Arun View 2 - Wheatsheaf 2

A much tougher game was expected as 2 of the leagues form teams clashed on a festive morning at West Meads. Much anticipation centred around The Sheaf's trip to the recording studio and Christmas piss up scheduled for after the match. With James Fallick suffereing a fractured ankle the previous week, Matthew Birch struggling from a bad chest and Richard Ragless going down with a headache on the morning of the match the manager was again forced into changes. Club captain Benny Whiffin returned after hamstring trouble to partner Lee Baldwin in central midfield Russ Chandler taking Fallick's place up front and Shane Sutton coming in at right back.The game began with The Sheaf playing some good possession football, Villa on the left and Chandler up front particularly prominent. It wasn't long before the first clear chance of the game was created Sherwell going clear through but firing straight at the keeper. Almost immediately another chance this time to Chandler who like his strkie partner earlier should have done better. As it turned out this was to be the story of the half - chance after chance created by The Sheaf only for them to be wasted. Chandler obviously suffering from his lack of match practice the main culprit but he continued to run his socks off fo the team. Other chances fell to Sherwell and Shackleton and normally at least 2 or 3 of these would be taken. Arun View offered little except the long ball forward for their pacey striker to chase. The defence well marshalled by Bill and Scott with the Sutton's either side looking composed on the ball. The Sheaf were playing some excellent football and deserved to be leading. Villa was next to try a long range volley which the keeper did well to tip over. Just when it looked like the teams would go in all square a set piece was cleared as far as Shacks who took a touch and whipped in a cross - the ball taking a slight deflection before finding Bill's head as he angled it with pace past the keeper - half time 1-0 to The Sheaf.The 2nd half started with The Sheaf again on the front foot. Chandler with a great cross found Sherwell unmarked his header back across the keeper coming back off the post. Next Chandler went through but (just like Fallick on Fifa) shot straight at the keeper. Frustation began to tell and the manager let rip only to get a mouthful back from Chandler and then his strkie partner Sherwell. With Shane Sutton suffering from a dead lag an enforced change saw Dave Mac enter the fray with Shacks dropping in at right back. From nowhere Arun View started to get on top - after being totally dominated they had a spell of 10 minutes when they managed to finally test Eddie between the sticks. A burst down the left saw them get back on level terms with a well placed shot into the far corner. Amazingly they went in front almost straight away when after a good save from Eddie the ball fell to an Arun View player to scuff a shot towards goal. Bill on the goal line desperately tried to clear but as if in slow motion the ball went under his foot and trickled over the line.It now looked as if after dominating The Sheaf were going to lose. A las thow of the dice saw Steve Lewis launched up front in place of Sherwell. Arun View had a few more chances with Eddie producing some fine saves. With time running out a lay off from Chandler found Villa who struck a great shot from 30 yards which flew past the keeper into the roof of the net. 2-2 anyone could now win, the game becoming stretched.A good move from Arun View saw them poised to take the lead but a superb block from Shacks prevented an almost certain goal. At the other end Chandler again produced a great cross - Steve Lewis at the back stick looked destined to score the winner but somehow the ball missed his outstretched boot. A game that The Sheaf should have won but could so easily have lost ended in a draw. Disappointment but all was soon forgotten as the Christmas merryment began and everyone got smashed!! Roll on next week!Eddie 8 (long spells doing nothing - some graet saves)Shane 8 (defended well good use of the ball - was missed when subbed)Gav 8 (solid in defence got forward well)Scott 8 (had the pacey striker in his back pocket)Bill 8 (Mr Reliable - good header for the goal)Shacks 7 (has played better - crosses a great ball)Benny 7 (great for 60mins then fitness told)Lee 8 (worked hard - won the battle of the barnet with their skipper)Villa 8 (intelligent play constantly in space and what a goal)Sherwell 7 (Not his day - will be back on score sheet soon)Russ 7.5 (worked hard docked 0.5 for abusing the manager!)Dave Mac 6 (didn't really get in to the game)Steve 6 (as above but could have been the hero!!)