummer to secure the victory for the Undies.
Flowers were given to Linda Lee for all her help over the season in the Tea room.
We look forward to seeing everyone again next season, and would like to thank everyone who has supported the club, especially those who have given up their time and money to help move the club forward.