Game 12

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21/12/24 – League

Red Sea FC 1 – 2 AFC

Having enjoyed a sheltered existence at The Strand over the last couple of months, Attenborough ended their unfeasibly long run of home games with a daunting trip to face improving Red Sea FC at Vernon Park and it was to prove a serious test of character for the squad.

After two large steaming dog turds had been removed from the pitch and several ankle-deep holes filled in, we were ready for kick off. A couple of regulars were missing from the squad this week, but Graham Mee had the important Simon Savage back available and new signing Colm Keegan-O’Kane also made the bench.

It is fair to say the difference between The Strand and Vernon Park is big. Our neat and well-manicured home pitch is a fancy Tapas meal compared to the wide expanses of the badly-packed donner kebab that stretched out in front of us. Could we stomach it at 10.30 on a Saturday morning?

This wasn’t a classic, conditions never likely to make playing good football easy, and the physical threat from Red Sea was apparent from an early stage. Indeed, the home side may well have taken the lead after a contentious goal-line decision that appeared to go Attenborough’s way.

However, Attenborough were up for the fight in the first half, Will Humphriss proving heroic at the back winning everything in the air and helping his fellow defenders with some last-ditch tackles. A man that clearly has chilli sauce and garlic mayo on his breakfast every morning.

Set pieces always looked likely to prove crucial and we took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Lewis Caine headed home from a typically excellent George Pursglove corner. This was an eleventh goal of the season for the skipper. An impressive return from mid-field.

It was clear this task was not going to get any easier, however, and Fin Haywood was called upon to make a couple of excellent saves either side of half time. Eventually though the Red Sea pressure did tell, Ashraf Abdallah levelling things up early in the second period.

Manager Mee then decided to switch to a 4-4-2 to give us more width both in defensive and attacking areas across the large pitch with the excellent Simon Savage and promising debutant Colm filling in the full-back roles.

The game was still proving a real slog for the unbeaten visitors, though, with Red Sea getting regular sights of goal and seemingly having a strong shout for a penalty along the way.

It is credit to our lads that we stood strong and protected our goal through those moments and a man that epitomises our fighting spirit when the chips are down popped up to prove the hero with just three minutes to go. Step forward Lewie Pearson who struck a sweet shot low into the bottom corner from outside the box. It was going to take something special to beat Red Sea’s excellent goalkeeper and the mid-field enforcer delivered the goods, allowing us to take-away the three points.

This brings the first half of the season to a close and Attenborough have now won a remarkable eleven games in a row following the 3-3 draw at Newark on opening day. We’ve certainly had to work hard for the last few victories, however, and that character will stand us in good stead when things come down to the crunch next year.

Merry Christmas everyone.

haywood; j smith, humphriss, r caine; savage, luke smith; pearson (87'), l caine (c) (34'), cuesta-sarris; o mee, pursglove

subs; stentiford, keegan-o'kane; riley


                                                                  Lewie Pearson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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