50 up and still going........

With Ray Marrington and Chuck McGill missing from the starting line up it was a case of resorting to old defensive tactics with one of the twin towers being replaced by Dave Moore who is affectionately known as the leaning tower by his playing colleagues. Moore was soon in the action when he went forward for an early Jim Eden corner as he made a valiant attempt to head the ball in, but only succeeded in acting like a Sealey’s bowling ball when he accidentally knocked the goalkeeper and several defenders down like nine-pins, ending up in the back of the net himself. Several of the defending players took exception to this mild act and a scuffle broke out. One of the defenders said to him, "look at your eyes, it’s obvious that you’re angry." Now ask yourself, is it possible to look at your own eyes? Try as he may he couldn’t do it, and as he didn’t have his compact mirror with him he gave up. The game continued with Moore still looking cock-eyed!

The Vikings could have taken an early lead when their number 23 raced past Fisher Crockett on the right wing as if he had lead in his boots. His effort was not on target however, and the danger passed. There were a few more chances for the home team before Alfie Deglan carried on from where he left off last week. With the game barely 10 minutes old a nice ball from Bruce Cook allowed Deglan to hammer home a fierce shot to the bottom left hand corner to put the Classics in the lead. After this action the Classics took their foot off the pedal and played what could best be described as a very clumsy game with many passes going astray. Cook was one of the players who couldn’t tell the red shirts from the blue as he played 3 or 4 successive balls direct to the opposition. The remainder of the first half was a story of missed chances with Deglan, Cook, Chris Arcari and Eden all guilty of missing good goal scoring opportunities.

The second half was a continuance of the first half with a very incohesive Classics midfield and front line. Instead of treating the ball like a friend whom they didn’t want to lose, they frittered away possession much too easily and allowed the Vikings some break away chances. The defence was again holding strong and not prepared to give up any goals. Manny Soucker had a good game and made some decisive saves. With the score at 1-0 there was always a chance that a sloppy goal or a piece of magic could change the face of the game. The Vikings playing style was unpredictable to say the least with an unusual front line of three attackers, and it seemed to knock the Classics out of their usual confident stride.

With 15 minutes to go a strong header out of defence from Moore set the Classics away on one of the best moves of the game. The ball touched at least four Classics players before Mike Snow sent over a lovely right wing cross to the back post where Cook was lurking. Cook rose majestically and looped his header over the keeper to kill off any chances of a Vikings recovery. It was just what the home side needed as security.

The character of a good team is being able to win ugly and this was one of those games that the pundits refer to as having won ugly, and ugly it was. Still, it’s the big "five-o" mark, a remarkable undefeated run which now beats the Arsenal record, and a run which stretches back to February 2003 since the Classics last tasted defeat.

Final Score 2-0 (1-0)

Stats:
MWG: A. Deglan
You were crap award: T. Short reluctantly accepted