Fishers gun down Grammar threat

“Fishers gun down Grammar threat “
Harrogate Grammar 0-2 St John Fisher
NUS U19 Conference League
Thursday 11TH December 2008
By Daniel Birch

HARROGATE Grammar’s attacking persistence unfortunately failed to find the back of the net despite a dominative display in a 2-0 defeat.

It said much about the spirit of the team despite the fact they had gone a goal down early in the first half. This was in complete contrast to Monday nights sombre encounter with Adrian Hodgson’s men slammed out the back door of the County Cup by King James.

A typical bitter December day waited in store for Grammar who were set for yet another muddy encounter, with the pitches in a state of disrepair, particularly that of Monday night. There was some confusion pre-match about what was happening, despite a valid attempt to salvage matters with some sense of communication by the writer. However, it was clear that things would just have to wait till the day to see what would happen.

The opposition had a ‘good’ reputation within the local area game. However was this the way that outsiders can look upon these schools? They might have had good reputations, but one thing for sure was, Fishers had not had a good season and had suffered a humiliating 5-1 derby defeat against St Aidan’s. One player had quit, and the upper sixth was amounted to just a few of who had been part of a once thoroughly decent side at junior level.

As the game kicked off, Fishers provided a threat with Proctor performing a fantastic save, deflecting the shot off to the crossbar. Minutes later, the keeper saved a shot which came from outside the box with just one hand! On a general level, Proctor was a key player for HGS making many saves but also displaying a very good sign of leadership, which as of late in the battle against negativity has made him one of the key players in the School team.

Grammar’s defending was perhaps seen to be slightly desperate. However, there were some notable tackles at the back although the failure to stick on the man remained unchanged. This proved costly when the Red’s went a goal behind, in what was really the poorest of goals resulting in a deflected shot.

HGS tried to get their sting back in the tie, and for the last ten minutes they dominated. Auckland had the best opportunity of the game for Grammar when a one on one situation saw his shot despairingly go over the bar. More shots like that could have been useful, as the game was to be in the footsteps of possession for HGS but nowhere closer to a possible effort.

The second half should have been the nadir for Fisher’s in their Squad’s season as their serious team talks should have had the desired effect. Bainbridge proved once again he was the ‘key’ player in the HGS Park. Taylor occupied well into a defensive midfield position and the left flank were outplaying the Fisher full backs, with Holgate in the writers boots plus Weemes showing decent technique in this area.

The goal would not come however, with Auckland missing two chances that went wide plus Dyason and Taylor efforts horribly going off course. At the back, Carey Williams made the most important tackle of the game on the half way line thwarting the oppositions counter-attack. The man on his side, Anderson also displayed a fine attacking burst of speed into the midfield zone. It has to be said, the chances that came for Fisher’s however were easy but the players shots were the worst ever from an opposition team this season.

Fisher’s goal on the counter attack right at the death resulted in a good but unlucky effort. Thankfully no negativity was encountered as the word ‘positive’ was displayed as a squad despite this unlucky defeat. There are many lessons to be learned from a game of football. Not just on the field, but off the field as well. The frustration can come boiling in the mind but it can make you think logically about what had gone wrong. It is not just a sport, but a business and the events in trying to keep the sport to be deemed a competitive and serious affair at Grammar is still going, even though it has not been without its struggles.