The Cats welcomed the Canaries (he said, carefully shoehorning in that particular bit of wordplay for the first time ever) to SR5 for instalment 32 of the Friendly Cup, and... another Saturday, another comeback. Only the one goal to overtake this time, but with the ref in a sponsored card effort, it was a miracle that there were as many as 21 players present at the final whistle.
What could have been a marathon journey back from Swansea (accidents, roadworks, you name it) was shortened by the presence of Bob the human satnav, who guided our bus through the hint end of Brum and had us ahead of most SAFC transport. Aren't lorry drivers handy? We spent our journey through today thanking him, and wondering if there'd be any beer left in town after the antics of the Italian Mackems last night. Do they have black eye Friday in Brescia? They do now.
A canny atmosphere for RLB's kids to experience for their Christmas treat, although there's no Watson or Mundle to get them going. On the other hand, Quinny was in the building for them to appreciate. Continuing the positive news, Norwich were without Sargent (striker and general pest) so that sort of evens things up, and according to their fans they have a porous defence. Oooh! Let's hope cap'n Dan takes confidence from Swansea and has a few more to penks when the opportunity arises.
In came the team news..
Patterson
O'Nien Ballard Mepham Cirkin
Neil (c) Bellingham
Roberts Rigg Mayenda
Isidor
..and a bench of Moore, Hume, Aleksic, Aouchiche, Alese, Connolly, Poveda, Rusyn, and Poveda.
No Hume? Wowser. Poveda? Will he survive the warm-up, or would he get blown over?
The queues outside the East stand indicated a big crowd, or lots of people being late.
On a windy and bright afternoon we defended the North end and Norwich kicked off, quickly drawing a good tackle from Luke, then a good block by Roberts way up the right. A foul in Rigg in the centre circle saw us set Roberts away, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Somehow the ref spotted a foul on the keeper (how come Patto never gets those decisions?) and we had to win the ball back to set Mayenda away down the left, but he either overhit the cross or the wind got it. Either way, it went too far for Paddy.
With Norwich threatening on the break, Ballard took a boot in the face on halfway, but despite us winning the obvious free, it was us who had to do some defending. Rigg picked up the loose ball just outside the box, but his pass to Roberts was a yard too far. Both sides were quickly into tackles, which made for a lively game, but we fluffed a throw on our left and Patto has to get down to his right to save. We blocked efforts from the resultant corner three or four times but couldn't get in the way of the fourth or fifth effort.
The game's third shot, and we were behind. Damn.
There was a bit of nonsense when their number seven feigned injury and was hauled to his feet twice as he tried his best to wind up Luke. It worked. After Mayenda shot/crossed only to see it blocked, number seven was at it again, throwing himself to the floor near the dugouts and causing a bit of fuss - which the ref eventually decided deserved a free kick!
Mayenda and Roberts swapped sides on the half hour, and Paddy was straight into the box but ran out of space. On the other side, Luke was visibly twitching to get a clatter in in their seven - and did on halfway, getting a yellow for his efforts. Daft lad.
Anyway, we seemed to be playing to instructions by letting Norwich have the ball in their half, and neither of our fullbacks were getting forward much. After he'd been booked for reacting to a foul, for which his assailant was also booked, Isidor helped us get forward, and Mayenda burst into the box in the single added minute and looked to be pushed over - but no penalty.
Quinny did the draw, to probably the biggest cheer of the afternoon so far, then we were off again with no changes but a much more positive attitude. A good move down the right ended when Mayenda clipped in a cross from the right and Big Dan, still up for the preceding corner, headed in. Nice.
Mepham was next to kick the ball away, after Neil fouled their number 7, who then changed sides to barge into RLB. There was no foul given on Cirkin, then only a yellow for putting Mayenda into the east stand as they drew level at 4 yellows apiece. Something was upsetting their defence as the keeper and centre half pushed each other about when taking a free, which is always heartening.
On 65 Rigg played a great one through to Issy and what looked like a penalty was waved play on. O'Nien then went walkabout, carrying the ball all over our half before getting it away - then made way for Hume. We went ahead on cards when Ballard was penalised, then Roberts and Mayenda swapped back. Isidor won the ball on halfway and galloped into the box but was challenged as he shot and it flew over the bar. It was 5-5 in yellows soon after, and it was a second for Cordoba so he was off.
Haway Lads, twenty minutes with an extra man - let's win it. Keep our heads, keep everyone on the field. The free was floated into the box by Neil, Cirkin got his head to it and it fell to Bellingham at the back post, who, with a calmness that makes Micky Bridges look like a nervous wreck, sat his marker down and whacked it high into the next
Girruppp!
Being of a nervous disposition (Sunderland fan, it comes with the territory) I saw out retention of possession as fannying about at the back, but it worked. Patto did well to get down to his left and I think it came off the post before we cleared, but on came Alese and Aouchiche for Cirkin and Isidor.
We had chances to increase our lead with a few close things, and lots of good work by Aouchiche on the left and Mayenda as centre forward. With three to go, Ballard, who'd had a tough/rough afternoon physically, needed treatment and was replaced by Hjelde. Mayenda was through again after a terrific turn, then a great cutback by Aouchiche brought another penalty shout. Seven added minutes were announced, we kept pressing and they brought on ageing worky-ticket Ashley Barnes. Thank goodness there was no Luke to get involved with.
Norwich belted one way over, the whistle went, and we rejoiced. Resilience won the day, coupled with patience and clever play.
Man of the Match? Probably Bellingham for lots of good stuff in the middle and a a sweet finish to win it.
Merry Christmas all!
