No Bonus these Week
Benidorm, Sunday 30 September 2007;
By Lawrence Mentesh
Sunday the 30th of September saw the third instalment of the
FC Oranje Bonus Weeks campaign, a match against Global
Control, a team who, like FC Oranje Bonus Weeks, were
looking for their first points of the season after having
lost both of their opening games. FC Oranje Bonus Weeks were
short of several players due to injuries, holidays and
suspensions but still remained optimistic that the rest of
the assembled squad would be able to get a result.
The match kicked off at 5pm and immediately FC Oranje Bonus
Weeks asserted their authority with the majority of the
possession and lots of good attacking football but were
unable to make the most of their penetrating work in the
opposition half. Their frustration was further compounded
when their keeper, Pete Frank, had to be replaced after 20
minutes due to an injured hand, so outfield player Lawrence
Mentesh had to deputise in net as all 3 of the other FC
Oranje Bonus Weeks keepers were unavailable for the game.
The first 45 minutes passed with FC Oranje Bonus Weeks still
dominating without finding a way through, Robbie Decsei,
Dave Mold and Matt Patton coming closest to breaking the
deadlock. As for Global Control, their chances were limited,
their best effort being a well-taken free-kick which was
palmed over the crossbar for a corner. Most of their
attacking forays were snuffed out before they began by the
excellent defending of the outstanding pairing of Adam
Tauber and Matt Patton at the back. Just before half-time
the promising Bobby Mayes was injured in a crunching
blocking tackle and had to be replaced by Luke Swingler.
The second half continued much like the first with FC Oranje
Bonus Weeks still enjoying most of the possession and having
to see many of their good chances come to nothing due to a
combination of good defending and poor finishing. They were
then left to rue their missed chances when after 70 minutes
Global Control managed to capitalise on their first real
chance, a ball over the top of the defence found their man
with too much space and his lofted shot over the on-rushing
keeper found its way into the back of the net for the first
goal of the game. However, FC Oranje Bonus Weeks did not
capitulate but instead continued to press forward with
players Alan Belshaw and Adam Wilson running their socks off
and even substitute Luke Swingler making impressive runs
towards goal. All the hard work was finally rewarded a few
minutes later when Rich Billam received the ball near the
edge of the box before striking a beautiful half-volley
which flew past the stranded keeper into the top right
corner of his net. One for goal of the month, surely! It was
then looking good for at least a well deserved draw but then
FC Oranje Bonus Weeks suffered another ludicrous setback
when Dave Mold was amazingly given his marching orders when
he temporarily came back onto the pitch with a water bottle
in his hand, this offence gaining him his second yellow card.
Down to 10 men for the last 15 minutes, FC Oranje Bonus
Weeks pushed harder and harder for the winning goal, but in
doing so left themselves short at the back and with 5
minutes to go Global Control found themselves with a 3 on 2
situation, the ball finally finding its way towards the left
post where their striker buried his shot past the sprawling
keeper.
A bitter end to another game which FC Oranje Bonus Weeks
dominated and should have won, but the signs are there for a
quick revival over the next few games, they have a great
squad to work with and with a little bit more league
experience under their belts the results will surely come.
Saterday Match of the Day; FC Oranje AlteaHills.com - FC
Oranje Bonus Week, 6:00 pm, Albir ArenA, next to supermarket
Mercadona.
Trainer/
Coach