Baileys travelled to taylors avenue this morning to take on a high flying division 4 side in the shape of Spiders Web Madrid, Baileys were missing the gaffer Blasty, off galavanting in Ibiza, sinking some E's and having the odd social beer, also missing were experienced defender John Nelson, playmaker Eddie Atkin and dynamo Ben Simpson, who was still recovering from a facial injury sustained the week before.
With Blasty unavailable it was up to injured Keeper Shaun Leightley to get the troops motivated with some unorthodox sunday league team talks and rituals.
The game started in good fashion with Madrid having plenty of the ball and putting the back four of Smith, Freudenburg, Jackson and Stratton under sustained pressure for a long period of the game which they dealt with quite well, The Central midfield pairing on O'Donovan and Vince were biting into tackles and encouraging Baileys to get a foot hold in the game, However, the breakthrough came from a controversial penalty after a ball was delivered into the baileys box only for Smith to conceed the spot kick after some bemusement from Smith the spot kick was taken well in the bottom left corner leaving the returning keeper Tony Ramsey grasping at thin air as he dived the opposite way, Both teams were playing the right kind of football with it being on the floor for the majority of the game, baileys had a couple of set pieces and half chances but nothing came as they went in to the break 1-0 down.
After Some encouraging words from the stand in gaffer, baileys started having a lot more of the ball and using the wingers Thomas and Pykett trying to get the ball through to Barry Ramsey and Andy Blake who had been stifled of service for large parts of the game, the biggest concern at the start of the second half was the fitness of keeper Ramsey, who had taken a heavy knock to both knees as he went down low at an attackers feet to claim the ball, he was able to continue much to the relief of the baileys boys after Newens had been readying himself for a spell in the sticks. It wasnt long before some changes were made as Evison and Newens arrived on the pitch at the expense of Wingers Pykett and Thomas in a straight double swap.
Madrid scored a dubious second soon after as a ball was played into the centre then nodded on spliting the back line which baileys were appealing for offside the striker unduly placed the ball past the hapless keeper, the flag was up but not with conviction, the referee went to talk to the linesman who was the previously withdrawn Rick Thomas and after a brief discussion the ref allowed the goal to stand. Baileys started to chase the game after that and Ramsey missed a good chance after being slipped in by Newens and he accuratley placed it into the keepers chest, a couple of surges through the centre from O'Donovan but thats all that Baileys could Muster,

Overall a highly satisfying performance from the Division 7 side who battled away but just couldnt finish with any end product, Congrats to Spiders Web Madrid for Progressing in the cup and the game which was played in really good spirit for the whole 90 minutes.  

--Last edited by Steve on 2007-10-07 15:09:50 --

Im surprised Baileys managed to field a 5 a side team let alone  11 with all the players missing at the biginning. Load the excuses in early thats what i like Steve

u boys did well today could have gone either way very low par performance from the madrid boys today

was a diffcult game for us but i think you boys just edged it in the attacking sense maybe.

Excuses are the corner stone of sunday league chiff, some crackers coming out every week!
still havent heard from the sun about the chief football writers job! not a happy bunny!  

Your reports are actually quality pieces m8 just need a bit more like him off radio 5 and its a knockout is it Stuart Hall??? type quotes to make them the finished article.