Classics v Richmond United
James Hill
17th. Nov. 2019

Conditions: The Pineapple Express was in town - raining heavily at start but clearing later

Players on duty: Chris Arcari, Lorenzo Arcari, David Breen, Jimmy Butler, Jason Clegg, Gene Crowley, Mike Deeley, Jeff Dickson, Willie Dixon, Wayne Ferguson, Randy Hosler, Daryl Lawrie, Gordie Macklin, Alan Massender, Dave Moore, Larry Thorlakson

Coaches on duty: Daryl Lawrie & Wayne Ferguson

Run ends...
It was a very strong Richmond team that travelled to play the Classics, a team buoyed by an influx of new players, apparently recruited from a cancelled over 40s game. The touchline was very waterlogged but the playing surface was in immaculate shape, considering the amount of rain that had fallen. United opened well but their first shot went well wide of the mark. The Classics countered in the fifth minute when Gordie Macklin tried a speculative chip which was too high. Wayne Ferguson tried his luck in the 12th minute but had to watch as his effort hit the side netting. The game changed on the quarter hour when United mounted a right wing break after a few uncharacteristic slips in the home defence. This allowed a cross to be headed home from close range which gave Jason Clegg no chance. The Classics were in subdued mood but mounted a sustained spell of pressure around the half hour mark which resulted in some good goalworthy efforts but nothing could entice the ball over the goal line. Five minutes from the half, Macklin released Willie Dixon who was in the six yard box but his shot was another which went the wrong side of the post and into the side netting. The score remained 0-1 at the half.

Mike Deeley sent a good ball over from the right in the 47th minute which Macklin fed on to Jimmy Butler who looked odds on the score but this shot hit the goalkeepers leg and rebounded to safety - if it was planned, it was an exceptional save. Lorenzo Arcari tried a shot in the 55th minute which was sneaking in before the visiting keeper got a hand to it to push it away for a corner. Dave Breen was next in on the act when his centre was well met by a diving Alan Massender but, once again, it went straight at the keeper who averted the danger. The ball had to be inspected at this stage as it was suggested that it was covered in Velcro, the same as the keeper's gloves. Next was an effort from the right by Jeff Dickson which scraped the crossbar and bounced to safety. Another long range speculative chip shot came from Macklin which was just too high (again). With three minutes remaining Breen tried another long range shot which bounced in front of the keeper and looked like it would beat him but he ended up with the ball in his hands.

The ball just wouldn't run for the Classics and United seemed to get the best of the bounces, particularly their goalie who was colliding with every goalbound shot. The Classics also had a stone-walled penalty turned down when Daryl Lawrie was hacked down close to goal. United had only one shot on goal in the match but it was the one which counted! If the match had been boxing instead of football it would have been stopped well before the end as the Classics would have won on points. The run of 14 successive wins has come to an end - it was one win short of equalling the all-time record which stretched back to 1995! The last time the Classics failed to score was on that eventful day at Peninsular Transit when they finished on the wrong end of a 7-0 thrashing.

Final Score: Classics 0 Richmond United 1 (0-1)

Stats
Crap Award: Not awarded but should have gone to Pat O'Krane (for not hassling the ref) or Mike Deeley (for wearing a Germany shirt)