Skins 3-3 Tawa Bears

This was two points dropped, but after the way the game changed mid-way through the second half, it had stopped being a proper contest anyway.
The first half was in the Skins' favour. More possession, and a few good chances, but nothing too dominant. The Bears certainly looked dangerous through their quick striker (number 13) and the skilful and powerful midfielder (number 3). But Mark was posing many questions down the left that the right full back struggled to answer. The defence generally looked solid, and with Marshall's distribution and Aaron's running and positional sense, it looked encouraging. No goals at half time, due to their good keeping and our mixed finishing. The rugged ground did not help the control and passing of either team.
The first goal was simply a blinder, Ray hammering home with a mighty shot at a difficult angle. Tawa's equaliser came from good passing and direct running.
Then there was the second Marist goal. Simply put, the ball was lifted over the defence, Ray latched onto it and squared for Stephen to tuck it home. However, the reason Stephen was still unmarked was because the defence had decided there was at least one offside during the attack and had stopped to abuse the ref for not stopping play. After that, the game descended into farce. Every decision was argued, the Bears' goalkeeper decided to threaten Ray with a raised elbow and foul play was rife. Ray scored a fine second to put the Skins 3-1 up with 10 minutes left, but then defensive lapses in concentration allowed Tawa back in. First to get one back and then to equalise in the dying moments, with a practiced - but predictable - free kick.
Ray's finishing was the treat of the day, with Dan's superbly timed tackles and Thomas' well-struck clearances also highlights, but this was not a game to look back on fondly.

Some Photos To Wash Away The Football-less Days!

Team photographer and esteemed paparazzi Dan Popham obliged by taking some of these photos a few months back. I finally found them again! We have only play once in a month, but these photos are a lasting memory of the bitter defeat to the Chuggers!