Birkbeck 2 - 1 ITV3

Match Report
Birkbeck 2 - 1 ITV3
Thursday 16 September 2010, 1-2pm

Editor's note: Thanks to Dave for this match report, and for donning the gloves...

A new season, a new age, a new team. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so the saying goes. Having survived last season by a hair’s breadth, Birkbeck again had problems with regular numbers and complete lack of pre-season training. A lack of cohesion was the gaffer’s main concern.

The teams rigid selection process, of a player’s ability to pick up a phone or answer an email, proved again to be a key tactic for ensuring one of Birkbeck’s glorious victories in the club’s history. One player even flew in straight from Spain, clearly returning from a rigid training programme provided by the Glenn Hoddle Academy. Most players however came from more basic training facilities.
Much concern was raised about numbers, but by kick off 8 were on the pitch, sadly by the end of it 7 walked off the pitch, this is a testament to just how hard and fierce this game was, with fast movement and clashing legs (dare I say a few slide tackles sneaked in for good measure), providing nonstop adrenaline rushes and end to end goal mouth action.

The first 15 minutes provided very slick football and both teams were equal to those 50/50 balls. This made nil-nil a possible scoreline at full-time and someone dying of exhaustion more likely. A breakthrough and a casual rest by walking back to your own half after a goal scored was badly needed, even for the goalkeepers! Thankfully debutant Tommy Champion kept his pace going for 30 extra seconds to race through the oppositions half and calmly place his shot into the corner, to open his account.

The game quickly restarted and the tempo again rose higher and higher, now the sweat was really in full flow, legs flailing, marking lax, and the barrage of ITVs attack continued, with the defence and goalkeeper frustrating and providing fierce resistance. Sadly however good movement is the key to many goals an opening appeared for their striker and most annoying man of the match award holder slotted the ball beyond second choice keepers trailing leg. Despair, anguish and frustration was on the look of everybody’s face as the game restarted. The last five minutes was a tense affair but was largely uneventful.

After a spirited team talk, the second half was underway and started in similar fashion to the first everything was going well. However midway through the second half Birkbeck lost a player to extra-mural commitments, in a game like this you really don’t want to be a man down, as advised in Alan Hansen’s autobiography. The game naturally turned in ITVs favour, with increasing number of shots and the frame of the goal being hit on several occasions, Birkbeck’s only option was counter attack.

Fortunately this was favourable to debutant Champion who again could use his pace to full advantage, by carving up the ITV defence, to slot home a surprising winner. One late save from the Birkbeck 'keeper ensured that Birkbeck took home all the points, on a magnificent and valiant team performance.