The Allstars game on Sunday, was one of many firsts.
It was the first time we have truly utilised the Gower FC "squad" - as we were rarely and desperately short of Allstar numbers this weekend (with 8 squad members unavailable) - and so 5 players who played practically full games earlier, stepped up like true men and gave their all for the club.
It was the first time the Allstars have been behind twice, and come back to win.
It was the first (and hopefully last) time our keeper will be lobbed twice in a game and from 40 yards!
And it was the first time a player has won MOTM for both 1s and 2s on the same day!
However im delighted to say, that what was not a first.......was Medley scoring 4 goals - infact it is the third time! A superb record.
The team lined up with Rod Paley (played 2s) in goal, Denselow (played 2s), Glyn, Treen (played 2s), & Howard in defence, Fleschy (played 2s), Duggan (hadn’t run for 4 weeks), Layton (played 2s) and Durrant in midfield, with Kelly (p*ssed as a fart still) and Medley upfront.
We were playing the Div 2 leaders, in Good Mixer, who brought 5 subs with them – testament to the size of their squad too.
Unsurprisingly, we got off to a shakey start, not keeping possession and losing the ball easily. Our 11 players had not yet played together this season, and it showed. Passes were going astray, communication was off and essentially there was no real cohesion.
Nevertheless in typical Gower fashion, we created a goal out of nothing, with some nice one touch football on the edge of the Mixer box, and Durrant putting through Kelly who walloped home into the roof of the net.
Our lead however did not last long. Mixer began to take advantage of the strong “wind-against” and slotted a number of balls “over-the-top” between the defenders and the keeper – one of which was perfectly placed, and caused a confusion between last defender and keeper – upon which Mixer striker pounced, and managed to finish well – to score their equalizer.
Whilst Gower tried to bounce back, there really wasn’t much penetration happening. It was a scrappy battle in the middle, with Duggan and Layton improving as the game went on.
But it was Mixer who took the next advantage, from a worryingly free-header at a corner, finding a Mixer player standing in front of Paley, who had no chance once he swung and finished into the top corner.
2-1 Mixer.
Gower bounced back in style through a classic Medley goal, after receiving a through ball from Duggan, on the edge of the box, turning a defender one way, then the other, and finishing stylishly under the keeper.
2-2 Half-time, all to play for.
We could only really improve on our first half performance – and it was by no means vintage.
But the 2nd half did not start as planned. After some scrappy play, ragged defending, and hopeful through-balls, it was Mixer who took the lead with a classy goal from the right hand side of the area, with a perfect executed chip from 18 yards out, finding the top corner, over the helpless Paley in goal.
Worrying times.
Fear not – this is Gower Allstars here, capable of turning a game at any point.
At 3-2 down with the captain gone (Ossack on), the wind against us and our heads held low any other team would have given up hope. Not G.A.
The next five minutes saw some sloppy play allowing the Good Mixer general to pull the strings with some quarterback style passing that reminded us of Beckham v Northern Ireland, pretty but ineffective. Then the game turned with a through ball from Duggan where, as Mr Medley, wrote himself he “latched onto it at the edge of the centre circle crossing the path of the two defenders so they could only take him out and get sent off or hope he scuffed his shot. They opted for the second and even had the gall to hiss “miss, miss, miss” while the trigger was being pulled. The left-foot bullet was true and the score was 3-3.”
To complete the come-back, the Allstars then took the lead when Medley took his third by controlling the ball on his chest from the edge of the six yard box before poking the ball passed an outstretched keeper, although with a heavily debatable off side.
The score was made 5-3 ten minutes later when Kelly scored a tap in after the Good Mixer collided to leave him with an empty net.
The Good Mixer then got back into the game temporarily when their right midfielder, while sporting gloves and a beanie, scored with a looping Nayim/Ronaldinho shot/cross from 40 yards (Yes, Rod, 40 yards!) that sneaked in under the cross bar.
The game was rapped up with a sweeping move from the Gower half that saw five players involved and a total of just six touches, the final two being Kelly-to-Medley-GOAL. An example of what we really are capable of.
It must be said that this was a pretty poor performance from the All Stars and not one to look back on with too much self glory as it could have gone either way. Despite players missing and new players being drafted in there still wasn’t enough cohesion in the team which led to sloppy play and unforced errors.
But a win is a win. And this was a lovely come-back in a difficult 2nd half – lead and inspired mainly by the man of the match – man of the day – Gower player of 21st January 2007 – Mr Danny “the Wall” Layton. Two outstanding performances for the Phoenix and Allstars, and was a menace and leader throughout. Although Medley obviously deserves a big shout for scoring 4 good goals (and now having a record of 20 goals in 11 appearances), Layton playing two matches in a row, both so well, was a credit to him and to Gowers.
Well done all.
Dan (GK)
