SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

Quite often when MAHE and I do a match review after the night before, we have that proverbial game of two halves to report on. How many times this season have we all moaned about only turning up for one of the 45s but being bloody awful in the other? 

So it was last night too, but this time it had nothing to do with the players or the manager. Nope,they did the job they are meant to do-right till the end, I might add-the pity was that my access to the game was minimal in the first half. 

Saw very little of it,no point in lying. I’ve seen potted highlights since, but it’s not the same. And just to prove the point, I saw the entire second half. In all its beauty and splendour. Six on the night, with the four in the second 45 running their own Goal Of The Season Competition. 

Bear with me for the first two. We had the latest apprentice boy for a MIB last night-how many newbies have we seen this season?-but no problem, he would be ably assisted on VAR by Alan Muir. No great surprise then that the youngster “missed” a clear foul on Trusty at a corner. So obvious that even Muir had to lick the nettle and shout him over for a review. Arne Engels converted. 

How often have we complained that when players go down in the box at a corner that it is ours who are penalised? This time MIB Steven saw fit to award a foul AGAINST Trusty instead of to him when he was rugby tackled. As he can only penalise what he has seen, one wonders what his excuse is for that decision when he had a clear view from five yards away!

Our second came on the stroke of half time, just to settle the nerves going into the break. The surprise is that it was necessary, as endless possession and little threat from the opposition should have seen us a few ahead (I’m reliably informed.) Anyway, Idah and Jota combined for them both to have shots saved by the keeper, but third time lucky as our on-form striker lashed home the second rebound. 

My left index finger and the refresh button on my device were damn near worn out by this time, but normal service was resumed for the second half. And how! It’s hard to decide which of our forward six plus subs was putting on the style the most. They certainly piled on the agony for Dundee on the back of a 0-6 at home to Hearts. It isn’t the number of goals that’s the problem in this review, it’s the sheer quality of them. 

I’m certainly not a sufficient wordsmith to do them justice. The greatest wordsmith in the English language is credited with the invention of over 400 words, simply because he couldn’t find the right ones for “the moment”. Honestly, they were a joy to behold. But no made-up words here, just watch the unique angle when it is posted later. 

You won’t be sorry!

Briefly…

3-Jota on the (left) wing twists defenders blood and crosses for Maeda to come flying in from the opposite side after 55 minutes. Peach of a cross, impeccable finish to match.

4-On the hour mark, Maeda latches on to a through ball from Engels and casually dinks it from the edge of the box. Like it’s easy,you know? 

5-Ten minutes later, Engels decides that twelve yards is toffee and lets fly from the edge of the area. Leaves the keeper with no chance. Are these goals actually getting better and better?

6-Well, maybe not. A few minutes from the end, Kühn does what he does. Cuts in from the right and across the 18 yard box and onto his left foot. We all know what he wants to do next. The keeper knows too. So what-knowing what is coming and stopping it are two different things. Carson has no chance of stopping this one. Goal of the match standard in most games, but a lowly 5/6 last night!

I hope I’ve given you enough of a taste of the game if, like me, you struggled to see the first half-and worse if you missed the second half. I recommend finding any source possible for highlights or even a full match replay. Because while the goals were outstanding, there were some periods of play which were on a par but unrewarded. 

When we look this good, we really look the part. A thoroughly impressive performance even if against maybe the most inconsistent side in the league. That’s not to damn with faint praise though-on this display, who knows who we could beat? Well, let’s get the prayer mats, the beads and the juju looked out for next Wednesday,huh? After all, last night was only a practice session…

<><><><><>

Above article by BMCUWP