After a week of momentous change, with Tottenham winning two football matches and the Obama family calling KC Dat for an estimate, it's comforting to know that the status quo remains intact in some small parts of the globe. St Andrews are still as unpleasant a bunch of footballers (sic) as you'd never hope to meet down a dark alley after closing time.
And this is a shame ... as they're not a bad footballing team. Yet, time after time, they seem hell bent on premeditated, rash, ugly tackles, late challenges laced with angry malintent and gob-shite barracking of referee and opponents. Now, we know, we're no angels in cussing and badmouthing, but our physical game remains well within the laws of football.
We know, too, that much of St Andrews nastiness is aimed at provoking BC players into retaliation, the referee’s notebook and an early bath. To our credit, we overcame this on Saturday, stuck to a game plan of massing five across the midfield, were resolute in defence, had a goalkeeper in fine form and took our few chances to run out 2-0 winners.
If I’m reading the EFL website correctly, this puts us second – 3 points behind South Buona Vista Saints with a game in hand, though they have a far better goal difference. It was also a first defeat of the season for St Andrews which, after a run of losses against the Auld Enemy, is heartening news.
Yet Saturday’s BC team was largely the same bunch of wannabee presidents so roundly beaten last week by SBVS amid rancour and internal bickering. One notable change, however, was the return of Budgie who, for all his swagger and narkiness, gives us something special, adding steel, bristle and no little skill in central defence. Constantly cajoling, berating and urging, his passion for success is clear and does rub off on those around him.
Largely because of Budgie’s contribution, with some help from IG, HP, CG, AR and GM, and some smart saves by the agile bulk of GC, the BC kept a clean sheet. The bashed and gashed BM, JR – our very own John McCain – DB, UN, PH and MB filled the midfield slots and helped protect the defence against marauding Scots. Up front, AL battled gamely to keep the hectoring Scottish defence on its toes.
The first 20 minutes seemed even, with the game starting in good spirit beneath a scalding tropical sun. Chances were few as the midfields largely cancelled each other out, with the BC defending the downhill slope to Bukit Timah Road. Then DB swung over a corner from the right and HP was allowed the time and room to plant a header past the St Andrews keeper for 1-0.
In the second half, the visitors upped the pace and upped the mean strike, with a very late challenge on GC going unseen and unpunished. Not so, a nasty scything down of the weary BM that prompted some wild gesticulation, heated debate in guttural vernacular and the hobbling off of the afore-mentioned Mr M. MB was tackled late and the referee was kept busy as both sets of players shouted, swore and bullied as the game raged on. MB blazed a trail down the left wing slope, but two long-range efforts flew over the defence, the bar, the perimeter fence, a bus, a taxi and the central reservation.
A shortage of balls is not something you’d accuse skipper AL of. As the Scots threatened, and GC smothered, parried and tipped over, Big Ant secured the points with a finessed shot from outside the box that fizzed low into the left corner.
Ton up for the BC first team – an extraordinary feat. Added to all the ESPZEN goals over the years, AL has consistently contributed to all parts of BCFC, leading the line with muscle and bravura, encouraging team-mates with his fiery, expletive-ridden half-time ‘pep’ talks and scoring goals for fun – from the trademark 25-yeard thunderbolt to the tap-ins that are the hallmark of a born goal scorer. Well done Ant, now for the next 100.
This week’s Barack Obama: Quite a competition; from AL for passing his personal milestone, to JR for a non-stop workaholic performance, to Budgie for a towering game at centre-back … but my vote goes to GC for an athletic stint as stopper … for some good saves on a difficult surface … and for just getting on with the game with quiet authority and not whining or bellowing in the face of Scottish provocation.
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