This game was a bottom of the Table clash with Sidreria Escondida trailing Bonus Weeks by just 1 point. The venue was again the sand of La Marina, and it was a very cold and windy day that welcomed the two teams into battle.

Bonus Weeks were depleted by the injuries of Mark Dooley ( neck ) and Carlos Parkin ( hamstring ), the absence due to sickness of Alan Belshaw and the suspensions of Adam Tauber and Dave Mold. Adam was banned for 1 game due to having picked up his third red card last week and Dave was serving the first game of his 4 match ban. This left David Burr as their only substitute whereas Sidreria Escondida had the luxury of at least 5.

The game started well for Bonus Weeks, they managed to get forward on several occasions but it was not until the 20th minute that they had their reward. A ball from Rich Billam on the left curled into the box where it was met by the outstretched arm of the last defender. The referee had a clear view of the incident and could do nothing but award the penalty to Bonus Weeks. Up stepped Midfielder Ross Musk and his Ronaldo style stutter on his run-up sent the keeper the wrong way allowing Ross to slip the ball to his unguarded left.

The goal was just what they needed and Bonus Weeks doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Rich Billam latched on to an Adam Wilson cross and buried the ball over the keepers head and in off the underside of the crossbar. Bonus Weeks were now beginning to look really comfortable, and despite one or two half chances from Sidreria Escondida, particularly from their No.26 who showed excellent movement both on and off the ball, Bonus Weeks held on to their lead until half-time, indeed, they had several more chances to increase it and effectively kill off the game but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing prevented them from doing so.

The second half provided Bonus Weeks with even more opportunities to take all 3 points but again they failed to put their chances away. The next goal was then vitally important for both Teams, but it was Sidreria Escondida who managed to get it, a mix-up at the back left the Bonus Weeks keeper and a defender in two minds, allowing the Sidreria Escondida striker to sneak in between them and slide the ball in for their first goal.

This gave Sidreria Escondida a real boost and they really started to push for the equalizer while Bonus Weeks continued to be wasteful at the other end. However, with about 10 minutes left, a ball down the middle left the Sidreria Escondida No.26 one-on-one with the last defender, and, after managing to hold off his challenges, he earned his side a draw by beating the keeper with a good shot to his left.

Bonus Weeks were mortified but finished the game 2-2, another 2 points dropped but at least they remained above Sidreria Escondida in the Table.

Another game that Bonus Weeks had in their grasp, but they need to be more clinical with their finishing and be tighter at the back for the full 90 minutes. If they can manage to do that then they will give a lot of the Teams in this League a good whupping.

Roll on that day.

update van woensdag 05 december 2007  

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