Finally...!

By Mergim Bajraktari

Finally 1-0 but this time for us! We beat the leader's ITT with 10 players then with 9 players.

I saw the sending off of Marco but do not remember anything from the sending off of Jason! I thought that we started the match with much more determination and honesty than we have been doing. ITT are normally one of the best teams in the league on the ground.

In the first half, our midfield got control of the match and for me it was a great pleasure to play up front with Gerry Cain. We made them work really hard with every deep ball. Their midfield played well in the same way as ours but our more direct play proved a danger each time for their defence. We merited to score a goal and did create many occasions, however at the end of the fist half it was 0-0.

In the second half, the match started in much the same way until an elbow in the face of Marco and then the vendetta of the 'Italian terrible' and a red card followed that was honestly justified! I cannot excuse his gesture and I also include/understand that Marco has had a fantastic beginning of season. He is always in the 4 first MOM votes each week but this cannot be explained to the opposition! They do not have an other means to try and destabilise us other than to kick, strike and frustrate. 20 minutes later a second big blow after Jason was sent off for a second yellow card. I cannot describe what happened as I was on the ground at the time or maybe on the moon?

After this it was ITT which started to dominate the match until we got a corner down the right. It was a first post corner, Gerry Cain shot the ball behind him and it went almost along the goal line but, big Sean got part of his body to the ball and it crossed the line. Goal...........!!

The final ten minutes was terrible and we now had 9 against 11!!

However, everywhere we showed our solidarity and it was a pleasure to see the last minute. Except when I lost my shoe in our own box and I couldn't untie a knot in the laces. I was getting stressed and everyone was shouting 'Mergi sort du la!!!! Or Gerry shouting 'what the f*** get f***** oot oh there!!' it seemed I was on the ground for more than 10 minutes. I thought Gerry was going to kill me!!!!

A well deserved victory in my opinion

Team: Walecki, Llung, Nevin, Mulholland, Lees, Egerton, Dixson, Peckham, Martiniello, Cain, Bajraktari
Sub: Thomas (Lees 60)
Goal: Nevin (or Cain or OG?)
MOM: Nevin
Happy Birthday Marco!!