‘’Today’s’’ match saw us take on the lads of Pulborough in, to put it lightly, very difficult conditions.
Pre-match, a close eye was kept on the referee as he stumbled his way past the puddles, through the
ruts and bobbles as we awaited his verdict – game on?! The first of a few questionable decisions that
day.

The first half saw Rudgwick dominate possession and resultantly fashioned some clear-cut
opportunities to score: Blick Sr. weaved his way into the Pulborough penalty area and struck a half
decent left footed effort on goal, but the 9 foot Pulborough goal keeper wasn’t going to let that beat
him as he stretched an oar like arm to paddle the effort away. Blick Jr. then ran clean through after a
nice interchange of play from Whitworth and Joey (much more effective when vertical), only to be
felled by the outside of the post, rats. If memory serves, further chances were created and
squandered by the likes of Kizza, Blick Sr. & Jr., Sozna and Ross, but the deadlock could not be broken
and we went in at half time all square.

The general consensus at half time was that we were in control of the game and just needed to make
one of these chances count so that we could leave this cow field of the pitch and get stuck into some
decent food and bar service at The Fox.

The second half saw Rudgwick’s performance deteriorate along with el pitch – it became a real scrap,
which played into Pulborough’s hands as Rudgwick are more of a free-flowing, total football side not
suited to such Battle of the Somme-esque conditions. With 15 minutes to go, Pulborough won a
freekick some 35 yards from goal, which was sent into the Rudgwick penalty area and ended up
falling to the feet of a Pulborough player who gleefully stabbed home from close range. There was an
air of inevitability about it, having seen Rudgwick control the lion’s share of the match and miss a
number of good chances that on another day would have been converted.

However, with just 10 minutes remaining, the game was about to be turned on its head. Rudgwick
won a free kick midway into the Pulborough half. Finally, a chance to use our routine straight off the
training ground! Just as rehearsed, Sozna whipped in a delicious waist hight ball falling just inside the
Pulborough penalty area; Blick Sr., who was in on the routine, performed the old classic Zlatan
Ibrahimovic backheel looping volley over the 9ft Pulborough ‘keeper’s head! Game on! Rudgwick
buoyed by the well-rehearsed set piece goal really went out all guns blazing to win the battle and it
wasn’t long before a chance would present itself – a flowing move starting from the back made its
way over to Kizza on the righthand side; cross! Cross! Was the cry from his comrades, but Kizza had
other ideas... the Pulborough ‘keeper, anticipating the cross, left his post like a WW1 front line
insubordinate, which Kizza spotted and punished by whipping in the back of the net making it 2-1
Rudgwick! Cue made scenes of celebration on the touchline and on the Pitch. The Rudgwick defence
stood resolute for the closing minutes and The Railwaymen got back to winning ways!

Match ratings:
Harry Powling: 8/10 Made a superb save in the second half. All round good performance.

Dan Baker: 7/10 Reduced their striker to no shots on goal. The second best Steve Jobs fancy dress
outfit at the Christmas bash.

Andrew Whitworth: 7/10 Took one for the team with the most professional of professional fouls in
the dying moments to prevent a clear goal scoring opportunity for Pulborough. Went off theme for
the fancy dress, leaving the lads surprised that a 16 th century aristocrat can pass as a dead celeb.

Shane Cholwich: 7/10 Solid performance despite the odd Cruyff. Rubbish fancy dress outfit, shocker.

Luke Furber: 7/10 Came in, did a job - all you can ask. Didn’t clean that lads’ boots, disappointing.

Joe Berwick: 6/10 Good combative performance, but loses marks for shameful display in rondo. Also
bottled the Xmas social big time.

Ross Higham: 7/10 Always battled hard with their best player in the middle. Not sure what angle you
were going at for the fancy dress, Rossy – needs work.

Graeme Sozna: 7/10 A classic very good Sozna display but looks like he may have put on a couple of
pounds..?

Steve Blick: 7/10 Dared to Zlatan.

Mark Blick: 7/10 Constant threat and battled well with the centre halves all game. Worst of the Steve
Irwins, more like Bill Oddie mixed with Wayne Lineker.

Kizza Grieg: 8/10 Scored the winner and won MoM, happy days. Second best Steve Irwin on the
night.

Brad Barnett – 7/10 performance, but 10/10 for fancy dress at the Christmas do and could have
stumbled across a better suited hairstyle in the process.

Dan Dray – 7/10 Loves it, absolutely mad for it.

Adam Kemp – Kempy’s the freak of the week every damn week.

Neil Winckworth – Good to see the old boy back out on the pitch. One for the spectators that one.