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Now I know we have all heard about epic games or watched great matches taking place in front of us, but I believe this has to be up there with some of the best. It was an actual pleasure to be involved in a game of this magnitude, and also quality. You had two teams that were out there who wanted to win, but they wanted to do it by playing football, and by doing it in the right way. Ball on the floor, quick slick passing, quality movement, great attacking and superb defending.  Part of me wishes that I could have been off the pitch to watch the whole game unfold. We joked afterwards that it should go down as a Sky Sports Classic or Fan Zone Classic and repeatedly shown from about midday on wards. It had to be quality to be put up there against some of the best, it was must watch TV, better than any Celebrity Big Brother or Eastenders. I can’t speak highly enough for the intensity and furiousness of the game itself.

Pre match thoughts were that this would be a good game, on paper both teams score goals for fun and have great defensive records (what a joke that is by the way). Both teams were young and well organised, so it was gonna be about who wanted it more. It was funny because I think we were both looking at each other while the teams were warming up, thinking they look serious about this game. In a way it was probably like looking in a mirror, so both sides knew what to expect.

The game started at an amazing pace, everything contested aggressively but fairly. They were in our face everywhere didn’t have time to breathe; by the time you did you had someone breathing down your neck. To give them credit they bossed the first 15 mins, at times we couldn’t get out of our half. They hassled like packs of wolves all over the pitch, it was like watching the discovery channel, and I’d never seen Nick and Kye under that kind of pressure let alone Gibbo and Gally. Inevitably we did the Newbury thing and conceded the first goal. A good cross in from our left was met by a firm header into the bottom corner.  However, as we have all become accustom to, Newbury always love a bit of adversity. As our possession grew so did our confidence. You could see that we were starting to get more of a foothold in the game. Two quick goals from Jey and Toch had put us in the driver seat. With only minutes to go a silly free kick given away on the edge of the box, allowed them to score an equaliser. It was a sucker punch, but one we could still get over, but it was a good time to score.

Half time was upbeat, moral was high with the confidence that we were more than matching our opposition and in fact were out classing them at times. We hear many clichés in football, but one that rings so true in this game is you have to score when you are on top.  Every team will have a stage in the game where they will be in the ascendency, the better the team the long that ascendancy lasts. Being a good side we tend to have long periods of this. The problem we sometimes have is not taking advantage of this. For nearly 20 mines of that second half we were banging on the door looking for that elusive goal. Chances went a begging, whether from good saves or defending, or just bad misses. Normally though we know that goal is going to come but it didn’t. As the half wore on they came back into the game and started creating chances themselves. It was a real cup game now; end to end, desperate defending, brilliance in attack, it was one for the neutrals for sure. The unthinkable happened and they scored; that wasn’t in the script. Do they not know how this was supposed to end? The shock was like being awaken from a beautiful slumber, with a bucket of cold water. You didn’t know what to do first, but by the time you could even fathom what on earth was going on they had scored again. So the scene is set, its 4 – 2, we’ve been the better team over the game. We’ve used our subs and tiredness is etched across everyone’s face. How could this happen, we had worked so hard?

There’s something I have realised with this team and football in general, it’s not over till its over and stranger things can happen no matter what the situation. So with 5 or so minutes to go even the most stalwart Newbuyrite would have thought it was over. Lucky the players don’t have that mentality and kept on going. So we needed a miracle of Herculean proportions, and so like in Istanbul with Liverpool on a May evening we got our miracle. A superb through ball by Siva to JRB allowed him to apply the finishing touch profoundly with a deft lob.  4-3, 3 minutes to go, game on. Shouts of get the ball were heard from Danbury to Newbury. Big Will Savill, on as a late sub, centre back and just back from a long injury finds himself in the box with the ball at his feet. What does he do? A deft turn as if he were Johan himself with the right foot, and then a hammer blow of a shot with his left as if he were Thor the Thunder God himself. Could this be true, were my eyes deceiving me or had we come back to 4 – 4.  This is why you love sport, especially football, for these special moments. But it wasn’t finished there. Minutes to go and what do we do, go for it, or wait for extra time. I looked at Will and Nick and told them to go stay up there. I could sense victory; risks would have to be taken. It was like being a warrior and knowing you enemy is almost on his knees it’s just that final attack. We were Maximus Mereridis Demidas (Gladiator) or the Spartans in 300. It was now or never.

