When you strip football of its post-Sky razzmatazz, it’s still a simple game. A simple game which rewards simple passing and the occasional bit of a ingenuity. A cliche, I know. (Not a Gay Cliche as David Pleat refers to a certain full-back down the road.)
So SiHKFC really need to take a long hard look at themselves, because there was some odd on-ball decision-making during the course of this match. It ended 2-2 when really we should have been coasting. We’d taken the lead through BennyLee and a long-ranger from Craig. Bish, bosh. Should’ve been good night Judas (a.k.a. Defector Sam) and his Soldiers. Movement was scarce though. The simple act of passing it out from the back seemed physically impossible. Was it the evening heat? The glare of the lights? The dazzling showcase of impeccably-ironed kits that Edman had paraded before kick-off?
Something was amiss. At half-time stern words were said. Thank goodness there were no spare teacups lying around in Edman’s magic bag of tricks - GDG probably would have hurled a few at us.
Whatever was said at half-time obviously went flying over our heads like a last-minute Nayim lob, as we started the 2nd half in sloth-like fashion. Sam (who else?) thumped in a header, exposing the usual Spurs inadequacies at defending set-pieces. SiHK retreated further and further back. Were it not for a Herculean effort from Edman in goal, who parried, palmed and pounced heroically on every Soldiers effort, it might have been more painful an ordeal. Another scrambled effort saw them nick a draw. GDG’s blood pressure rose on the touchline. Number 10 went on a scavenger hunt for a pair of reasonably well-fitting shorts. Nick B. threw him a spare pair with a saucy wink. Too late. There was to be no last-minute rescue this time.
A flat outing for SiHK, one littered with mistakes, but another commendable effort in putting together another huge matchday squad, one we all know is capable of playing much better. A draw was probably the right result on the balance of things. A win, though, and that post-match beer at the Derby would have tasted that little bit sweeter.
