Highgate United Bench Talk
Saturday 21 December 2002

A Merry Xmas to everyone for this afternoon's fixture as we near the 'Yuletide' celebrations period. It will be nice to see some old faces from my days when I pulled on a Highgate shirt on the odd occasion some 10+ years ago. No offence meant Terry!

This last week has been a little disappointing following the outcome of our games against Rugby Town and Bolehall Swifts who are probably the two form teams in the league. The efforts of the players have been first class yet we only have one point to show for our efforts.

Last Saturday saw us draw 1-1 against a very good Rugby outfit with us once again down to the bare bones due to injuries resulting in all the management team finding themselves on the team sheet. Assistant manager Tony Workman replaced the injured Darren Carmell between the sticks and once again did the lads proud with a superb showing. The distinguished looking aged manager 'minus front teeth' struggled into the No. 9 shirt and 'Peter Pan' Grimshaw kept the bench warm. I've told Pete and Tony that they had it easy and I wanted to know with me being the oldest by one or two years 'why did I have to be the one that had to do the most running'.

Well, ninety minutes later it was certainly worth it when the team turned in an excellent performance to frustrate the Rugby promotion charge. Dave Harnett played his first game in the new position of full back and had an excellent game. I noticed one or two raised eyebrows when I informed the lads of that decision! All the side turned in good performances and the team played in a very disciplined fashion, following the game plan to a 'T'. Rugby had the greater pressure throughout the match and eventually took the lead on the hour mark. I think they thought it was all over at that stage but the spirit within the team shone through and we battled back and put them under some pressure with Mark Delaney heading home an equaliser within 7 minutes. We even had the sight of Dave Butterworth applauding the lads off the pitch at the end of the game! We must have played well.

Unfortunately Mick Hart, Tony Workman, Lyndon Price and Andy Reece all picked up injuries, which made them unavailable for the Bolehall game last Tuesday. Dave Harnett was stuck at work and 'yours truly' didn't have the legs to get through another game within such a short period of time. We made six changes, which saw a couple of lads from the University help us out and Chris Adams brother Richard made an appearance. Richard Whitehouse and Mark Langley returned to the fold and Darren Carmell pulled on the goalies shirt despite slight doubts over his recovery from the car accident last week.

We played very well in the first half to go in all square and that was how it remained until the hour mark when Bolehall got the luck of the bounce when a shot ricocheted off one of their own players into the path of their striker six yards out and he buried it past Darren. Within five minutes they doubled their lead when a 25 yard effort beat Darren at the far post and Bolehall made it 3-0 with 15 minutes to go. We never gave up the chase and the commitment of the lads was total. Whatever the injury problems, if we continue to show the same fight then we will give ourselves every chance of getting out of the 'sticky situation' we find ourselves in.

Andy Reece will be out for about three weeks and Lyndon Price should be fit by next Saturday. I don't know about Mick Hart at this time and Darren Carmell is doubtful along with Tony Workman. I'm hoping that Richard Knott is available to me to fill the goalies shirt and we are awaiting the outcome of a fitness test on Paul Webb. None of the long term injured are available, although I do have Dave Blake and Dave Harnett available. If you want to know my team then consult a 'psychic'.

All the players and management would like to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. We hope to see you some of you at our away matches at Handrahan Timbers on the 28th or Leamington on the 4th January.

All the best.