And then as if it were a film from Hollywood, the moment of glory unfolded in front of us. Everything went into slow mo, a quick free kick from Siva, a cross into the box, a header out; Gibbo gets it just outside the box, touch out of his feet and then bang. The ball leaves his foot and nestles in the top corner. That split second of silence is remarkably long when you think about it. The roar from Gibbo and players alike would silence any crowd, as would any crowd have gone mad if they were watching (Dave and Gally loving your work). The final whistle was met with a HUGE sigh of relief, but also one of amazement. We had been in one hell of a battle and had come out the other side victorious and that’s what counts, but this day will live long in the heart s of many. A story for the grand kids, where were you on that fateful Sunday morning in Danbury. Okay maybe not but it sounds good, but do you dare miss the next episode of the monumentus journey, I know I won’t!

In closing I would congratulate our opposition for being gracious in defeat, it takes character to play as they do, and take a defeat in a positive manner, well done.

Starting Line Up:

Now for the ratings...

Graham “I’ll take goal kicks” Tritton GK
Even though was at fault for a couple of the goals still kept on going was probably glad to see the winner go in. 5/10

Alfie “All about the goal kick” Egembah LB
Slightly out of position but managed to do a job. Had a tough task with there wide man bombing on, but dealt with him well. 7/10

Kye “can’t believe you made me take goal kicks” Braithwaite CB
Always seems to do enough to ensure the danger is dealt with, could quite easily forget he’s playing until he prevents another attack. 8/10

Nick “Air” Marrable CB
Was working overtime, and won loads in the air. Gave away a few needless fouls around the area, but was unfortunate with a few. 7/10

Dean “the Man to Know” Nevill RB
Looked to be struggling a little with fitness, which lead to a few balls being given away. However got better as the game wore on and put a few quality balls into the box. 6/10

Tom “Gibbo is King after shooting” Gibbings DM
Cometh the hour cometh the man, generally played well and kept the ball moving. Imposed himself on the game after a shaky start. Oh yeah and scored a screamer for the winner! 8/10

Jon ”Everyone’s favourite player” Galligan DM
The work rate from the lad was tremendous, but his smartness on the ball gets him his rave reviews. 7/10

Toch “Top goal scorer soon” Singh
Another one who had to fight all game long against good opponents. Ball retention at times was good, getting goals is something he’s added to his game. 7/10

Jey “Big Match, Big Performance” Siva WL
Mr Big Time (Joke) came to play. When he’s like this it’s a joy to have him in our side, was involved in anything good going forward, seemed to be everywhere. His goal weren’t too bad either. 8/10

Jason “why have such a long surname” Reynolds-Blanche CF
First game through the middle but you wouldn’t have known. Gave us the same energy we get from Saunders in hassling defenders, while also giving us a threat in the air. Missed a sitter with head after saying that, but scored an absolute worldy afterwards. 8/10

Dave “Nothing” Ademakinwa WR
Difficult to top last week’s performance, still got his usual fantastic work rate and industry. Needs to get back to that match winning performance we know he has. 6/10

Subs
Scotty “Plays when ill” Emmons WL
Came on for a cameo role and gave us some good width down the left.

Will “Johan” Savill CB or CF
What can we say, the game changer Johan himself. 7/10

Goals
Jey Siva
Toch Singh
Jason Reynolds-Blanche
Will Savill
Tom Gibbings

Assist
Jon Galligan
Jey Siva