Match Review
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AGFC 6 vs. 4 Newport Old Boys
Date: 12-Feb-2010
Venue: Treforest
Goals:
Alex Beresford
2
Dave Miller
2
Craig Boote
1
David Morgan
1
Man of the Match:
Andi Heuer
Report:
The 16th encounter between AGFC and their old rivals NOBs, stretching back to 03/ 04, with the aggregate results at the start reading: AGFC 7 wins, NOBs 6wins, with 2 draws and total goals at 44-45, the stakes could hardly have been higher. This was another high scoring classic. The 6-4 goals tally of their early season extravaganza was repeated precisely. The ebb and flow was also similar with AGFC chasing the game for long periods but coming good with a late goal flurry born of passion, pride and sheer desire. This is how it unfolded…
The AGFC line-up had a youthful look up front with Alex spearheading the attack supported by Dave the Miller, Booty and Morgan, sporting his new daps, by consensus the sexiest ever seen on the Treforest 3G. Amidships, the mix of experience, guile and sheer ability looked formidable. But AGFC knew from bitter experience (losing 3-0 and 4-0 in recent seasons) that they take the NOBs lightly at their peril. Huw, Steve, Enda and Andi were tested with defensive duties.
AGFC struck first when a strange Miller scuff opened the scoring after 15minutes, the sheer softness of the shot catching the NOBs keeper out at his near post. It was however 1-1 10mins later as the NOBS striker caught the AGFC backline lying too flat, running onto smack his drive beyond veteran keeper Tony B's superb but futile dive. The goal of the day soon followed as wonder winger Booty got to the byline and whipped in a gem of a cross that Dave the Miller's head despatched perfectly at the near post, without breaking stride; three keepers couldn't have stopped it. But towards halftime, Morgan's attempt to bolster the AGFC defence, under the cosh, backfired - a shove, a penalty, a peacock… 2-2. Half time.
Huw took over the reffing duties from Simon in the second half, releasing Si to act as AGFC's secret weapon, specialising in roughing-up the NOBs midfield. But against the run of play, a quality diagonal ball found their inside left. A good first touch gave Andi no time to recover and a second touch, a scuffed miscue, left keeper Tony B wrong footed. 2-3.
Back came AGFC and an explosive finish from Alex, under pressure, after a great diagonal run, levelled the score at 3-3. Just reward for combining quick thinking, quick feet and power on the shot.
But in this see-saw match, NOBs were not in a lying-down mood: another quick break-out and pass through the middle released the striker who, having been denied in the first half in a similar move by an inspired save-and-gather by Tony B, nipped in and finished: 3-4 with only 15mins left. The territory, though, was almost all AGFC's and Andi, Enda, Steve, Rich and Morgan especially, were linking well; Em, Si and Booty were also giving NOBS madders no respite and the crucial breakthrough duly came. Morgan reacted quickly, intercepting at a NOBs goal kick. The ball ran to Alex who flicked his first effort at the keeper, chasing the rebound to poke the ball into the net from a tight angle: 4-4.
AGFC don't do "shutting up shop" and with Simon increasingly bossing the attacking waves, Andi playing a blinder in a Germanic link-man role, and the AGFC forwards queuing-up to probe at the NOBs soft underbelly, goal number 5 duly arrived. After a 35yard thunderblaster from Booty was used as a sighter, the bloke from Stoke at last bulged the net from a mere 20/25yards having been set free by a seriously pretty dink around the corner by Em.
The final nail in the NOBs coffin was a result of incessant AGFC pressure. This time it was the man in the white daps, Mr Morgan who was in the right place at the right time - smartly driving a loose ball, which originated from a Booty cross, into the net.
Hugely entertaining game for the crowd of one - Chris had come to check AGFC's football was up to scratch: he wasn't disappointed.
Well played lads! Especially Andi who was solid as a rock all day.
Footnote 1: Booty's 8metre gibbon with a pancake finish was the best so far this season
Footnote 2: Alex's 94th and 95th competitive goals (stats have been independently verified).
Reporter: Tony Beresford