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Carshalton and Polytechnic put on a thriller in the park on Saturday, thoroughly entertaining both onlookers with a fine display of good approach play, some suspect defending and inconsistent finishing. Having been appointed captain for the day, I promptly lost the toss and resigned from the job as the team took our positions in the face of a bitter wind.

Polytechnic started brightly and their striker (the token ginger on the field in the absence of Ryan Noble) shrugged off the mighty presence of Martin Head at centre-half (I've seen it all now) to fashion a couple of early one on ones that he missed dismally.  Spurred on by a further miss by the strawberry blonde front man, Carshalton started to come into the game more as the half wore on and probably deserved the two goal cushion we had at the interval.  First, yours truly accepted a poor opposition pass in our own half and instigated a lightning move down the left side (I kicked the ball miles) where Andrew crossed superbly for Dave Powell to bring the ball down in an instant and stroke the ball home. Shortly afterwards, the same player made it two when he shrugged off the centre-half, skipped round the keeper and finished well. 

After the break we had the wind and inevitably it went a bit wrong.  Ironically, we were probably having our best spell of the game but then lost two goals.  Can't remember much about them but do remember that a couple of us should have been up for the hairdryer treatment as opposition players were left unmarked.  Now the game was anybody's and Carshalton continued to press, Stephen swung in some wicked corners, our wide players found good positions only for countless crosses to be cleared and it looked like a draw was on the cards.  Luckily, some of us had other ideas.

Having miscontrolled the ball on the edge of the box I chased after it only to be crudely send tumbling.  I got up and chased the ref twenty yards demanding to know why he hadn't given a penalty at which poiint he informed me that while I was on my backside Hirsty had got the winner.  Result!!! 

Finally, a big thanks to Mike, Andrew and the other sixth teamers who got well stuck in for us on Saturday.  All the best for your cup final next week lads.

Jay Crisp