Andy Munro on another point-saving performance by Blues.
All week long, Lee C was talking about the skills of Messrs Hall, Redmond, and Morrison but it must have been a cunning(?) plan to throw the opposition off the scent as none of them were in the starting line up. Papa Diop and Callum Reilly came into midfield as did Burke out wide but otherwise it was business as usual as we started off slower than the opposition.
In fairness, we weren’t that bad but Palace were undeniably the more dangerous with Zaha typically and predictably showing some great skills. Despite this, both Caddis and Davies showed some stubborn resistance with the former even finding time to push forward. Their performances were even more impressive as they had to frequently bail out a shaky Caldwell and, to a lesser extent, Robbo, who found his winger a bit of a handful. Mind you, in Robbo’s case he always has the potential to produce a ‘Row Z’ tackle to stifle any threat.
When Palace did open the scoring, it was a poor goal to give away with Glen Whooo? scoring at the near post despite the proximity of four or five Blues’ defenders. Mind you, he should have been booked for baiting the Tilton who, in fairness, hadn’t even targeted him for abuse. However, I can promise him that he will be long remembered for his indiscretion!
Meanwhile Blues laboured going forward despite having a reasonable share of the possession with Burke well policed and Elliott,L ovenkrands and King well off the pace. However we started the second half fairly brightly but conceded another goal, again netted by the prolific Glenn Whooo? It seemed worse was to follow when the impressive Caddis limped off. Why is it always the better players who get injured? Then enter Big Zig who immediately scored from a cross (yes, it can happen!) with a superb header into the top corner of the goal.
Blues continued to dictate and seemingly had Palace rattled with Reilly and Diop controlling the middle and Mitch Hancox marauding down the left. Hall then came on to add some extra flair and from one of his set pieces, Papa Diop scored with a towering header to send the Tilton into mass celebration.…RIP Haydn Mullins?
It certainly ended up being a point gained and one hopes that the ‘Changing Man’ Lee Clarke, will stick with the youngsters next time…youngsters who play without fear. Additionally, I would play Ziggy up front from the start to replace the consistently uninspiring Lovenkrands.
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