And Finally
“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T.S.Eliot
It’s perhaps a sign of the times that we have players in the first team squad that I have yet to see. It’s already clear to me that we have many more options than we had last season and different ways of playing. Good teams have a plan B and great teams a plan C. One of our stewards, while telling me that he was desperate that Dimi Mitov should not be sold to Rangers, that Sam Smith could go because we have plenty of forwards. After yesterday I am even more convinced that Sam mustn’t go anywhere. He was a constant thorn in the side of Exeter’s defence all afternoon. He scored a fine header and also demonstrated a range of skills rarely found in a striker. He also has attitude and let one or two of the players know what he thought. He knows how to give it back too. Marvellous. All our forwards did well yesterday. Harvey is a really strong and versatile player who pops up in the most unlikely places and is really combative. Big Joe is too nice but he knows what to expect from Referees.
We didn’t start well yesterday. Exeter are a good side and will surprise a few people. They move the ball quickly and shoot on sight. It was a really good game because they are primarily a footballing side. For all that, we had chances and perhaps should have taken a couple. Some of our passing was unusually wayward and I began to wonder whether the oppressive heat had affected the pressure in the ball.
We were much better and more recognisable in the second half, despite the fact that Digby and May had not been at their best. They began to grow into it. Inevitably, Exeter scored. It was always going to be the tiresome Jevani Brown who had been previously winding up the Habbin, never a good idea. Their goal owed a lot to a referee who seemed to forget that he was there for long periods of time. Nombe fouled Jones during the lead up to the goal. We waited for it to be disallowed. After that, nothing our officials did surprised me in the least.
We got what we thought was going to be a well earned point when Smith planted a well directed header into the net. After that Exeter slowed the game down even more. It was seriously hot. There were a lot of drinks breaks and Mark Bonner continued to wear long sleeves while insisting on extra effort. The referee was at least consistent, booking Lankester for pointing out that actually it was our throw. Near the end, Digby scored from another fine header. We had been causing them problems but seemed to be out of luck. There was a lot of time left in the game, seemingly. There was no sign of a board and I wondered if we would play until Exeter scored. Even when Exeter’s giant goalkeeper came up for an Exeter corner and went right through Williams, the referee saw no need to blow his whistle. Eventually he did. Coconuts was played. Bonner looked hot and we talked all the way home about what a good start this has been to the season. Hopefully it will be cooler in Portsmouth.
Finally, like a small child, I have a sticker book. It’s an old tradition. Yesterday’s programme had a sticker of Andrew Bennett. How wonderful. My club are winners on the pitch but they’re great off it too.
Up the U’s!
Andrew Stephen