V
On a breezy Tuesday evening AFC Totton sent out a team of trialists and youth players against a similarly inexperienced Blackfield team.
Totton's team included goalkeeper Ross Casey, sporting a much smaller afro than when he starred in the Hants Senior Cup final in May, defenders Kane Crisp and Adam Tomasso and winger Calum Davies. The team was also largely made up of trialists, many of whom shall remain anonymous. Not for their own privacy, but because I haven't got a clue who any of them were and no one seemed to know what any of them were called.
Totton took the lead almost immediately. A free kick within the first 5 minutes was fired towards goal by the trialist wearing the number 12 shirt. The Blackfield keeper dived and appeared to smother the ball. However, he then somehow managed to fumble the ball into the net as he stood up with it. It was all a tad bizarre and unexplainable. For the rest of the half both teams played some excellent passing football, keeping the ball on the ground and knocking it about very well and often to good effect. One player for Totton stood out in particular. We know nothing about him except he is black, wore the number 17 shirt, and is known only as 'Manny the trialist'.
Half Time: Blackfield & Langley 0-1 AFC Totton
3 minutes into the second half, Blackfield were inches away from an equaliser when a corner from the left was headed against the crossbar out of the reach of Ross Casey in the Totton goal. On 57 minutes Blackfield did get themselves level. Another good passing move ended with the ball being collected on the edge of the box and a curling side-footed shot evaded Casey's outstretched arm to find the back of the net.
Both sides made multiple substitutions that seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and as legs tired the game began to fizzle out, with players on both teams making mistakes. Passes went awry and neither side could keep the ball for more than 2 or 3 passes before giving it away. Eventually the referee brought the game to an end with the light (and the players) fading.
Both sides made multiple substitutions that seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and as legs tired the game began to fizzle out, with players on both teams making mistakes. Passes went awry and neither side could keep the ball for more than 2 or 3 passes before giving it away. Eventually the referee brought the game to an end with the light (and the players) fading.
Full Time: Blackfield & Langley 1-1 AFC Totton
Both teams started very brightly, with accurate passing, solid defending and crunching, but fair, tackles flying in. In the second half all of this seemed to disappear on both sides. So all in all, a fair result. Totton's next friendly is a week today on Wednesday 20th July at 7:45pm, when the Southampton under 21 team come to the Testwood Stadium. Be there!
Manny could be Manny Williams, who I think was released by Havant & Waterlooville this summer? I think he used to play for Leyton Orient or Dagenham & Redbridge (should have looked that up before posting!). Should be a decent player at Southern League level.
ReplyDeleteSomeone at the game last night said something about Havant & Waterlooville. You could be on to something. I'm going to do a bit more research and see if I can find anything on him. Thanks for the tip off.
ReplyDeleteHad a look online for info on Manny Williams and I'm not convinced it's the same person. Might have to ask the manager next week if he knows anything about him.
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