Middle Park Football Club

Match report  Middle Park 3 v Vukovar 3 Parkers team:

Nik, Colin, Dave M, Reuben (Evan 48) (Weapon 75), Amrit, Owen, Mark, Sugar, Robbie, Robbo, Matt (Robbie 25) 

Parkers goals:

Robbo 2 (55,88)

Owen (85)

It had been a turbulent week for the Parkers thirds. Following a self-implosion and mauling by HNK Mostar the previous Sunday, a frank and open discussion was held at the club on the Thursday night. With Helen taking time away from his strawberry daiquiri to facilitate, everyone got the opportunity to air their grievances. Although this cleared the air, there was still a sense of shame that needed to be put right. This would be no easy feat as our next opponents would be the daunting Vukovar, an unbeaten team of giants who were top of the league. Few in the club outside the thirds were giving us a chance.

Sunday morning started with the parkers arriving bleary eyed for the early 9.30 kick-off. However, the Parkers were soon to be jolted awake by the wrath of the Weapon, who was not best pleased to find that on returning from overseas the team has descended to a new shambolic low. Whether it was this rousing team-talk, the frank discussion, or even something Robbo ate on Saturday night we will never know, but the Parkers started like a team possessed and this intensity never lifted until the final whistle blew. What really stood out was the Parkers winning of the 50/50 balls and it was Vukovar not Middle Park that were starting to get on each others back. Unfortunately this commitment also had its price as Matt Wicken picked up an injury mid way through the first half making way for Robbie Ledger in a straight swap. Although Middle Park had the greater share of possession and territory in the first half, chances for both sides in the first half were fairly limited. A couple of half chances fell to Robbo but he was still finding his range and was unable to hit the target. With the Parkers on top it was somewhat of a shock to both sides when Vukovar took the lead close to half through their striker coming through the offside trap to beat the keeper one on one andto leave the Parkers one down at half time. It was a bitter blow for the defence and goal keeper, as they had been faultless up to that point and were looking more solid than we had all season.

The Parkers from the previous week may have turned on each other but there seemed to be a confidence about the team that we were still in this and Vukovar were there for the taking. No changes were made at half-time although early in the second half Reuben picked up an injury and the tactically astute Weapon brought on Evan in holding midfield and pushed Sugar back to defence. More bad news was to follow as a Vukovar striker was played through when in an off-side position. As the referee momentarily misplaced his whistle, Nik had no chance as the tall Croatian slotted home a second. At two-nil down to the top of the league, the growing army of Parkers supporters were losing hope. Not so the Parkers on the field as a composure and determination not seen before this season kicked in. The reply was immediate as Robbo latched onto a looping cross from Micky and volleyed past the hapless Vukovar keeper from outside the area. Two-one and game on.

A period of sustained pressure ensued as the Parkers, looking much fitter than their opposition, continued to press. As the game went on, Colin started to push forward more and together with Owen dominated the right flank. Mark Stone, as composed as ever, was the fulcrum for much of the Middle Park possession. Up front Robbo was a constant threat and it was his work-rate off the ball that really stood out, never giving their defence the chance to put their foot on the ball. When the ball did break for Vukovar, the two Dave’s showed a level of understanding as if they had played together for years, despite the fact that this was actually Middle Park’s 18^th (well it feels like 18) central defence partnership for the season. Dave M in particular was a colossus, winning every header, but it was Dave P who saved a certain goal with a magnificent last gasp tackle by the post. Nik also pulled off a couple of solid saved to keep us in the game.

As the clocked ticked down, it was looking like another case of close but no cigar for the Parkers, until suddenly from nowhere the ball sat up for Owen, who 35 yards out spotted the keeper off his line and volleyed the ball over his head and into the back of the net. Reminiscent of Nayim in the 1995 Cup Winners Cup Final surely this is a contender for goal of the season. The crowd went wild and Vukovar were shell-shocked. Two-two. By now the Parkers could smell blood and went for the kill. From a corner a few minutes later the ball  bounced to Robbo who with his trade-mark instincts shinned a third in off the bar. Three-two to the Parkers.

Middle Park and their supporters were understandably delirious but maybe this caused us to lose concentration. As we tried to run down the clock, the ball was given away in the middle of the park and Vukovar broke with a three on two. As Nik was preparing to cover the cross to the free man in the box, the Vukovar striker surprised him and squeezed the ball inside the near post. Three-all was the final result.

It was a ripper of a game for the fans and Middle Park could hold their heads up high after giving their best performance of the season. Of course there is disappointment that we did not come away with all three points but this gives us plenty to build on for the rest of the season. Bring it on.