There’s a scene in Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan where a Nazi soldier overpowers a young US soldier and slowly and gradually slides a knife into his chest. Today the knife was a football, the young solider was Ted Smith, and the game was an excruciating 90 minutes of torture.
Smith, a young enlistee, was thrown into the battle and was left mercilessly exposed by his supposedly experienced and disciplined defense. Each wave of enemy attack opened up gaping holes into the defensive line, and experienced defensive battlements like Coker and White were left static and crumbling while chaos ensued.
The first attack down the right defensive flank caused the wheels of John White to fall off. After that he never recovered, and the enemy knew they had an avenue they could exploit. Thompson decided too early that it was time to launch some kamikaze attacks, however he failed to find a target with his interceptions and too often left a hole down the middle. Barrett, for all his experience and craft, was not able to deal with the quick movement and power. Is this a tour too many for the ageing war hero?
In the middle line, Ryan Leonard had clearly been rushed back from the medical hospital, and was short of pace. Deegan tried to throw a grenade from an attacking position, which went backwards, bisected Coker and Thompson and caused significant damage. Deegan then got confused about whether Thompson was ally or foe, and after a confrontation did a Sergeant Pyle, stuck a 6-guage in his mouth and blew his brains out.
Worrall and Atkinson had some relative success, with their pace and guile able to provide moments of respite, and some gains in field position, but were not able to inflict a clear blow. McQueen was little boy lost, and Barnett more often than not inflicted friendly fire on his poor teammates.
With the engine in the tank spluttering and stalling, rather than make a fix to the engine, Colonel Brown decided to replace the windscreen wipers, with Barnett and McQueen given compassionate leave and Payne and Mooney entering the bloodbath. However it was only when the relatively impressive McLaughlin entered the Southend started to trouble Wigan.
The battle sluttered to its bloody conclusion. The occasional moment of joy erased by Wigan’s ability to calmly take time out of the battle, and slowly we chocked to death in our own blood.
God I’m bored. Fair play to the Southend fans to travelled and kept spirits high.
Ratings:
Smith – 6
White – 1
Barrett – 5
Thompson – 3
Coker – 4
Worrall – 5
Leonard – 2
Deegan - 2
Atkinson – 4
McQueen – 4
Barnett – 3
Subs:
Mooney – 5
Payne - 5
McLaughlin - 6
