Sunday 21st January 2007
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Green Man Ward Off Manic
Challenge
|
James Robinson
|
|
Simon Blay
|
Jason Graaff
|
Mark Gates (C)
|
Joel Curran
|
Gareth Evans
|
Adam Barnard
|
Aaron Goddard
|
Ryan Warman
|
|
Gavin Baker |
Barry O'Connell |
|
Bench:
Darren Barton, Chris Mitchell, Brian Judge, Jason Worthy
Bracknell
Manics again found themselves the unlucky victims of a league
defeat at home this Sunday. This news was compounded by knee
injuries to centre backs Mark Gates and Jason Graaff, the former
being hospitalised via air ambulance.
Dr Patsalides Prescribes New Formula
Boss Nikos Patsalides was buoyed by the return of Jason Graaff
and Joel Curran to his ranks as he selected Ryan Warman on the
left of midfield and Gavin Baker in the slot behind the striker
normally filled by the absent Mark Robertson and Simon Blay
shuffled to right back.
Swab
And the Manics began brightly, using the wind to their advantage.
In fact, the Green Man seemed uncomfortable with the Manics
spritely wing play, Gareth Evans in particular causing their
left back a few headaches. However, it was not the Manics who
grabbed the early goal.
Scalpel
Against the run of play, a clever run snared the Manic offside
trap as the ball was eventually squared by McClurg to Russell
who had the simple task of tapping home. 1-0 Green Man. However,
the boys in blue bounced back with great fighting spirit, Adam
Barnard and Aaron Goddard doing a good job of stifling the McClurg
and Russell duo in midfield. Simon Blay was responsible for
a couple of charging runs down the right hand side that caused
their no 6 to defend far more than he would have liked.
Nurse!
Despite clawing their way back into the game, Manics suffered
a terrible setback in the 22nd minute. Only a short comeback
South African Jason Graaff, who had been having an assured game
at the back, suffered a recurrence of his knee injury, causing
his premature withdrawal. Patsalides reshuffled his pack, placing
Darren Barton up front with Barry O'Connell and pulling the
tall man Gavin Baker into the back line alongside Mark Gates.
NHS Direct
This change made Manics play a little more direct as Barton
made his presence felt against big man Kettle. They carved the
league leaders open more than once, but either their final ball
was lacking or they failed to pull the trigger. Goddard struck
the bar with his weaker left foot, but the Manics still had
to guard against the counter attack as the Green Man were not
afraid to use their pace down the wings and up front.
Stethoscope
Half-time came and the players knew what needed to be done to
get back in this game. Get on McClurg, the danger man that sliced
them open with his only telling contribution of the half, was
the cry.
Matron!
Those words were still ringing in the air when disaster struck
early in the 2nd half. Manics should have realised that their
concentration would be tested after an aborted kick off, but
they had several lapses in the space of 30 early 2nd half seconds.
Curran, looking to play the ball down the line to Ryan Warman,
saw his pass intercepted by a Green Man player. Manics did not
react quick enough in midfield and defence, as James Robinson
flew out of his goal, leaving the Green Man player enough time
and space to knock the ball goalwards, seeing it eventually
tapped in by no 9.
Needle
Despite now being down by 2 goals and having the wind against
them, the Manics showed more teeth and even greater fight. Gates
had a free header that went over as the Green Man got muddled
in defence on more than one occasion. Still Evans looked the
best outlet, but the match was made hard by the strong wind.
First Aid
Then came two injuries, one for either side, that threatened
to change the match. Green's winger Brewster, whose pace worried
Curran throughout the match, disappeared with a hamstring strain.
And Manics lost Mark Gates to a worrying knee injury, his replacement
Brian Judge stepping into the breech.
Morphine
Still the Manics fought on, and at last were rewarded as Gevans
drilled home a O'Connell pass to halve the deficit. The Manics
were bouyed by this but threw too many into attack. Blay and
Curran in particular cut tired looking figures as McClurg rounded
Robinson with aplomb to take the game out of Manics' reach.
Remedy
Another gritty but fruitless display from the Manics men, when
will their fortune turn? They have the Twigg in the cup next
week, and welcome back Dave Fenton who will replace the unfortunate
Gates in defence. It seems there is no respite, but they will
battle on like all good Manic sides do...
Add the Official Bracknell Manics FC website to your Favourites!
S.Oakbutter.
The
Manics Man of the Match went to Gareth Evans & Adam
Barnard, and the Referee's Player of the Match went
to Gavin Baker.
Thanks
to the fans who came to watch the game!
| Final
Result: Bracknell
Manics 1 Green Man 3 |
| Man
of the Match |
 |
"Hells
Bells!!! We’ve gotta win someday!!
Bring on the Twigg! "
|
| Gareth
Evans |
|
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