THE ‘MONDAY POST’ MATCH REPORT

A wet week led to the game being moved from the Wembley-like grass to the dodgy carpet-like 3G but on a more positive note the 95ers were able to field a remarkable squad of 15!

As the Monday multi-purpose Mexican Alex Orozco commented in his post match press conference… “With a full 15-man squad every player wanted to show that this early-potential-title-decider was going to be a proper game. And that is exactly what we did.”

Pre-match talk was of raising their game and avenging the close (4-3) cup final defeat and as Terry commented… “Their 9 and 11 caused us lots of problems in the final so they were the ones to watch out for.”

The 95ers started well, but it was not one way traffic, the Blues looked good at times but so did Re-Union. Monday took the lead when great work from twinkle toes Charlton who picked up the ball from just outside the box down the left flank, turned his man and made a run for the touchline, getting his cut back perfect and placed perfectly into the path of Morgs who neatly put the ball away with gusto. 1-nil.

Reunion regrouped and got back on level terms when one of their skilful midfielders ambled through a few half-hearted challenges and fired in a decent shot.

Rick started blowing out his arse and was given a rest that would later prove to be beneficial and was replaced by Dr Rob at full back as Rick commented… “After a shaky start at right back, mainly due to lack of fitness, I was replaced by Dr Rob to inject a bit more pace on the right flank. The boss said I was blowing a bit, and he was spot on.”

Morgs then took matters into his own hands for goal number 2, running onto his own flick to finish past the keeper.

Jones came on for Drane on the left and following an uncleared corner Dr Rob flighted in a delightful cross (though the bench though it was more of a miss-kick/scoop) dropping nicely for Jim to nod past the keeper from 0.25 yards out.

Half time 3-1. Charlton was rested and Drane bought back on to inject a bit of pace up front.

Re Union started the half well and the Blues had to dig in. A great defensive shift saw to it that Lee wasn’t required to pull off any of his customary worldies as they soaked up pressure.

It was the 95ers turn to hit on the break and Jones went close with a spectacular effort following one of his Hawaiin-influenced-hip-swerving-mazy-runs and shot from the edge of the box hitting the bar. Not long after, the 95ers attacking prowess saw Morgs grab his 3rd (or maybe it was an own goal,) again from another well worked cross.

The 4th seemed to deflate Re Union. Chairman Colonel bought himself on and Yarrow swapped with Charlton and Mondays went up a gear and starting scoring at will in the last 20 mins.

Then came goal of the game and an early contender for goal of the season as scorer Rick told the post-match press conference… “Eager to get back on and hungry for some more action, I was reintroduced into the game with about 30 minutes of the game remaining. Now playing at left back, I gathered the ball out wide, around the half way line, and decided it was time to put my mark on the game. Leaving the Re Union boys flat footed, I cut in once, twice, three times, and now had their hefty Portuguese defender to beat. Bringing back my silky skills of years gone by, I cruised past their last man and by this point was over the other side of the pitch, just outside their 18 yard box. I knew Morgs was an option as he was menacingly awaiting a square ball, but, for once, I decided that the tight angled shot was on. After my mesmerising run, I still had the strength in my legs to hit a clean shot right into the far corner. The Reunion keeper attempted a far stretched dive but he could not stop the shot. After such a long goal drought, I had even forgotten how to celebrate. I tried a Tardelli type celebration but no one noticed so that obviously didn’t work! Overall, hitting the back of the net at long last felt truly amazing. Stu likened the goal to John Barnes’s world cup goal against Brazil in Rio, in 1984. That summed it up nicely for me and is how I will always remember it. It really was like an out-of-body experience.”

Another fine goal followed, front to back move with Colonel laying on an overlapping Dr Rob down the right flank drilling in a cross that Draner met on the volley, the ball nestling in the corner once more. An OG from yet another Dr Rob cross also added to the tally.

Both managers agreed that it was tight for an hour and that the Monday bench and energy made the difference in the last third of the pitch and the game which was played in an exemplary Corinthian spirit.

MOM: Split between Morg and Rick for that goal.