The Albion FC

Palac: Author of this week's report

I couldn’t have been given harder match to report on. Full of controversies, mysterious referring and great goals. This comes only few weeks after writing a controversial report that didn’t make it through Colonel Barker’s tight censorship. Let’s be politically correct then…

Albion went into the game topping the league table. Albion was weakened by injuries and players who preferred to go on holidays. Back in the squad were lovebirds Willie Young and Christian Poulsen. Classy Albion banter was ever so present too. First, gaffer unable to park the Trim mobile into a space where lorry would fit, blaming my parked motorbike. Second, gaffer asking everyone for their date of birth. This guaranteed lots of laugh. We realised there were at least 6 people over 30 years old. And one over 40. You never win anything with kids. Line up was, 4-4-2: Barker – Twigg, Lauder, McPhee, Young – Evans, Poulsen, Abbott, Palac – Leslie, Pemberton. Subs from Thomas and Turner.

I’d love to leave kick off time not mentioned, but really can’t. However nice and respectful person should be, there’s no positive way of describing FFL general attitude and time keeping. I guess I come from different cultural background so won’t ever understand why it is ok to turn up at 10.40 for 10.30 kick off time and mouthing towards the ref (Ron Large) when he wanted to start the game…

Eventually teams were lined up, 11 Albiones vs 9 FFLs and their gaffer as a linesman. Pretty scrappy first 5 ish minutes vs 9 man, Simon one on one with keeper, no goals. Wasted opportunity to take the lead, as then suddenly two more FFLs turned up and eventually made 11 FFLs. 

Kingson: Released by Hull to play for Albion

First half continued to be scrappy. Fair enough, soaked and muddy pitch didn’t help, but that was same for both teams. Albiones weren’t able to pass the ball at all, nothing to report then. Then I got caught out of position, ball was played behind me/between me and Richard Kingson … So easy tap in, 1:0 down. FFL played quite a high line and caught us, probably rightfully, few times offside. FFL also took their throws and free kicks quickly, which needed 100% concentration from Albion.

Best defence is attack and best attack is using opposition’s own strengths. FFL got caused offside, and while they were traditionally mouthing off to the ref, Dunc quickly knocked a long ball into the path of Rich who easily equalised. FFL were still mouthing, 1:1. Don’t remember much more from the first half, just that I didn’t enjoy the game at all. Not many of you knew I played with one blocked ear, so partially deaf…and after being knocked by elbow in my face my head was buzzing for the wrong reasons.

Halftime 1:1. Jade saved me from ‘buzzing’ around and put me in the goal for second half. Jade came off and Don went to left midfield. Not too much I remember from the second half either, and not sure if following is in the right order… Remember that my goal kicks were terrible. I just somehow couldn’t get the ball off the ground, the ball felt so heavy… total ballbag. I remember pulling off a save or two, that probably looked better than actually was.

We were hardly able to get past half way line. This was due to FFL’s gaffer who run the line. He had his flag up every time we got near FFL’s half, and Ron Large happily agreed (not always, but often). This prompted Jade to stand with the lino and watch out… which led to few handbags exchanged. In about 60 min Dave got a knock in the head and needed to come off. Matt on to play left mid, Don moved to right back and Dunc to centre back.

Twigg: Attempted to complete hattrick of penalties conceeded to FFL, but denied by the referee

I remember us beating the offside trap and the lino once, Matt run down the right side and put a great cross in that Don should have really buried. There was also another chance for Nick and Matt. Albion eventually took a lead when Nick found Rich who put a great volley past the keeper, despite keeper getting a hand on it, 2:1 with possibly 20 minutes to go. FFL made a change when their gaffer came on, therefore guy coming off was the new lino. Surprisingly, Albion was never caught offside again. The game was up and down, attack after attack. FFL won few corners and equalised from one of these. I probably should have done better at this time. Corner came in onto the back post, which should be keeper’s area really. As I tried to punch it, it seems I poked the ball onto FFL player’s head and it was in, 2:2, with few minutes left.

Albion tried to win this game more than FFL did. Dunc had the biggest opportunity in the dying seconds when he blasted the ball from few yards well over the bar. Ron Large added little bit too much at the end, which then allowed FFL another attack. Their guy got well through our defence and looked to be in position to score the winner, when he got taken out by Duncan. Ron possibly realised it would be too harsh to give a penalty now and blew for the final time, game done 2:2. FFL probably felt they were robbed of the last chance. Well, their attitude stank right from the start, so did they deserve any chance?