|
Bonus Weeks
work their socks off
Beidorm, Saturday 5 Jan. 2008;
By Lawrence Mentesh
Saturday the 5th of January heralded the first Game of 2008
for Bonus Weeks and, hopefully, a return to winning ways.
They were playing away to Cafeteria Galera at the Rincon
Piches. Galera were very lucky to beat Bonus Weeks in the
First Phase of Matches when Bonus Weeks lost 5-2 after
having had 2 players sent off. Bonus Weeks were therefore
looking to exact some well deserved revenge.
However, the promise of a few more players returning to the
fold after the Christmas Period didn’t quite materialise and
Bonus Weeks found themselves starting the Match with just
the minimum of 11 players, including new signing John
O’Leary who was taking over the Number 8 shirt of Matt
Patton who had returned to England for good on Boxing Day.
Also missing was regular goalkeeper Adam Musk whose hand was
still swollen from the injury he received in his previous
game. Defender Gary Lane was therefore stationed between the
sticks as the normal stand-in keeper Pete Frank was needed
in the centre of defence.
Bonus Weeks were, however, boosted by the pre-match Team
Talk of Andy Ransom, Bonus Weeks’ Mister Motivator, who will
in future be there at Matches to give the lads a well needed
lift. The Team were also treated to a good turnout of
supporters, including Rich Billam, Ollie Wilson, Will Croft
and Babs Mentesh, as well as their stalwart in the stands
Jason Loofe who is always there to spur them on. Maybe one
day Loofe will put his boots back on and show us all how to
do it!
Fired up for a good result, Bonus Weeks went for it from the
off and they gave Galera a lesson in football as they put
together several good chances very early on including a
cracking shot from Mark Dooley that just sailed past the
right upright. With such pressure it was no wonder that
Bonus Weeks took the lead after only 10 minutes, a fantastic
first time volley from Lee Frape from fully 30 yards out on
the left found its way into the bottom left of the net as
the keeper could only stand and watch. It was Lee’s first
goal but what a way to open his account!
Galera were shocked and were looking to get their asses
kicked even more but as usual they were given a way back
into the game when only 5 minutes later the referee gave an
absurd second yellow card to Adam Wilson for an innocuous
challenge. This incensed poor Adam and the rest of the Team
as well as the disbelieving supporters who voiced their
anger in no uncertain terms. A very cruel blow so early on
in the game which really changed the balance of power. Is it
any wonder that Bonus Weeks struggle with discipline when
they are faced with this treatment in virtually every game?
Reduced to 10 men so soon, Bonus Weeks still managed to play
some good football and in fact still dominated the game,
restricting Galera to a single effort at goal in the first
30 minutes. However, the extra man eventually began to tell,
and after putting together a couple of good passing moves
complete with clinical finishes, Galera found themselves 2-1
up, somewhat against the run of play.
Bonus Weeks still continued to push forward but at some cost,
Ross Musk receiving what looked like an elbow to the face
when challenging for the ball in the 6 yard box. After
staying down for some time he eventually managed to get up
but he looked out of sorts for the rest of the first half
and during half-time he decided not to carry on for the
second half, his developing black eye a testament as to just
how hard he was hit. Luckily for Bonus Weeks both Richard
Jinks and Paul Smith had arrived in time for the second half
so Richard came on at Right Back, Lawrence Mentesh moved up
to the Left Wing, Lee Frape moved into Centre Midfield and
Mark Dooley took over as the lone striker.
Unfortunately Mark could only stay for the first 15 minutes
of the second half but he made his presence felt up front
when he hammered a shot at goal which beat the keeper but
came back off the crossbar where it found Alan Spurgeon but
his follow-up header found its way agonisingly just wide of
the left post. When Mark left he was replaced by Paul Smith
who carried on the work up front.
Bonus Weeks continued to work their socks off and came close
to equalising from a couple of corners but they just
couldn’t find a way through. The game hung on a thread for
most of the second half with only the one goal separating
the two Teams, but again the referee made sure that there
was no way back for Bonus Weeks when he sent off Adam Tauber
for his second yellow in the 75th minute for a bread and
butter challenge and then he compounded their misery a few
minutes later when he also dismissed Jeff Ball for his
second yellow even though Jeff had been clearly fouled by
his opponent. This led to some rather protracted arguments
and it also saw the Galera Number 2 dismissed for raising
his hands to Jeff’s throat.
So, for the last 15 minutes it was 10 men against 8, and
with Bonus Weeks not having had the luxury of any Subs
during the entire game they visibly began to flag and it was
no surprise that the fresher and numerically advantaged
Galera players made Bonus Weeks pay for some tired defending
to finally take the Match as 4-1 winners, a very flattering
result for them indeed. Another game lost and more points
dropped, but the galling manner of the defeat is what really
stuck in the throats of the Bonus Weeks Team as yet again
they had the carpet ripped from under their feet by some
terrible decisions allowing the opposition to steal what
wasn’t rightfully theirs.
It is so frustrating and annoying when a Team with such
ability is constantly given the short end of the stick
against lesser opposition and it is increasingly apparent
that Bonus Weeks have a long and difficult Season ahead of
them if they are to rise above all the crap that is thrown
at them. It also appears that they will have to score a
hatful of undeniable goals if they are to stand any chance
of winning games in the future. It’s a big ask but Bonus
Weeks have the players to do it and if they do then even the
referees won’t be able to deny them the results they deserve.
|
Trainer/
Coach