Brave Effort

The Revs faced the league leaders and would be champions. After such an unbeaten start by Doca’s they had recently hit a bad patch losing their last 2 games, but were still heavy favourites for this.

Not going to lie, Doca Juniors started the much brighter. Their ball control and game management was to be admired. The beauty of their play was juxta positioned against the ugliness of The Revs. And by that I mean The Revs had to work damn hard to defend, scrapping for every ball, stretching every sinew for a touch. Typically this effort was epitomised by Phil Pinkstone who ran himself to stand still.

Myers was easily the star man in this period of time. Yes the opposition went two up in the first ten minutes and yes Myers maybe could have done better with their second, but boy did he keep us in the tie with a string of wonderful saves that the opposition admired as much as they frustrated.

Doca Juniors had thrown everything at The Revs and when the dust settled at half time it was only 2 goals the difference.

The Revs could still get something out of this with a bit of glory and some lady luck.

We didn’t get much luck to be honest, so had to rely on the glory.

There were missed opportunities, sometimes moments of panic and sometimes keeping a hold of the ball too long, but slowly The Revs crept back into the game.

Midway through the second period The Revs got their glory. And that glory ended up been rather, well, glorious!

A lovely weighted flick pass from Lewis Evans evaded the despairing defender and Beardall plucked the ball out of the air and struck on the half volley with such precision past a standing keeper to make it 2-1 and still plenty of time to get something out of this game. Even the keeper applauded the finish.

Suddenly the opposition were all at sea. Half of their squad trying to slow play down and pass it round the back knowing they had a slender lead and the other half panicking forward, rushing play thinking it was 1-1… Little fallings out in the opposition side weakened their resolve and The Revs sensed blood.

James Evans drilled in a low corner that Tyman beat his marker to at the front post but the ball went narrowly wide. Everyone was closing down and hounding, forcing the mistakes from the opposition. The Revs could just not find their moment of luck to finish the task off.

Late on, the keeper holding the ball had it nicked from him by James Evans as he closed him down but the resulting loose ball was slow to be reacted to. Dave P finally picking it up but could only manage a slow motion dive to the deck that had everyone laughing… It was a nice try but no Tom Daley on this occasion. Even the ref saw the funny side of it and cheekily asked if Dave was ok.

Alas the game ended where it had started, in The Revs half as the opposition made a few last chances to bury the tie. It ended 2-1 but The Revs held their heads high having put in a brave effort.

RTID!