After concerns over the weather the evening before and a half-hearted cancellation from the referee, common sense prevailed as the referee confirmed the game would go ahead. Chris Taylor’s efforts of sweeping away the puddles in the goal mouth didn’t go unnoticed and perhaps signified how important it was The Crabs played this game whilst momentum was with them. Having beaten fellow strugglers Putney last week, Coventry and Wood (who continued as caretaker managers) knew how important it was to make it two out of two in 2018 against Brixton United, another team at the wrong end of the table.
Not wanting to mess with a working formula Coventry announced he’d only be making one change to the starting line up with Chris Taylor coming in for Dom Curtis on the left wing. With Liam Mac and Riccardo Montejo still ruled out and manager Sam Pearson too busy popping the question, there was the welcome inclusion of Liam Weyell for the second week running who’s return to the side has given everyone a boost.
Similar to last week’s game The Crabs started well, creating most of the noteworthy chances. Daughtry and Armstrong were getting the better of the Brixton defenders but they couldn’t find the breakthrough. Taylor arrived at the back post and crossed it back where it came from but unfortunately no one was there to divert the ball into the net.
The Crabs continued the pressure and it felt like just a matter of time before they opened the scoring, Liam Weyell was next to come close but he couldn’t direct his header on target as he towered over his marker. Similar to the Putney game, the longer The Crabs went without a goal, the more susceptible they became to a quick break from their opponents and they nearly conceded from this very situation. A hopeful long ball caught the two centres backs flat footed but luckily Dean Ashmore was equal to the Brixton forwards effort.
Brixton seemed to be growing in confidence but this only acted as a wake-up call for The Crabs who knew they needed to get the first goal. Ian Armstrong took matters into his own hands with a smart run into the box from the right hand side. The big Scouser was too much to handle for the Brixton defender who ended up putting in a poorly timed challenge bringing the big man to the ground and giving the referee no doubt but to point to the spot. Armstrong also had no doubt he’d be taking the penalty as he grabbed the ball and placed it down hoping to put the memories of last week’s goalless performance to bed. And that he did, Armstrong confidently slotted the ball past the Brixton keeper to give The Crabs their deserved lead.
It could’ve been two shortly after and in similar circumstances. Ben Daughtry jigged his way through the Brixton defence before being chopped down just inside the box. After a few half-hearted arguments from the Brixton defenders, the referee again confidently pointed to the spot. Having just converted a spot kick ten minutes previous, you would’ve put your mortgage (or next month’s rent if like me you don’t own a property) on history repeating itself. Unfortunately Armstrong couldn’t double his own and The Crabs tally as the keeper guessed the right way and made a fantastic save.
As the second half began to the rain turned to sleet and the sleet to snow but could Brixton weather the storm as The Crabs looked to make their dominance count. Brixton’s one dimensional tactics of the long ball to the left wing were dealt with comfortably by Stu Wood as the ball spent most it’s time in the Brixton half. Chris Taylor had had a quiet first half but he started the second with a real desire to attack the right back and his hard work paid off.
Taylor has had a stop start year with injuries but he repaid his captain’s faith as he got the all important second goal. Pongy showing he’s more than just a goalscorer with some good work down the right and then a well worked pass across to Taylor who beat his marker to the ball and slid the ball into the net. Taylor’s celebrations matched his energetic performance as leapt onto Ian Armstrong like a child seeing his Weekend dad at the door.
Taylor’s goal didn’t just take away the nerves it opened the floodgates as The Crabs grew in confidence and Brixton’s diminished. The home side seemed to down their tools whilst The Crabs turned the screws and looked to fix a season that had appeared to fall in disrepair. Ben Daughtry was next to get on the scoresheet to add to his neat finish last week. Still channeling Oscar Wilde’s haircut, the Crabs playmaker looks to have a new lease of life (whist a picture of him playing rubbish football remains hidden in his attic).
Liam Weyell deserved a goal after coming close on numerous occasions however after hitting some sweet long range efforts it was a deflected shot just inside the Brixton box that gave him his first goal of 2018. The Crabs found themselves four goals to the good for the first time since January 2016 when an Armstrong inspired 7-1 rout saw off Kew Antigua.
By this point Brixton were begging for the final whistle as the snow fell relentlessly at Dulwich Park. The losing side looked like they belonged down the bottom of the table as they seemed to all but hand the three points over to the away side (who were not quite away from home considering the venue).
Captain Coventry has been a pivotal part of the 2018 turnaround with his role as caretaker manager alongside Wood and his whole hearted performances in the middle of the park but having sat back and put the tackles in all season he fancied himself a goal. Whilst his first goal against Lokomotiv Wimbledon last season might not have been as attractive as his celebration, this goal was a contender for Crabs goal of the season. Some lovely link up play deep in the Brixton half led to a cute Pongy lay off and a fantastic close range volley from Coventry. The Crabs captain tried to replicate his now ‘trademark’ celebration only to be rugby tackled to the floor by Pongy and piled on by his doting teammates.
The game was all sewn up but with relegation still a possibility, goal difference may still play a big part. The defence had been solid when called upon but they were let down by some bad refereeing that saw Brixton grab an undeserved consolation. A Brixton corner was whipped wildly out of play before curling back into the box and falling to an unmarked striker. Everyone stopped expecting the corner to be retaken but for the second time this season The Crabs were taught you should always play to the whistle. The Brixton player didn’t hear a whistle so tried his luck with a cheeky finish while everyone else stood around in confusion. The referee saw no problem with awarding the goal unperturbed by Coventry’s pleads.
Dean Ashmore had made a few great saves when called upon and the back four had remained focussed throughout a game in which they could have easily lost concentration. Therefore it was a shame to see a second clean sheet against Brixton stained by a controversial goal.
The Crabs did well to not let the goal affect their mind-set and they continued the rout soon after Brixton’s goal. After some industrious work by James Coventry, Chris Taylor worked hard to get the ball under control inside the box and slot it past the keeper with his weaker foot. Taylor who told The Daily Crab at half time he was hoping to put in a solid display went above and beyond with his second goal on top of an assist for Weyell. The Crabs were 6-1 up and brimming with confidence.
Just as The Crabs looked to regain their dominance, disaster struck once again at the back. A miscommunication between Stu Wood and Dean Ashmore led to a hurried clearance by the right back straight to the feet of the Brixton left winger. The Crabs had received a warning previously after a similar incident but didn’t learn their lesson. Wood will blame his uncertainty on the poor pitch conditions which stopped the ball rolling safely back to his number one. Wood opted to deal with matters himself but unfortunately for him the winger made no mistake in lifting the ball over the a helpless Dean Ashmore.
6-2 was still not a score to be scoffed at but The Crabs were not happy to let the game end on a bum note. Step up Ian Armstrong, The Crabs top scorer who had more than made up for his penalty miss with his work rate and link up play but he put the icing on the cake with his second of the game. There’d been some great goals already but Armstrong’s header was as sweet as they come as he timed his run perfectly and met a Daughtry cross on the diagonal, placing his header in the top corner.
There was still time for Taylor to go close to making it 8 and 3 for him but The Crabs had to settle for 7 in a game which captain James Coventry described as ‘one of the most enjoyable games I’ve ever played’.
So Coventry and Wood have got things back on track with two spirited performances however they were games The Crabs would’ve expected to win. But after a difficult first half of the season the most important difference was the confidence and belief that The Crabs are now showing. The manager Sam Pearson will return from his holiday next week with the club in a much more positive position as The Crabs welcome South London Football Network – a team they’ve never beaten.
Attendance: 2 (John and his daughter spotted watching on during the second half)
The Daily Crab 