NK Dons FC vs Guru Hargobind Sahib FC
Guest Post by Jamie Swain
The saying goes, “if you don’t buy a ticket you wont win the lottery,” and as the Dons approach the winter months of their season they are beginning to find that they may have bought too many tickets. Having been knocked out of two cups, they now find themselves up against the same higher division opponents two weeks on the trot in two seperate cup competitions.
Scandalously, the Sun had heard through sources not connected with email hacking; that when club Secretary Vint informed Chairman Swain and TreasurerTom Nash that the same team had been drawn twice, Nash was quoted as saying, “lets make sure we beat them then.” Speculation suggesting Nash would have had no interest in progressing through the cup completion had different teams been drawn has been described as idiotic by Chairman Swain.
Regardless, Nash’s will to win seemed unshared by others. Jon F who was expected to return to the starting line up after a lengthy absence was withdrawn due to a stomach bug, Sargeant was AWOL, early rumours suggest Oakley was ‘trapped’ in his garage and Evola was recovering from the side effects of jet lack following a late flight from Italy to England.
What ever happend to Sargeant AWOL????
None-the-less this meant the Don’s still had 11 players. Swain and his team of Chick and the ever reliable Fowler were early attendants and proceeded to set the pitch and goals up. As kickoff approached it became apparent that the Don’s, to their dismay, might have had to start the game with 10 men as Vint was no where to be seen. Thankfully on this occasion the referee had gone to the Don’s former home ground (If I had a pound for every time Andy D’Urso ended up in Woolwich…). Luckey escape for Vint.
The Dons started the game with the unusual diamond formation speared by Don’s captain, Mulvihill, propped up by Nash and flanked by Kyte & Fowler. The Don’s begun the game solid at the back but struggled to adapt to the new formation. Despite not creating a lot going forward the Don’s managed to win a freekick within ‘Menzies range,’ from the halfway line Menzies sent his freekick sail over the on rushing goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.
After about 20 minutes the Don’s reverted to the well known 451 formation, though if fairness it yielded little more reward and the Don’s were forced to rely on another goalkeeping howler as the keeper tripped up and spilled the ball into the path of the waiting Fowler. Fowler demonstrated why the Don’s are standing against goal line technology. 2-0 and the debate will continue to fill the back pages on whether the ball went through the hole in the net or agonisingly wide.
The Dons left the pitch for half time and despite not creating any clear cut chances they found themselves 2-0 up with goalkeeper Sewell having had little to do. With no subs on the pitch the Don’s returned the field of play with the same 11. 11 warriors.
The 2nd half was very much more of the same, but after wining three consecutive corners the inform Vinnie Chick struck to ‘faceplanted’ the ball into the goal. Despite the now commanding lead the Dons still looked void of ideas up front and a lot of the game became bogged down in midfield with neither team getting beyond their opponents back line.
A Chick face-plant give the Dons a 3-0 lead
However, there was time for one well worked piece of attacking play; Vint, who by his own omission has struggled for goals this term, cut inside the two centre backs from the right wing, and as he seemed to be loosing balance directed a low powerful shot from the edge of the box into the Guru goal.
The score finished 4-0 which arguably flattered the Don’s attacking prowess. Though if the Don’s are to take any positives they are; that for once the rearguard managed 90 minutes without any calamity moments; the Dons are capable of beating higher division opponents; and finally, the tested diamond formation, with Chick up-front, need never be mentioned in conversation again – now, merely consigned to Room 101 at Don’s HQ.
Result: 4-0 (W)
MoM: Gray
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