Bring on Lord Nelson

Point-to-Point 2 – BL United 4
Line-up: Tom Bradford; Jamie Clayton, Matt Weston, Ryan Peile, Dave Scurr; Rich Clayton, Chris Phillips, Chris Searle (Peter Earl), Paul Ledley, Patrick O’Hara; Adam Fullagar
MOM: Patrick O’Hara
Dave Scurr, 11th March 2012, Preston Park
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For the second week running, Point battled hard against stronger opposition, only this time with mere moral boosting brownie points to show for. Another depleted match day squad meant a call-up for the youthful looking Pete Earl; Paul Ledley, a face from the past, also featured to enable the home side to put out a competitive side against the top of the league team who no doubt had bigger fish to panfry in the shape of a looming County Cup Final. Adam had the chance to claim a regular place up front, as did Paddy on the right-hand side of a midfield five, while Jamie had the opportunity to keep staking his claim at left-back.

Point certainly gave the league leaders something to worry about it in the first twenty minutes – they came out firing on all cylinders, harassing, pestering and being a nuisance to an unbeaten opposition used to imposing their slick game effortlessly. There was frustration on their left-hand side as Paddy, Phillips and Dave linked up well and gave their direct opponents a run for their money. Their frustration was exacerbated by a booking for a late tackle as Point decided to rise against adversity. Matt and Ryan bossed their formidable number 10 rival in the opening exchanges and Jamie, well supported by Rich, was solid at left-back. In the centre of the park, Phillips tried to bring some composure to a hectic first half hour, with Paul Ledley and Chris Searle battling hard to disrupt BL United’s menacing number 7. However, as in the earlier encounter between these two teams, quality was the main difference – the whistle-happy referee gave a free-kick just outside the penalty area which the BL United player dispatched in devastating fashion into the top (emphasis on top) left-hand corner. An incredible goal, BL United taking the lead from nothing other than a touch of real quality. BL united gradually imposed themselves and grew in confidence, adding a second goal before half-time. At 2-0 down, it looked like a familiar affair with Point slowly running out of steam and gradually losing the one-on-one battles.

BL United resumed affairs how the left them, imposing themselves on a jaded opposition and capitalising on some slack defending from Point. Dave lost his battle on the right channel, the ball eventually finding the man-of-the-match number 7 who dispatched another brilliant strike from outside the area. A rout was on the cards – Point were shell-shocked and went pedestrian in the next exchanges as the away team’s midfield exploited Chris Searle’s injured groin to stroll through the middle and threaten yet again. A frustrated Dave clumsily conceded a penalty which their number 10 converted not once, but twice...in the exact same spot. An enforced reshuffle saw the injured Chris Searle come off for Pete, adding some welcome fresh legs in midfield;  the tireless Rich and angry Dave slotted into the middle. 

The next half-hour was all Point’s as the opposition reshuffled their own line-up and no doubt took their foot off the pedal. Point found a second wind and battled hard to avoid a pending embarrassment with Rich, Dave and Philips seeing more of the ball in midfield and Paddy and Adam working relentlessly up front. Adam, who lead the line brilliantly, won a penalty which Rich confidently converted. Soon after, a reinvigorated Paddy was sent clean through one-on-one with the keeper, and cooly slotted home...only the 10th goal conceded in the campaign for the away team. A miraculous comeback may have followed though Point ran out of time and eventually, steam. It could’ve been a disaster but for some terrific individual performances (including Tom the Keeper) and a rousing second-half display – instead, another moral victory, a welcome prelude to a double-header against familiar opposition, thy Lord Nelson, where six points is a must. 

League leaders too good for Point-to-Point

BL Utd 4  v Point-to-Point 0   (1-0)

Line-up: Tom; Paul B, Ryan, Sam, Rich M; Chris P, Dave, Matt (Paddy); Rich C (Jamie C), Paul G, Nick M

MOM: Dave

Dave Scurr, 15th January 2012, Aldrington

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In a rare away encounter, the Preston Parkers were taking on the upteenth league leaders of the campaign, BL UTD, a team yet to lose and scoring for fun in the Junior Division 2. The start of the 2012 campaign saw a debut for Rich McKenzie slotting at right-back, freeing up Dave for a rare stint in a centre-midfield trio completed by Matt Weston and Chris Philips. Paul Goodier was given the nod as sole target man in a compact 4-5-1 formation. 

Against a physically strong and efficient opposition, Point were pegged back in their own half for most of the game, struggling to keep hold of a ball that they were, despite expectations, winning more often than not. There was real bite in the way Point's players fought for every ball - they harassed, fought for in the air against players twice their size and even fouled and shouted more than their rattled opponents for the opening 30 minutes. While defensive in nature, Point were disciplined and kept a compact shape which frustrated the league leaders. Unfortunately, the away team lacked the composure and confidence to play any part in possession football, often giving it straight back to their opponents. With a clear pattern emerging and Paul Goodier isolated up-front, BL Utd knew that they would eventually break the deadlock maintaining what they were doing half-decently - keeping the ball. Point eventually conceded just before half-time, one of three goals coming from a set piece or a cross. 

With the wind behind them, BL Utd did more of the same in the second half, pinging long balls to their topscorer eager to add to the 27 goals he had already score in half a season. Possibly unable to cope with Ryan's pace, he eventually came off with what looked like a hamstring pull, a moral victory for the yellow and blue back four who defended extremely well considering the incessant wave of attacks. Before Point could hope to rally in the last third of the game, BL1 Utd scored a fortunate goal, soon adding a great third via a well-taken near post header. With Matt Weston coming off, Point dabbled in a 4-4-2 shape as the game opened up. Some good work from Rich Clayton and Paul Goodier freed up Nick Mercer in a dangerous position who attempted an ambitious shot inside their area from a difficult angle. A consolation goal would have been deserved but never came. Dave started seeing more of the ball and made the most of the increasing movement up-front (4 legs good, 2 legs bad), playing some decent through-balls. BL Utd however were a constant threat and completed the job with another excellent goal from their left-winger. With the main job done, they then took to taking out stand-in skipper AngryDave out of the game with a flurry of unnecessary two-footed lunges - the latter used some rare sharpness and trickery to skip nonchalantly between those evil ogres and win another moral defensive victory. Point now need to come up with a counter-attacking weapon and they'll be fine...