1,075 chances.............

It was on the ‘hallowed’ turf of Central Park (pictured right) that AC Malvern’s lofty title ambitions took a serious dent, as they succumbed to the speedsters from Old Trinity.

Malvern, buoyed with confidence, went into the game with an expectation of victory. They were playing a ‘weaker’ team and a win for the red and black was a divine right. Unfortunately for the confident AC the afternoon would unfold in a completely different manner.

AC started the game strong controlling much of the attack before, fifteen minutes in, Hendo slotted the first goal for the afternoon and charged to the top of the Golden Croc standings; 1-0.

Malvern, despite struggling with the pitch conditions (again pictured above right) looked to have control of the game when a deft chip in from the foot of the QE2, Pricey, found Mad Mike on his own, who duly slotted home only to be called offside. To add insult to injury, minutes later the lads wearing arguably the worst kit in the league slotted home their first for the game; 1-1.

A Trinity corner soon after was a worry, but a defiant back four of AC cleared to the waiting midfield that went end to end with the ball before the Wee Weegie played through Mad Mike who cracked the ball past the keeper; 2-1.

Confidence was high and control remained with Malvern, though many attempts on goal were squandered and would eventually prove costly, but not before the match defining moment.

With the ball coming into the box Mad Mike went for a header. The pitch would now play its part in the drama and with a crack Mad Mike went crumbling to the ground. Again, a suspect of an errant shooting from the grassy knoll Mad Mike screamed, he was mad and let out a tirade of “Holy mother of God” as his fist created even bigger dents in the already dodgy pitch. A ‘shooting’ it certainly wasn’t, Mike had blown out his knee and was convinced it was, fittingly, his AC that had gone. We were later to discover it was a badly sprained knee and hopefully not enough to end Mad Mikes tenure with the club as he was set to head back to sunny Texas in July. This travesty is akin to Richmond losing Richo for the rest of the season. That was two down for the season, with Denim Coults injuring his groin the week before too.

Malvern now face the longer term issue of having all their left side players injured and may need to look at recruiting Christy Brown (Daniel Day Lewis - pictured above right) to find someone with a good left foot.

It was on the verge of half time and with Mike lying pitch-side waiting for a lift home that Malvern lost their way. An attack from the silky skilled right midfield of Trinity was developing and three AC players lunged to defend, leaving open an easy pass to an unmarked attacker who was one-on-one with Con sliding it past him; 2-2.

HALF TIME
A sombre looking bunch, that were trying to muster some enthusiasm walked back from the pavilion and onto the pitch ready to fight for the game.

The early going was all in Malvern’s favour, again creating countless chances and shots on goal only not to convert. It was on one such attack that Trinity launch a counter attack with a long ball over the top to find a speedy striker out run AC’s defence to again be one-on–one with Con, with the same result, goal; 2-3.

AC again attacked with vigour, but this time [insert name here] was fouled in the box with the referee pointing toward the spot. The responsibility was left squarely on the shoulders of penalty specialist, Steve. Steve waltzed up and hit the back of the net despite the keep lunging the right way, goal and game on; 3-3.

If ever there was a sucker punch, this was it….[insert the exact wording from two paragraph’s above]. Trinity goal; 3-4.

A sense of urgency, finally came over the boys from AC and they dominated play from here on in without reward. Sometimes it’s just not your day as was evidenced when Hendo was taken down in the box late in the game. To Hendo’s credit, he fought to stay up but couldn’t, and when he hit the ground still attempted to make contact with the ball, which unfortunately he did. The ref’s call, “advantage, play on” and no penalty awarded. That was the final insult and a bitter pill to swallow.

A frustrated team marched off the pitch only to find lukewarm beer on hand, supplied by Zoolander Dennis. Could things have gotten any worse?

Question of the day:
How can a team have 1,075 chances lose 3-4 to a team who has only four chances?

AC Malvern 3 – 4 Old Trinity
Hendo, Mad Mike, Steve (pen)