North Romford v Ladzio 26/02/2006

NRFC went down to an embarrassing 7-1 defeat in a game that actually saw them on top at half time!!!

Playing on the show pitch with a strong wind whipping from end to end, it was always going to be a tough game. But NRFC could not have been prepared for such a huge second half collapse.

Romford started the stronger, with both wingers pushing on and the midfield trio bossing the tempo of the game Ladzio were made to look very ordinary.
The early pressure was soon converted into a goal for the home side. JJ whipped in a deep corner, Nev headed it back across goal, and Bosh arrived to smash it home on the volley.

Then came a blip. After some poor Refereeing from a Peter Kenyon look 'a' like, the home side were clearly rattled and picked up two tame bookings in quick succession. First Rabey was booked for saying "its too late now Ref" then Sutton for saying "well done Ref you have got what you want now, you idiot".

Romford did manage to re group and seemed determined to put on a show for their biggest home crowd of the season. Chances came and went but NRFC failed to really test the keeper. Even top scorer Sutton could not find the answer, he was put clean through by JJ just before half time, but thought twice about a lob, before scuffing a shot wide.

Half time arrived and NRFC were in confident mood, however the second half was to be nothing like the first.

Playing into the strong wind, Romford looked like a different side.
Their attempt to repeatedly hit long balls played right into Ladzios hands, and as the ball held up in the wind the Ladzio defenders simply smashed through the back of anyone that tried to stand in their way, returning the ball deep in to the Romford half.
This took the strong North Romford midfield out of the game and allowed the Ladzio wingers to run at the home defence as they were trying to push out. The result was cross after cross leading to chance after chance, and eventually goal after goal.

As the goals went in, the Romford heads dropped and the game turned nasty.
JJ became the third NRFC player to find his way into the book. After being blatantly brought down in the box and denied a penalty he took his frustration out on the weak Ref by calling him a C**T!! I guess the only reason he did not walk was that the Ref actually agreed with him??

Next up in the book was Bosh... For fighting! That is not a miss print! Bosh was fighting!
After thinking he was clean through Bosh was savagely brought down by the last man and the red mist descended. Bosh ran at his opponent, swung a few windmills, then ducked his head low, wrapped his arms round him and gave him a manly squeeze. I guess the only reason he did not walk was that it was such a gay fight??
The incident would not have boiled over had it not been for Pube Head, at right back. He put in his penny worth, and everyone else decided to put in theirs.
It was calmed down and Nev struck the bar with the resulting free kick.

Minutes later Pube Head was at it again! This time his tackle on the edge of the box was one step too far for most of the NRFC players and he received a quick jab from Waddsy. This lead to Pube Head (Art Garfunkle) bouncing on his toes and bobbing and weaving like an old school boxer looking for a bit of action with anyone. Ricky ("I'm losing my temper with you") and Clifton were in the thick of things pushing and shoving, and Browno ran the length of the pitch to straighten someone out.
Meanwhile the Ref, who would have been out of his depth in charge of a subbuteo match, just stood back, made notes and licked his lips at the amount of bookings he was about to hand out.
Browno was an obvious choice and picked up NRFC's 5th booking, but Waddy seemed to have got away with it when the Ref had a look around for him and could not find him.
Cue Bertie 'Spice' Smalls...
"number 4? he's over there Ref!"
Waddy later got his own back by getting Tight Shorts (who was playing on the next pitch - but his arse was on our pitch) to admit that Spice was the downs kid in the Fantana match report.

All jokes aside, it was a second half performance that lacked any real quality and passion (the right sort of passion anyway). When things are not going right you need to be able to change it around, dig in, and get back to playing your football. North Romford just could not do that.

Brown
Hollamby (6 booking and he did not get one??) - Rabey - Cordell - Ricky
Bosh - Nev - JJ - Waddy - Clifton
Sutton