Conditions: Bright sunshine, calm, cool start but warming up – perfect conditions.
With only 7 league games to go, every match is important now. Although on paper, this was Artizan’s easiest game remaining, Oldhill are a much better side than their position suggests. They also beat us in the Div 5 Cup a few weeks ago.
The line up was Alex, Lui, Stu, Neil, Ivan, Kirk, Fraser, Henry, Richard, Daryl, Huggy. A few of the players were complaining of not being fit after xmas but I think it didn’t matter as that was true for a lot of the players on the pitch.
The match started pretty evenly as both teams had chances to get the opening goal. However, after 15 minutes, Artizan had a corner and Richard delivered a superb cross towards the bottom of the far post. This was an easy header for Stu who had to get down low to score and head it in from 1 yard (actually came off my nose – ouch).
This goal settled Artizan (as usually happens after a goal) and they were able to play the better football for the next 15 minutes. It was about 30 minutes when Huggy raced onto a high through ball on the right side of the penalty area and was bundled over by their defender. The ref awarded a penalty, much to the annoyance of Oldhill. Technically, it was a penalty (as it was more than a shoulder barge) but you don’t often see these given. Anyway, up stepped the unflappable Henry to stroke the ball home, just to the left of centre, but powerfully struck. 2-0 to Artizan.
We knew we still had work to do as Oldhill never give up and this was proved correct after 40 minutes. They had a corner, Richard spotted they had a player unmarked but still nobody marked him. In the end, the ball fell to this player’s feet and he tapped it in from 3 yards. A very soft goal to concede. Don’t let Alan Hansen see this one!
As the first half was drawing to a close, there was another corner for Artizan and the ball looped up near the centre of the goal. Big Stu challenged for it and the ball dropped down at his feet just as he was falling over to his right. However, he just managed to hook his left foot around the ball before he fell and steer it in off the left post. 3-1 and the half-time whistle blew. A big relief for Artizan, a blow for Oldhill.
The half time team talk was a bit negative, considering we were 3-1 up, but we knew we had to be careful and play very well in the second half.
Well the 2nd half started in a similar manner to the first in that both teams had a couple of chances to score. After about ten mins there were a few changes. Red came on and went in goal (no gloves), Alex went to right wing, Rich moved to right back, Fraser came off (injured). It seemed to work well without disrupting the team too much. On about 60 minutes it was Artizan who scored again to make it 4-1. Henry ran straight through the middle and unleashed a powerful shot under their keeper. This really did settle Artizan and from then on it was relatively easy.
The game was pretty quiet after that in terms of goal mouth action but I think the home supporters went back very happy with what they saw. The scores of travelling Oldhill fans will find their long journey back to Dunstable even longer!
In summary, Ivan (m.o.m) gave a very solid performance, Neil won some cracking headers in defence and good tackles and also swept very well. Lui got stuck in and only let one thing past him – everyone played well. Our 2nd half performance was very professional.
Down the Norman King and another good move saw two plates of chips swinging in, around the bar that were finished off by everyone. More shandy’s today as people’s diet’s are kicking in (obviously chips don’t count).
© ArtizanStu 2008