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Madhatters XI: 5 St Albans Tigers: 2
Gosling Sports Park, WGC - Saturday
5th July 2003
MH Goals: Rodrigues, Butler, Ellerker, Roughton, Patrick
Before talking about the match, it would perhaps be a fair
thing to mention that the Madhatters XI Football team – who hadn’t
played together for at least three years – weren’t quite sure what
to expect from the fixture. Apart from a conversation in a pub a
few months prior to the date - when Jane Melville’s partner John
mentioned he was part of a team who played almost as seldom as the
Hatters XI - the only thing that Dave Patrick knew about the St
Albans Tigers was that they weren’t Tigers.
Queue a slightly overcast day (perfect football weather), a
Madhatters team - cherry picked from previous ‘all Madhatter’
fixtures comprising of those available (and able) to play, an
all-weather pitch and a match ball and kit supplied by Stu
Ellerker and the match was all set.
Captain of the Madhatters XI, Andy Roughton who had cautiously
picked his starting line-up (pending last minute drop-outs) a week
prior to the game was mindful of optimising the team to ensure
every man knew his position. At the very least this was to make
sure the team had a fighting chance (fitness aside). Andy’s line
up was as follows.
Madhatters XI
Back Row (L-R):
Mat Tarrant – CD,
Richard Sully, Steve French – GK,
Andy Roughton - CF,
Darren Remmers – RM,
Andy Hunt – CD
Front Row (L-R):
Brian Benson – LM,
Ken Rodrigues – CM,
Dave Patrick – CF,
Warren Sweeting - RD,
Bruce Maclean – LD,
Stuart Ellerker – CM,
Pete Butler (not pictured)
An early blow was dealt by Phil Miller’s car overheating, Dave
Wid and Phippsy were also missing due to prior commitments,
however we had a squad – and by the looks of things - not to
shabby either.
The early signs didn’t look to promising however, the St Albans
Tigers looked like an organised squad who had been in training for
the event. They also got in a team photo before the Madhatters
squad had chance to have a kick about. Hmmm.
A slightly nervous looking ref from the Tigers – from one of
their numerous substitutes – got the game underway at 11.30am.
Shouts from Andy for everyone to keep position, talk to each
other, not to be afraid to test their keeper and to let them know
they were in for a game seemed to give the confidence the
Madhatters XI needed. A fairly evenly matched first 15mins saw
each team with their fair share of possession. Although the Tigers
had a few more off-target efforts, the Madhatters XI were passing
and moving about well. No-one on the pitch looked hopelessly unfit
(as had been the case in previous all-MH games) and it looked like
it was going to be a fair match in terms of both skill and
fitness.
Suddenly, Ken Rodrigues was free in the attacking half, fed
through from midfield and dribbling past 2 defenders on the edge
of the box before slamming a low shot past the keepers flailing
fingers into the Tigers goal. 1-0 to the Madhatters XI.
With confidence up the Madhatters team started to play up a
bit, knocking through a few chances up front, however confidence
gave-way to a brief patch of defensive frailty and it was soon
after that the Tigers started troubling Steve French in the
Hatters goal. Eventually a chance got through. 1-1. All
square.
Staring down the very real barrel of the ‘all-square at
half-time’ gun, Andy pulled out a double substitution to sure up
the ranks. Bruce made way for Rich Sully and Darren - who’d been
having a good game was taken off (for the meantime only as both
teams were playing rolling subs) to be replaced by Pete Butler.
Quickly the land-map of the game seemed to change and far from
losing confidence, the Madhatters XI put together more attacking
moves. The big defensive guise of Mat Tarrant and the more subtly
skilful Sweeting were coping well with the Tigers threat.
Meanwhile Rich Sully’s athletic meandering seemed to be causing
the Tigers midfield no end of possession problems. Moreover Ken’s
MK partnership were to come up trumps. Pete and Andy both involved
in a move with the ball eventually coming through to Dave up front
to put in the smallest of touches to enable Pete to hammer it
home. 2-1.
