The King is Dead Long Live the King!

ULTRAS 3 HILLCREST DOGGERS 2

Nige has picked up where Dom left off. Masterminding an important victory against superior opposition, Hillcrest Doggers.

Our first game of the season was a cup game and this was a cup game that had it all. A battling underdog victory. A winning goal in the final minutes. An amazing save. The lot.

Nige sent us out in an unfamiliar shape with a few players in unfamiliar roles. We took a bit of time to get our heads together and the opposition were making it doubly hard for us as they were a bang tidy team throughout with three very good players and we didn’t see much of the ball at all in the first 20 minutes. But there was a bit of tactical tinkering from the gaffer and one of our subs, Ash, popped up with a much needed morale boosting goal very much against the run of play. A sort of hooked left foot finish from just inside the penalty spot. 1-0 to the Ultras. We managed to hang on until half time and went in feeling better than I think we had a right to as we were clearly the second best side out there.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first. We spent a lot of time chasing the game but our heads never dropped and the Doggers equaliser didn’t dent that. We stuck at it with the back four playing brilliantly and Kev putting in a shift in midfield as we tried to get us another goal. And get it we did. With a cracking left foot finish from who else but Mr Consistant, Weaver. 2-1. They then scored direct from a free kick. An absolute peach into the top right corner that left Paul with no chance. 2-2.

It was a bit ding dong from here on in as both teams wereknackering. Then Paul produces a save from the very top drawer. The Doggers’ striker is through and as Paul is coming out their man tries to put it past him low to his left but he sticks out a hand and prevents a certain goal with a wonderful reaction save.

But then with the clock ticking on and a few tiring minds thinking about extra time Ash pops up with a winner. We got the ball up to their box and although the build up in the area was a bit scrappy Ash got his shot off which was saved but he side footed the rebound high into the top corner. Their keeper got hands to it but couldn’t stop it. 3-2.

And that’s how it stayed. Unless you’re name is Qas. The man himself scored a cracker to make it 4-2. Unfortunately the whistle had blown for full time but that didn’t stop a pretty good celebration from the scorer.

MOTM was an almost unanimous choice, Paul. BIFTA was Qas I think…

The celebrations were muted because we didn’t play that well but we got the result and we’re in the next round so job done.

Come on the Ultras! Which sounds a whole lot better than the oppositions shout of  ‘Come on the Doggers’.