Sunday 30 March 2008

The agony and the ecstasy Charlton 2 Wolves 3

Although it wasn't on the agenda but due to a late cancellation from a couple of good friends for a restaurant dinner date (maybe they read my Blog) I somehow ended up watching this match at the Valley. My wife said" you might as well go now as you've paid for your season ticket" Ha! Ha! This match had the whole season rolled into one. We played crap, we played with passion, the defence gave away goals, although Christmas was three months ago, we played fantastically well , scored two good goals and missed good chances . The crowd booed , the crowd cheered. There you have it, the whole bloody season in one inconsistent mess. The beauty of Football-no rehearsal, most of it spontaneous and a match like this explains why Football is the Worlds number one game.

The first half, we did not play well and visions or nightmares of the Preston game flashed before my eyes. The crowd booed as we struggled to put two passes together but at least we scored a very good goal from Halford after a great Thomas cross. Unfortunately we had already conceded a very well taken goal from Ebanks-Blake who looked menacing all match, although difficult to blame McCarthy but his major weakness was exposed, that being pace. In the last minute of the first half Wolves hit a post and the follow up was somehow put wide. What an escape and when I went to get a half-time drink the fans mood was filled with frustration . The second half began without Ambrose who is surly a luxury we cannot afford, being replaced by Zhi . Suddenly everything seemed to click and if Lita was match sharp he would have tucked away two one on ones with the keeper. Weaver was redundant and we at least enjoyed the second half as it was such a vast improvement and we were playing to something reaching the Palace pinnacle. Unfortunately there was a player, the sort of player who we have been crying out for and that is E Banks Blake . He somehow beat McCarthy at the byline and smashed a great shot from an acute angle into the top of the net giving Weaver no chance. All around me, the fans looked gutted and with 5 minutes to go the fans almost ran to the exit. Four minutes of added time stopped the exodus and a magnificent header from Lita who ran half way round the pitch without his shirt and skidded ten yards to end up in front of Pardew after scoring. More emotion than witnessed at The Royal Albert Hall on an Opera performance. Why oh why do we suddenly think we can go on to win this. Weaver got the ball the crowd shouted kick it and of course Wolves gain possession and from a deep cross score a winner in the last minute. Mick McCarthy and his motley crew understandably went Bananas.
The fans coming out of the ground shook their heads in disbelief and that's that I'm afraid. A very weak Championship and we fail to even make the Play-offs.
Roll on next season- I think.

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