Titans win in Leeds
Titans third GFSN league game of the season was an away trip up in Leeds, to face a team Titans had never beaten before, Yorkshire Terriers. A win was needed to salvage our season, and prove to ourselves, and others, that we are a team to be reckoned with. A defeat, and our season was effectively over.
A re-jigged line-up saw skipper Chris F in goal, James B at centre-half, and Chris M in midfield, with Tezza partnering Seany up front.
In truth, the game was a scrappy affair with the Titans lacking rhythm, but most importantly, the usual self-belief (or lack thereof) that plagues Titans performances was still evident. The simplest things were being forgotten, like how to control the ball, and how to string more than two passes together. But thankfully, Terriers were just as bad as us, and a forgettable first-half ended nil-nil.
The team talk from Ed had a familiar theme. “Lets start playing to our strengths, lets start believing in ourselves, and lets get the ball on the deck and start passing it around, just like we know we can”.
Immediately, the Titans responded – but even then, only brief and potent glimpses. Slick, passing football was intertwined with sloppy play and a nervousness that threatened to undermine our game – and our season. Yorkshire went close, Freddie missed a sitter of Coady-esque proportions, and a second chance that could have (and should have) made it two-nil to the home side. However the work rates of Paulo ‘Rory Delap’ Wheeler, Sean, and Tom were providing opportunities for us.
Scotty, whose performances of late have been exceptional, was replaced by Tal after he suffered a bloody nose. Tal, in an unfamiliar position on the right wing, immediately earned a corner after linking up with Matty B. Tezza, with fabulously straight hair, floated the ball in and James B came steaming toward the back-post and headed the ball down and over the Terriers keeper, 1-0.
One-nil, and suddenly the self belief/hangover ratio looked decidedly more healthy. Concentration and calmness was now the key.
Austin came on for Paulo, and earned himself a yellow card after fouling the Terriers No.6. Yorkshire were getting closer and putting pressure on the Titans defence, but Dave E and James B were incredible at the back, comfortably dealing with any Yorkshire threat, and skipper Chris, in goal, was magnificent in bossing the troops and organizing the team, as well as pulling off some great saves. Aside a few scary moments, we held on for the win, and oh, what a famous, and vital win!
Being honest, we hadn’t played that well, which makes this win even more thought-provoking. If we can win playing like that, then the future is looking very rosy for the Titans. But it will all mean nothing if, in two weeks time, we fail to get a result on the south coast against Brighton Bandits.