The Hand Of Gott

Evening games are a bit hit and miss with regards to what sort of team can be scrapped together. On this occasion at one point the manager had 16 players but by the time some had cried off with flu and some not being bothered to play we took 12 players. Not ideal preparations but none the less we had to make do!

1. Rich Gott
2. Lee Satddon
3. Russ Cram
4. Dan Hayman
5. Anth Coles
6. Steve Fairchild
7. Nathan Grimes
8. Rob Dodd
9. Adam Westle
10. Justin Densham
11. Nick Westcott
12. Marc Bagwell

With only 1 sub there was nobody to run on with the “magic” sponge as they were running the line, this is a problem you have when only take 12 players and also looks unprofessional to onlookers.

In all fairness Alphington dominated from the start and for most of the 90 mins apart from a brief 5 min spell where Cullompton chucked everything at the Alphas only to find the defence in fine form and also Rich Gott in inspired form between the sticks.

The game started brightly for the Alphas with Adam Westle and Justin Densham testing the keeper early on also Dan Hayman was lively in the middle of the park and if he had brought this shooting boots we may have been in front a lot sooner than we were.

There has to be a mention of one of the misses of the season by Nick Westcott who seems to aim for the woodwork when shooting, he did really well to work a shooting chance for himself but when it came to shooting he must have been distracted by a squirrel or something as his shot fizzed past the post and the corner flag and into the trees behind, quite how he managed it is beyond me but hey ho what do I know I am just a retired ballet dancer.

The dead lock was broken 5 mins before half-time with some neat work from Nick Westcott putting Adam Westle clean through on goal, luckily the keeper decided to stay on his line and made the decision easy for Adam and with virtually the whole goal to ain at he promptly put it into the bottom corner.

It was no less than the Alphas deserved having dominated the 45 mins from start to finish.

There was slight injury concern when Steve Fairchild went down clutching his knee but after 5 mins of intense treatment from th qualified physio he dragged himself off the ground to soldier on.

The second half came and went really and we could have been further ahead if it wasn’t for some wayward finishing. Cullompton would have nicked an undeserved point from the game if it wasn’t for the flying Hand and Heed of Rich Gott.

Somehow, with the ball flying in the top corner through a crowd of players he stuck out his right hand and somehow pushed the ball round the post, all that was visible was a big head and a hand but somehow he managed the save.

After this the home team looked deflated and had no way of breaking down the alphas resolute defence.

This was a great performance from the boys and the manager had nothing but praise for his troops quoting to on looking reporters “With Capello in the stands I feel my team upped their game with the forthcoming England friendly with France looming, and did their chances of a call up no harm whatsoever”

Billy Elliot
Tito Santana Sports