Hearts And Minds
GPR I 5 AFC Grove 4
GPR II 3 London Samurai Rovers 1
Okay, I promised myself I was done making the blogs. And I do intend to hold myself to that promise. Its not that I don’t enjoy them, I just don’t have the time anymore.
Maybe I’ll just save it for special occasions, like when we win the treble, or have had one too many at The Distillers. Or, possibly, when my two favourite teams in the world begin both their opening games with a win, side by side.
In trying to establish a second team, this preseason has seen a trend of the 24 hours before the game being more eventful than the fixtures themselves. And this weekend somewhat continued that trend.
Having found out that 9 of our players were ineligible for the start of the season, a couple of Saturday dropouts raised tensions. Making our way to the pitches for their debut, GPR II’s setup was delayed by a gated floodlight nestled in the corner of their pitch.
GPR I weren’t fairing much better. The referee was threatening to walk off the pitch before the game and proceeded to argue with both sides for a good ten minutes before kick off.
Eventually though, play began. The first goals of each game came minutes apart. For the IIs, the first ever goal was scored by Gavin. Dave held the ball up, beat two players and worked it through for him to finish powerfully from the edge of the box.
On the other pitch, GPR I’s slow start was punished with a beautiful free kick that Josh could do nothing about. They found some respite not long after though, when the constant bickering between referee and opposition led to a sinbin.
This struck confidence into the lads, and a flurry of four goals in twenty minutes followed, Joel and Rory each netting braces. Debutant Jonno chipped in with two assists, playing in a more advanced position with devastating effect.
Marcus might have chipped in with one himself but, staring the net in the face, decided instead to assist Rory from two yards out…
Over the other side, the sideline erupted as GPR II netted again. After some more good hold up play from Dave, he squared it to James who played an inch-perfect lofted through ball to Robin, who cut it past the keeper into the bottom left corner, after bobbling on the line for what felt like an aeon.
The momentum shifted for both teams and we went into the break looking good. It was a case of more of the same.
But, Sunday League is rarely so predictable. Against the Is, Grove came back with some real fight and before long had put two goals behind Josh. Fortunately, one of them was given offside, Grove’s own player intercepting the ball on the line following a scrap in the box.
Samurai had also threatened a comeback as they scored one to put both teams under pressure. It would take a messy in-swinging corner from Arran - whose prowess from set pieces is beginning to strike fear into everyone he plays - to settle matters.
The ball caused chaos in the box, and after a scramble, James finished powerfully into the roof of the net from 6 yards out, wrapping up the game.
GPR I’s game was less cut and dry. Fortunately, the decisive goal came through some brilliant play down the left flank, courtesy of the Rocha brothers, who’d missed all of preseason whilst sunning it in their native Portugal.
Raf charged down the defender with a beautiful slide tackle, and Andre picked up the loose ball, drove down the channel and whipped in a cross to Rory who couldn’t miss. That’s yet another hat trick for him - the man literally never stops scoring.
The final thirty minutes was a nail-biting climax, in which several players had to come off injured. By the end, the Is only had 8 uninjured players on the field. Two cheap goals made for a pulse-raising ending, but the boys held firm to deliver the three points.
After a whirlwind off-season, we’d come into the day hoping, but not expecting, for the perfect start. It’s full credit to the lads - including 10 debutants - that they came through in flying colours, seeing off two good sides to begin the campaign towards the top of the table.
What comes next remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the Salads are well and truly back. Onto next week.
MOTM 🫡 = Josh HC got the nod for the Is for being a general in midfield, although Rory, Adam, Jonno, Joel and Steeve also took the plaudits. James’ impact on the game was noted but it couldn’t stop Gavin from taking the award for the IIs.
DOTD 🤡 = GPR I’s referee.
