SCFC Vets 3 v 4 Albanian Vets

County started the 17/18 season with a strong squad, with no cry offs, facing an experienced & strong Albanian side full of good ball payers. This was proven from the Kick Off as Albanians dominated, knocking the ball about with ease & County chased shadows.
It took us half an hour to get a foot in the game; during which time Jones & Layzell made a number of interceptions & last ditch tackles, with Lovett & Dickinson working hard on either side of them. Unfortunately, just as Kirk, Wakeford, Bateman & Aldeiri started to make a game of it in midfield Albanians opened the scoring. Their 37 year old ‘youngster’ (with the legs of Linford Christie) skipped past a number of challenges from the half way line & slotted past Watt in goal.
However County, starting to relax on the ball & play with more composure, had their best period of the game up to half time. With Anderson (Matrix) working hard up front & Hassan looking dangerous n the break we started to cause Albanians trouble. Good work by Hassan chasing Albanians down led to a poor back pass & Hassan (Ish Ish Ish!) cooly slotted home to even up the score. Much to Albanians chagrin Wakeford then put us ahead with a deflected shot & we took a 2-1 lead into half time.
Milne & Lewis (Woosh!) came on for Anderson & Aldeiri but Albanians came out hard at us in the second half & soon evened the score up with a great left foot finish into the right hand corned during which Watt injured his shoulder. He soldiered on but we then gave a way away an unfortunate penalty (tired legs Simeon?) & Albanian’s went 3-2 up. Watt unfortunately had to leave the field of play & Wakeford took over in goal having picked up a calf injury. Aldeiri came back on & we reshuffled our pack again.
County were starting to look leggy now after all the hard work in the first half, but still managed to drag themselves back into the game after a good move between Dickinson, Kirk & Hassan with the latter finishing well to get his second & even up the score to 3-3. The last 20mins were backs to the wall stuff as Albanians threw wave after wave of attacks at us. We tried to respond by bringing on the ‘young’ legs of Lamont for Lovett but to no avail as a good move down the right saw Albanians cross for a tap in for 4-3. There were cries of ‘Off side’ from the County back line by Keir ‘Spec Savers’ Wingrove claimed an ‘Arsene Wenger’ on this one.
County still mustered themselves for a last go & after good work by midfield, Dickinson ghosted onto a pass down the left channel with the just the keeper to beat; unfortunately his’ Tony Adams like’ finishing let him down & he slotted it narrowly wide. He subbed himself almost immediately afterwards claiming exhaustion but possibly shame might have something to do with it….
So a narrow 4-3 defeat on our first game out; but absolutely no shame in that. They were the better side for large parts of the game due to fitness & having played together for a much longer period of time. But pride, effort & sheer bloody mindedness kept dragging us back into the game, along with occasional flashes of inspiration. A great effort by all involved & I’m sure there were some very tired legs through the week.
A few beers were consumed & stories retold back at the clubhouse afterwards & Willow humoured us by getting himself out almost first ball on the cricket pitch in an effort to cheer us up… what a team player…. & he didn’t even play for us! See you all on the 8th Oct for the next game against Old Finchleans… onwards & upwards!