It was shortly after that when Mr Ellerker in midfield, who had
also been having a great came suddenly came out with a shot of
‘Beckhamesque’ proportions. Only yards passed the half way line
Stu spotted a shooting opportunity and let rip. Whether the keeper
was napping or it was just a pin point shot from Stuart, the 50yd
lob sailed over the rear man’s head effortlessly. We were caught
up in the elation of going into half time 3-1 up.
A quick team-chat at half time from Roughts confirmed that we
had every right to be confident – the Madhats XI were playing okay
thank you very much and no half time changes were necessary. Steve
had been playing very solidly in goal and had only needed Mat to
explain the passback-rule once! The half-time break gave the team
chance to go and see all the supporters who’d travelled from up
and down the country – many with Babyhatters in tow. Thanks once
again to everyone who came to support the team – although many had
backs to the game during play you did all clap at the right points
when the team scored – and no babies were hit by footballs.
And so back to the action, with the second half only seconds
underway, Ken, who’d sustained a nasty graze earlier decided to go
off for a bit, making way for Darren Remmers in the Right Midfield
role. Darren proved he was more than up for it with a bit of argy
and some great through balls to Dave and Andy up front.
Resume kick off and the Tigers were really starting to lose
confidence, with their heads down, the Hatters were starting to
shift up a gear. Benson on the left, like a terrier chasing down
balls to release into midfield and Sully still hassling at every
occasion, the football was liquid. After about 15 mins, and with a
nice bit of passing going on between the team, the ball was passed
on to Dave in a central position. Spotting Roughton making a run
up front DP let lose a pin-point pass worthy of Gazza himself to
connect with the big fella’s forward run. Taking the pass in his
stride Andy took the ball round the keeper and slotted it in the
back of the net. 4-1 and it looked like there was no way
back for the Tigers.
With pending victory a small amount of complacency crept in to
play and the Tigers were managing to hold defensively as well as
creating some chances up front. Again Steve French was tested and
proved his weight in goalies gloves. However some good midfield
play from the Tigers and a good solo run reaped it’s rewards.
4-2 and whilst the Madhatters team weren’t too worried their
was still effectively time for the Tigers to get something from
the game.
Some more substitutions and this time it was Brian’s turn to
let Bruce back on the pitch. Ken also came on briefly for Warren
but decided after a few moments back on the pitch that he wasn’t
able to continue. With about 15mins to go and a few (but by no
means all) tired legs it was necessary for some more team talk to
make sure we didn’t do anything silly. Keep it tight in the key
field areas and if in doubt, clear it out, etc. Mat, Andy, Warren,
and a newly enthused Bruce were holding their defensive roles to
the last. Meanwhile in midfield Darren, Pete and Stuart were
causing havoc.
Darren also sustained a knock and was looking for Benson to
replace him in the last 10mins, however Benson had already taken
an early bath and was nowhere to be seen. Dazza played on with
injury and continued to field balls up front. Dave and Andy were
battling away and were causing the Tigers defence some problems.
Although to their credit the keeper and the last bastion of
defence were managing to keep the forward threat of the Hatters
strike partnership at bay. Until the last 5 mins of the game that
is. Some hard fought battling from a throw down the right hand
side of the pitch by Roughts freed the big man up in a dangerous
position in the penalty box. With a gentlemens nod to Dave’s
earlier goal assist, Andy declined the shot and passed the ball
across the box, past the Tigers defender and into Dave’s path for
a reasonably simple tap-in. 5-2 and it really was all over.
To wrap up the game, a well balanced match and, although a
slightly generous scoreline in Madhatters favour, a well deserved
result overall. Definitely something to build on for the future. A
re-match is on the cards – and this time the on-form and fit
Madhatters XI shouldn’t leave it 3 years!
St. Albans Tigers
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