DEA Bedford Masters 2

by Steve Morgan

Yet another early morning Fall game in near-ideal weather conditions on a slick, but otherwise true, Astroturf field in Acton, MA. Player availability (or lack thereof) made for subtle alterations to the line-up and playing style of DEA, but the positive attitude of the previous home game was retained and we looked to take the ball to the home side from the whistle.
 
Overnight rain meant both teams initially struggled to gauge their passing strength and meaningful goal attempts tended to be mostly from distance. Jimmy McCall had the pick of the early bunch when he clipped a well struck volley off the crossbar from twelve or so yards out to the right side of the opposition's goal and Steve Morgan could and should have done better with a left footed attempt following an intelligent lateral pass struck by Jeff Downing, but he didn't allow the secondary ball to drop to get sufficient power on the ball to seriously trouble the goalkeeper.
 
With roughly twenty-five minutes of the first half played, a ball sent across the Acton goalmouth resulted in an entirely legal 50-50 challenge between the Acton 'keeper and German Dotti. The striker fell awkwardly on his left side and the emergency services were immediately sought as it was clear to all that German was in excrutiating pain. It was first thought that German had dislocated his left shoulder, but it was a break of the humerus, the large upper arm bone. With luck and rest, our left-footed Argentian playmaker should hopefully be well on the road to recovery in a couple of months, but sadly for both him and DEA, his Fall season is over. Get well soon German!
 
The remainder of the first period was mostly spent in Acton's half, to the extent that Mitch Green was able to make a rare visit to the final third where he got a decent shot off from the edge of the area that fizzed just wide.
 
The understandable delay to the game and the requirement to stay within our designated time slot resulted in a mutually agreed shortened second half, but time was the only thing really lacking. The defending and tackling by both teams was solid and proactive throughout, but DEA were definitely creating slightly more going forward and long range efforts began to rain into the Acton goal from all directions, but without any obvious clearcut chances.
 
However, this changed with just over three minutes on the clock. In keeping with the midfield's workrate throughout the game, Doug Wolfe battled to win the ball in the air on the right wing before passing it more centrally to Steve Morgan who, in turn, was able to slip the ball goal-side behind the Acton sweeper. Jim McCall composed himself (the sweeper was desperately trying to swap shirts, shorts, socks, cell numbers and anything else to hand with Jim!) and then calmly slotted the ball home to the right of the onrushing Acton 'keeper who was unable to close his angles in time.
 
There was still time for Acton to come back, but a well marshalled defence was able to see the remaining time out and secure all three points for the second successive week. The win lifts DEA off the bottom of the table and out of the two relegation places.
 
The question should now be, "Is promotion out of reach?"
 
" Progress is not created by contented people."
Frank Tyger
 
 
* I am away for the coming game. Anyone else feel like making some bilge up? *