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Oh Manny, you scored and you stopped us from shaking
- Arlene Finnigan
- 19 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Long term, our strategy of being crap for a month, then really good for a month, isn’t sustainable. We can worry about that come December, though. For now, let’s enjoy how well November is going.
Being, as we are, dead posh, me and Andy snubbed Salford away and instead saved our money (and let’s face it, we needed it) to make a weekend of it in Harrogate. We stayed in a very nice hotel the other side of the Stray (even the parks get quirky names in North Yorkshire) from the ground, and popped into the Empress pub on the way to the game, where I overheard this conversation:
“No-one knows anyone called Tarquin!”
“I work with a bloke called Tarquin.”
Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in the Rifle Range anymore.
Have they always been called the Sulphurites? I assume that’s something to do with the springs and/or spas? Unusual nickname. Bit goth. I kind of like it.
Happily, we were able to name an unchanged side, with Daniels recovering from the knock that forced him off v Northampton. It has to be said, though, we started a bit shakily, and they were the better team for the first 15 minutes. They probably should have scored after hitting us on the break, but McCoulsky pulled his shot wide. Duke-McKenna should have done better with his shot/cross that missed everyone, and the goal.
We weathered it though, and started to take control of the game. Hammond made a decent run down the right and won a corner. In the scramble in the 6 yard box as the ball was crossed in, 6ft 6 man mountain Monthe, of all people, bicycle kicked it in to put us 1-0 up 23 minutes in. If you saw Garner smacking one of their players just before Manny got his shot away, no you fucking didn’t.
O’Connor got booked for them just after, apparently for something he said. Must have been unhappy about something. Not sure what.
It should have been 2-0 before half-time, but Garner’s goal was ruled out for offside. I couldn’t tell if it was or wasn’t. Being 5ft 1, I don’t have the best view at wee guy grounds. I’ve watched it back on the highlights and I still don’t know to be honest.
It was a good battling display first half, perhaps best summed up by Hannant (I think) putting the ball out for a throw in as Harrogate were trying to cross it into the box, and roaring and headbutting the corner flag in celebration. Exactly what Micky Mellon would want to see, I imagine.
I thought Hannant had put us 2-0 up early in the second half, but his shot from Garner’s cross was into the side netting. I REALLY thought young Michael was going to put us 2-0 up when he pounced on a loose back pass and took the ball past the keeper, but Faulkner managed to clear it before he could get his shot in. He was subbed for Fondop not long after, and looked gutted, and you know what, fair enough. He should want to play the full match, he should be disappointed that he didn’t take his chance, he’s a good young player and he should want more.
Hudson was superb again and made a great save from Ellis Taylor’s shot from outside the box, tipping it onto the crossbar. We had another great chance to double our lead when Garner headed Monthe’s long ball onto Pett, whose shot wasn’t that far over the bar, despite me doing my best by shouting “DON’T YOU SHOOT FROM THERE!”.
Hammond’s looked a real threat the last few games, so it was awful to see him get a nasty injury. It was all the more galling that the referee seemed to think he was timewasting. I was a good 30 or so yards away and I could see that he’d obviously dislocated his shoulder; why the ref couldn’t see that when he was standing over him, I’ve no idea. No wonder Brabin was so furious (and got booked for his trouble).
The referee didn’t endear himself any further when he ignored Woods being clearly shoved to the ground. OK, Woods should have kept his mouth shut when he’d already been booked instead of arguing himself into a second yellow, but it was easy to see why he was so angry.
Thank fuck for Hudson, who kept us in it when we were down to 10 men. Harrogate showed a strange lack of urgency considering they were chasing the game and had a man advantage, but they had their chances, and we had to scramble one corner after another away. It was a gritty, backs-to-the-wall performance, and when Fondop won a free kick (which would prove to be the last kick of the game), he celebrated like it was the winning goal.
It was a hard-fought win, not least because it felt like 12 vs 10 for much of the second half, and it was exactly the kind of battling performance that Mellon snr loves. He looked more pumped up at full time than he did at Wembley. As Simon Mather pointed out in his Long Distance Latics column, it was a million miles from the piss boil of the white gilet game, and it was fucking glorious.
Micky was, understandably, furious and defiantly euphoric after the game, and managed to smack his own microphone off during the post-match interview. His love for us and his players – “my boys, and the superb supporters, together showed unbelievable quality, unbelievable character” – was matched by his fury at the referee – “you need battling qualities every week, but you shouldn’t have to deal with a referee like that…. I cannot believe he thought Oli Hammond was playacting”. Me neither, Micky. Me neither.
We had a cracking night out after the game. Went for a few drinks with our mates, had a lovely tea at a restaurant that described itself as ‘Greek and Turkish’ (which is a little unusual, given the somewhat tense relations between the two countries), and I tried and failed to persuade Andy to buy me an owl wearing a top hat.
No price displayed. I think if you have to ask, you can't afford it.
Apparently we played on Tuesday. Congratulations to Drummond on getting what I very much hope will be the first of many, I’m sorry we weren’t there to run on the pitch. We did consider legging it from our living room.
After a few frustrating postponements, it was a dramatic afternoon for the women at Winton Wanderers, where they drew 4-4 despite also being reduced to 10 players. Melody Seagrave got a hat-trick, and they could feel disappointed to come away with only a point, with Winton equalising late on. Channel the Lioness spirit and never say die, girls. They take on Mancunian Unity at Hopwood Hall on Sunday at 2pm.
📸Steve Peacock
It's the club’s annual remembrance fixture today, with tributes starting at 2.55pm, so make sure you get to the ground in good time. And there’s every incentive to get there early today. Not only is OASF’s sticker album on sale in the fans’ bar and behind the family stand (£2 an album, £1 a pack of stickers, SIX SHINIES, I cannot wait), the new issue of the Beyond the Boundary Park Alert System fanzine is on sale outside the Joe Royle and Jimmy Frizzell stands. £2, cash only, bring the right change if you can.
As I write this blog on Friday afternoon, our fence lies in pieces all over the garden and there are bins and cats flying past the window. I’m confident that Fortress Boundary Park will stand firm against the onslaught of both Storm Claudia and Crewe Alexandra, though. I’m looking forward to seeing whose turn it is to score an overhead kick today. KTMFF.
Written by Arlene Finnigan