FINAL SCORE:

Wheatsheaf................3 Tantamount FC...........1

Report by Ben Howarth

Two moments summed up this entertaining encounter. The first saw Tantamount’s midfield dynamo violently Sam ‘Box to Box’ Charman felled, only to look up and see the ref chatting to someone on the sidelines. The second saw Charman charge back, dive wildly for the ball, miss ball, take leg and then, for good measure, take legs out. He probably couldn’t have dreamed it better. But the ref wasn’t dreaming either - and though he didn’t banish Sam to the sin bin - he still blew for a foul. The game had actually started well. Good, composed tackles at the back from Pilcher combined with energetic running from Rose and Charman, which meant Moody seeing more of the ball in attack than in any previous game. Spencer also impressed and the ref was heard to comment that he is “not a bad little goalie-him” after one sharp save. Though Wheatsheaf scored first, Tantamount didn’t drop their heads, and after a few passes between players, the Rose burst through to score a fine goal. 1-1 at half time.

The second half was less enjoyable. With only one sub, Tantamount seemed tired, and - as they were repeatedly fouled - annoyed. After conceding a second, they could do little to stop Wheatsheaf controlling affairs. Experience and fitness made the difference. Tantamount were unable to commit the players forward they needed. An easy third goal killed the contest. No one was impressed with Wheatsheaf’s internal bickering, non matching kits or their failure to shake hands. But they had the win, and the valuable points. In front of an increasingly large fanbase - the three groupies (already the envy of the other sides in the league) and two loyal younger brothers -Tantamount had produced arguably their most impressive football yet. But, having come out of last week’s 3-0 defeat to the league leaders with much credit and a lot of confidence, they were clearly dejected with the outcome. And yet, it is clear that the Mount’s progress from naïve, idealistic enthusiasts into gritty, angry pragmatists is almost complete. Victory must surely be only a “slide tackle when the ref ain’t watching” away.

Jimbo scored his first goal for The Mount

LINE-UP: Spencer; Charman, Pilcher, Rose; Moody SUBS: Howarth

SCORERS: Rose 6

Manager's Comments:

"We knew beforehand that Wheatsheaf have been the whipping boys for the last few seasons and so we felt that we could get something of this game. It was a close contest but, on the balance of play, they edged it as they had far more chances. There was a touch of fortune to their second: we've pushed their striker over as he's shot and he didn't make the contact he would have wanted, which helped it curl beyond James' reach. For the most part we defended well but yet again it was in the latter stages of the second half that we've conceded the goals. We didn't attack them enough, especially in the second half, and it was game over after the 2nd which was disappointing as we had plenty of time to get back into it. There was just one player on the bench and Alex was absent: at full strength I would fancy us to push this team very hard in the next meeting. Unfortunately we have four weeks until our next match and it's against the team in 2nd. Ideally we would have at least one training session before then, perhaps in the midweek before the game, otherwise the effects of our Christmas over-indulengences will be well and truly felt upon our return to action."