Alliance so close to upsetting form book

Unwantables 4, Rebel Alliance 3

SOMEONE obviously hadn't read the script. Pre-match talk had been, in many quarters, only about how many goals second-placed Clubhouse Unwantables were going to score in this Investec Men's Division One match. Victory against bottom-of-the-table Investec Colombians Rebel Alliance surely went without saying, didn't it?

Three more points and a serious improvement in goal difference would be a huge help as the red-and-blacks aimed to make up ground on league leaders Tigers. Thankfully, the Alliance had a 'force' of their own. It turned into one of the most exciting matches of the season.

Unwantables stormed into an early two-goal lead - Andy Alford and Adam Kitching finding the net within the first seven minutes. Nothing surprising there. Then Alliance showed their determined bouncebackability and fought back to 2-2. This was no pushover.

Even when it became 4-2 they battled on, pulled another one back and made their opponents scramble like crazy to hold on, desperate for the final whistle.

'Every game we are getting better. It showed today what we can do with a bit of belief,' said Alliance skipper Peter Carey.

'We had so much possession but just couldn't hit the target,' was Unwantables striker Adam Kitching' honest appraisal.

But for keeper Paul Bullock's fine diving stop from a Guy Mallet short-corner strike, and a goal-line clearance or two, the Alliance might even had sneaked the win.

Matthew Butterfield was a rock in the centre of defence. Mallet, too, was at times impassable, though not always legally.

Their side had a game plan: soak up pressure and then move the ball quickly to Dave Morris, the 16-year-old striker who is rapidly gaining an impressive reputation as a fine finisher.

Unwantables played a fluid line-up. At times Jamie Chambers would go upfield exploring and Andy Alford would drop back. Adie Peacegood ventured over halfway with far more freedom than when he skippers the island side. Phil Ogier was backwards and forwards across the front line. When it worked, it looked great.

But at times, the fluidity led to over-complication of passing and too much monkeying around when straightforward give-and-go would have been better. The Alliance stood firm in defence and looked to break quickly.

The usual first outlet was Richard Collenette on the right of midfield. Given space to turn and attack his marker, he caused problems. And Morris up front hit two goals of hugely differing build-up but equally high quality.

The first started innocuously on halfway as Unwantables made little effort to chase back from an attack. Morris collected a pass, turned, ran, twisted, left his marker beaten at least four times, broke into the circle, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball home past a covering defender. It was a solo goal of exceptional class; even the Unwantables players applauded.

For his second, he touched the ball just once, steaming onto a Collenette through ball and nicking a first-time shot a fraction of a second ahead of the charging Bullock. He was clattered to the ground, but the ball found the back-board. Another top finish.

All level again, Unwantables really had to start working harder.

Kitching made it 3-2 with a through-the-legs scoop following a mis-hit Matt Keyho shot. Lucky, but they all count.

Alford was then given the benefit of the doubt when a short-corner strike was allowed to stand, even though it was borderline whether it was going to hit the backboard before nicking a defender's stick.

Still the Alliance would not give up. Alex Knowelden latched onto another incisive Collenette crossfield pass and undercut the ball past Bullock's left shoulder into the far top corner.

However, there was not to be a fairytale equaliser and Unwant-ables could breathe easier again. They must play the Alliance again before the season ends. No one is going to forecast a walkover next time.