Game 11

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14/12/24 - Development Cup

AFC 4 - 3 Pegasus FC

Pantomime season well and truly arrived at The Strand on Saturday morning as Graham Mee's troupe went through their full repertoire of farce during Act 1 of the Cup game with Pegasus FC.

Having played each other regularly over the last couple of years, Pegasus had devised an excellent game plan to nullify our lead actors in mid-field and up front, not to mention the amount of pace they filled their attack with to terrify our ugly sisters at the back.

After fluffing our lines right from the first kick off, Attenborough were on the back foot throughout the opening ten minutes and, while the soft and slippy pitch wasn't easy, Reece Caine was more Cucurella than Cinderella as he floundered around in desperate need of a costume change for a more suitable pair of footwear. Sadly, with no back up soft ground boots available he had to continue in his glass slippers.

It only took thirteen minutes for the away team to take the lead and continue Attenborough's abysmal record of conceding first at The Strand. The one bright spark for the Blues was the first-half display of Louis Smith and he set about trying to turn the plot back in his team's favour.

First, he fired an excellent left-footed shot towards the top corner before a terrific save by the Pegasus keeper fell the way of Luke Smith to lob in the equaliser only a couple of minutes after falling behind.

Can we get ourselves in front? "Oh yes we can!". Louis once more pivotal in this goal with a tremendous cross for George Cuesta-Sarris to steer home.

Can we hold the lead? "Oh no we can't!?"

"It's behind you" shouted the crowd as a speculative Pegasus shot slipped through Fin Haywood's hands and into the back of the net on the half hour mark. 2-2.

To add further insult, Attenborough were to fall behind again only five minutes later after a long ball saw our defence outmuscled and their striker calmly finish. Pegasus deservedly heading into the interval in front.

Manager Mee resembled a panto villain as he made his way to the dressing room amid a chorus of boos and hisses.

Strong words at half time changed little immediately as shortly after the break the away team found themselves clean through with a chance to double their advantage. Fortunately for Boro the forward steered his shot just wide of the post.

With no magic beans or flying carpet to call upon from the bench, Mee had to settle for the reassuring presence of Lucas Stentiford who made a big difference in tightening things up at the back and helping Attenborough tread the boards with a bit more confidence.

From then on, the home side had things more their own way and skipper Lewis Caine bagged the equaliser with still over half an hour left to play.

Every good show needs a hero, though, and the final twist saw Attenborough's Prince Charming, Luke Smith, squeeze home from an acute angle to give us a scarcely deserved 10th win in a row.

We'll be looking to provide more Christmas cheer for supporters with an improved showing against Red Sea FC on Saturday 21st December (10.30 ko).

haywood; j smith, humphriss, r caine; cuesta-sarris (24'), luke smith (15', 75'); l caine (c) (53'), pearson, greatorex; louis smith, pursglove

subs; billson, stentiford, riley








 

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