Tuesday 1 January 2013

Watford 3 v Charlton Athletic 4

I woke this morning down by the Medway to a beautiful blue sky and bright, if weak, winter sun. I took my sister-in-laws dog for an hour-long walk whilst the other adults slept off 2012. It was a fine morning which set me up for a lovely first day of New Year.

I was at my Mum's at 1pm and put on CAFC Player for my step-father before racing home and tuning in to find we had gone one-down after ten minutes. Not to panic, the Addicks at Vicarage Road were in good voice which told me more than the hapless BBC London commentators. We were having a go and had a goal disallowed before we drew level after 34 minutes courtesy of a Hoban own goal. Before I had settled there was a goal scream from CAFC Player and I held my breathe before hearing that Yann Kermorgant had thudded home a close-range header from a cross from Pritchard after good work down the flank by Wilson. Two-one at half-time and you knew it wasn't finished for us.

After the break it was all Watford in the opening exchanges as Gianfranco Zola's steeds reacted to their half-time team talk and they drew level after 53 minutes from the spot - our third successive penalty in the last three, Dervite having brought his man down in the box. It was hard to keep up after this as the commentary switched to other games and dropped out for up to a minute at a time (it really is a poor "service").

Geijo put Watford ahead on 68 minutes and I thought that was our lot. Just as I was bemoaning our luck, we raced down to the other end en masse and Yann Kermorgant was credited for the final touch as we again squared things up. Watford then scored at our end but this time the laugh was on them as a linesman's flag ruled it out. It was seat of the pants stuff and after another minute of silence my connection sparked into life to the sound of another goal being scored and I thought from the commentators voice that Watford had finally killed us off but the retelling was of a corner being headed in by Johnnie Jackson! There were 12 minutes left on the clock and as Charlton fans it was purgatory listening to the substitutions and our desperate defence as we clung on. I think they had another goal chalked off but it was hard to tell as we saw the game out and gained a justified revenge for Watford stealing the points at the Valley earlier in the season. 

It feels great to win on New Year's Day and it sounded like we we really went for it today which is what I have been asking for over the last couple of months. Yes we conceded three and could easily have lost it but the chance of three points has to be worth risking it rather than trying to grind out draws and hope to sneak the odd winner.

Plenty of other matches yet to come today but the win moves us to 16th for now and we are three points closer to Watford in 6th than we are to 22nd placed Bristol City. It's a pity we have the cup game next up because it would have been good to strike whilst the iron is hot but on the basis this season is about consolidation, perhaps we shouldn't be too hasty. The Blackpool game will come in it's own time and we need to be as ready for it as possible. 

Final thought today for Dave "Captain (Sensible)" Taylor who lost his fight against cancer yesterday. Ordinarily he would have been there today and he would have loved it - rest in peace Captain.

2 comments:

  1. man oh man Dave - what a game! Best away game for years! Crap pre match - no beer on sale in the ground!

    Their first was bit of a bolt from the blue as I though we'd shaded the opening exchanges. They are very adept at runninjg at you, with lots of diagonal runs off the ball though.

    We tended to lose the initiative after several bizarre free kicks awarded against us. Thought our second followed some good work from Cedric and one other - may be Jacko?

    Like you thought we were dead and buried after their 3rd. Lovely skill from Ricky on the goal line for our third, but it looked like another own goal with lots of ricochets and legs. Went mental on the 4th goal and had the joy of doing a rush down the front to celebrfate with the players.

    I;ve never seen a team go to ground in writhing agony as much as Watford. One main culprit was Newton- Charltonfans had huge fun with him and the ball right at the end - rounded off a lovely day. In the last 10 mins the ref started giving us the bizarre decisions - no idea about the offside goals as they were up the other end. Nice little cameo from Hulse at the end who was very professional; came and gave us a lone wave aty the end which I suspect was a goodbye.

    MOM Ben Hamer again. My son awarded it to the whole team though, and he has a point.

    Watford fans were incredibly quiet - we are a very passionate bunch at the Valley in comparison. had a great sing song today as well

    Man Oh Man what a day...


    Pembury Addick

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  2. PA - thought of you and the boy there today as our goals went in and our fans gave it everything - really regret not having made the effort. There were plenty of reports of The Udinese B team "turf-sniffing" today on Charlton Life. Bring on Huddersfield!

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