My AFC Telford save.
I tracked down a 12-point deficit from top of the table Stafford Rangers. I was running hot, 6 straight wins, while they had managed a measily 2 draws and 4 losses - Stafford are in debt and were tipped to go down so they had largely been overachieving. So, next game is against Boston United, the team in the second best form after myself but they were rock bottom at one point so they are still fighting their way into the playoffs. Prior to the Boston game, Gainsborough Trinity, in third, had just lost, so I had the chance to stretch an 8 point lead over 3rd, while Stafford are playing bottom of the table Hyde but are still only 4 points behind me even though they have been up to ***** of late. Stafford however do have a game in hand, so I need to keep pushing to get clear as the season is at crunch point.
- 2nd minute, Tom Murray picks up a yellow with what is literally the first tackle of the game. (Idiot! No need to be trying to break legs so early and it is not even a derby game, nobody cares about Gainsborough-freakin-Trinity!)
- 11th minute, Tom Murray receives a warning (I tell him to back-off and play cautious)
- 21st minute, Tom Murray injures a player and receives a straight red, never mind a second yellow. Even worse, he has never played this shockingly, his aggressive play was so out of character. (I'm fuming!)
I had been dominating possession up until Murray, my best midfielder, went off.
- 2 minutes into first half extra time and Phil Trainer finds the net. I'm leading 1-0 while a player short.
- 83rd minute and my winger decided to play a long ball back to the 'keeper (WHY would you even think of doing that?) in muddy conditions so the ball stops dead and is picked up by their striker who proceeds to hammer home the equaliser.
- 85th minute and Boston lose a man to a red-card, two minutes after equalising through a bonehead error.
For the final few minutes we were all over them now that we were equal again.
- Fulltime, 1-1 (That retarded winger cost me the win!)
Stafford are stunned at home by bottom club Hyde and proceed to draw their game in hand. So, I could have blown out a 6-point lead over second, and 8 points over third, but I'm a win ahead of Stafford and still only 5 ahead of Gainsborough, not to mention only 7 ahead of Boston now, who are in the the final playoff spot (5th).
Now I know 7 straight wins is a tough ask, but for crying out loud I lost that because of pure stupidity.