Venue:
Hayes FC, Church Road, Middlesex
Time:
3pm
Team:
John
Leslie (8.25)
James
Allen (8) Jim McPherson (8.5)
Mark Grice (8) Neil Henty (8.25)
Aidan
McGettigan(8) Adam Pomaro (8) Jason Steer (8)
Lee Steer (8)
Gerry
Vavasour(8.5)
Graeme Thompson(8)
Substitutes
Leon
Ashford on for James Allen (8.25)
Paul
Goodlad on for Graeme Thompson (8)
Andy
Hardy
Scot
Drummond
John
Weavers
Match
Report:
The
day started off well enough; the manager had a throat infection that
meant he would be unable to shout at the players. We met in the
congenial surroundings of Joe�s Brasserie and had breakfast. We then
took our coach up to the ground arriving to chaos. Hayes FC had called
all the games off bar ours, so we created a bit of a stramash and
stepped in. The pitch was large with a soft surface, yet relatively
flat.
We
had the largest number of fans there, setting up a barbecue and creating
a welcoming family atmosphere. Children particularly girls don�t tend
to be up for much chanting. In addition we had two video cameras their
courtesy of my flatmate Chris Baxter and London Hibs Webmaster Mike
Inglis.
The
game started after for me an emotional team talk and we got wired in
straight away before they knew what hit them, Gerry V collected the ball
on the outside of the box drove forward and was lumped into the air and
a penalty was awarded. Up steps Adam Pomaro 1-0.
We
probed again down the right with Aidan and James working well, the ball
was passed to the left of the pitch, with Gerry V collecting beating one
and steadying him on goals, result 2-0. We then followed up with other
chances GV through again and again coming close. Toward the end of the
half Rangers picked up a goal from a scramble in the box, with their
play maker until then marked out the game by Jim Mc. 2-1 They then got a
dubious penalty from the dreadful far side linesman who had extolled
their virtues before hand and now sought to justify his own remarks. I
will find out his name he was utterly appalling. Penalty slotted home
2-2 and so came half time.
I
made a tactical mistake in not taking the players off the pitch and by
perhaps extolling the virtues of the Rangers to the exclusion of our
own. Second half reflected this changed state of mind. We were dreadful,
with out playmakers not playing at all. Collectively the team did not
want to know. The Rangers team while technically inferior to us out
fought us. We simply did not compete; the Rangers went three � two up
from another outrageous decision. Three Rangers players formed an
effective wedge around John Leslie whilst the ball was swept in from the
corner. John being unable to get to the ball being impeded was stranded
as the inevitable header came goal ward. 3-2. We had some moves but a
combination of lack of fight an continued bad decision making, resulted
in a goal being disallowed after 1 minute when the offside flag went up.
Rangers came forward again through our midfield, which in Jason and Adam
had all but given up, particularly after another woeful refereeing
decision when their centre midfield player had thrown a punch at Jason
in front of the ref. Play on.
A
spectacular Gricey error under pressure saw a wonderfully weighted
back-pass onto the in-form Jim Cowie of Rangers to make it 4-2 and game
and season over.
Match
View:
We
were all disappointed by our performance or lack of it in the final, we
were out fought by a team less technically adept than us, they wanted it
more on the day and scored the goals that mattered The refereeing was
amongst the worst we�ve experienced this season. The third goal was a
disgrace, the far side linesman dire and Bruce Bond craven in his
cowardice.
However
Rangers deserved victory and we did not, it�s that simple.
It
was great to see the support we had on the day, warm friendly singing
Hibs songs etc, and it was disappointing and downright offensive for the
sectarian nonsense that came from the opposition support.
It
was not a great end to an otherwise great season. Ironic, that we
confirmed that we had won the league the same day. You win some you lose
some. Overall this has been a brilliant season.
Well
done,
Kevin
Robertson
The
Proud Manager of London Hibs Football Team |