El Illusionistas were hoping to build on a good performance but poor result in their previous outing and had reason to be hopeful against a team that had dropped down from the league above last season.
The Ghosts, however, could not have had a more fraught build up to the game. With big name players Alex Civello, Peter Stadden, John Marshall and Rob Edmonds still unavailable and Sam Doctors still several weeks from returning from injury, the Ghosts were set to start with an unchanged line-up having extended emergency loanee Ollie Lauria's contract for a second game. Hours before kick-off the Ghosts were plunged into chaos as Lauria was declared unavailable owing to an as yet unconfirmed scandal, thought to be related to the high street gambling company Ladbrokes.
Hundreds of calls were made in an attempt to secure a last minute loanee, with players as far away as London, Durham and even Dublin contacted. Eventually one-time Team Yeboah and Xpression FM FC star Sam Parish agreed to step in.
Despite having secured Parish's services, the pre-match crises were not over, as traffic problems led to the Ghosts only just making the ground in time. As they warmed up, Parish was still nowhere to be seen. He was also stuck in traffic.
Eager to get the game started, the referee was not willing to wait and the Ghosts were forced to start with 4 men. From the start, they were under the cosh, yet the resilient Ghosts defended bravely, frustrating the opposition and restricting them to long shots.
After a quarter of the game, Unreal Madrid eventually broke through against the four ghosts. Wrong footing the defence with quick passing. However, within a minute, last week's best player, Brett Crossingham had equalized, forcing his way past defenders and smashing low into the corner of the net.
After drawing level, the Ghosts bravely held out, but the extra man and the sweltering heat soon began to tell as the constant pressure eventually allowed Unreal Madrid to force a second. The three outfield Illusionistas pressed hard against their five opponents, coming close to a second equalizer several times. However, Unreal Madrid soon capitalised with a quick break to score their third.
Last minute loanee Sam Parish then arrived and quickly pulled on his grey top to fill the Ghosts' remaining haunting slot. The relief of having an extra man meant the Ghosts relaxed and with a lack of positional sense and no time to re-adjust their tactics, the Ghosts let in a fourth.
They were, however, now able to build movements and, like last week, Rob Gill began to make runs up the pitch. The Ghosts man-for-man seemed stronger and Crossingham got the second after a he deflected Rob Gill's long range effort past the ailing keeper.
Moments later the tired ghosts got their respite as the referee blew for half time. The Ghosts, now replenished, were still in the game at 4-2.
Or were they? Strangely El Illusionistas came out for the second period extremely sluggishly. Several players were visibly tired, having run themselves ragged in the first half and time and time again the Ghosts were too static, giving the ball away with misplaced passes. This barren spell allowed Unreal Madrid the chance to score again, although much of their possessional dominance in this period could be put down to the six or seven backpasses they played. The referee seemed extremely content for Unreal Madrid to persistently break the rules and this only made for a terrible spectacle, as most of this third quarter was played out between Unreal Madrid's defenders and goalkeeper.
At 5-2 and looking exhausted, someone needed to take the game by the scruff of the neck. That someone was Rob Gill. Bursting out of goal, Gill got a goal back for the Ghosts in extravagant style, running out of goal down the left wing, before audaciously flicking the ball past his marker and beating the keeper with a low placed left-footed shot.
Player manager Tom Stewart was so delighted he volunteered to go in goal so that the Ghosts could exploit Gill's offensive ability. Stewart proved a more than capable keeper.
Bouyed by their comrade's exploits, the opposition goal was soon haunted more than Beaulieu Motor Museum. However, the breakthrough never came, as Unreal Madrid resorted to gamesmanship to keep the Ghosts at bay. A defender named only as 'that guy in the orange bib' persistently fouled Miller, resorted to time-wasting techniques and appealed every decision given against his team.
The forward surge of Ghosts left their own goal exposed and Unreal Madrid exploited this to grab their sixth. Crossingham restored some late pride and completed his hatrick, smashing low and hard into the net after a powerful run down the right flank.
In the end despite the obvious disappointment of the result, it was an improved performance and the Ghosts were able to score several goals.
Crossingham's goalscoring feats and Gill's dangerous runs look promising, as does the expected return of Alex Civello and Rob Edmonds in time for next week's clash with the more mature RS2.
After the game, Tom Stewart said, "we haunted them for periods", pausing to mop his brow before continuing, "They tested us out with a Ouija board in the first half, but in the end they got a priest and we were exorcised".
Both games so far have involved 10 goals, last week they got 2, this week 4, if they carry on at this rate, the Ghosts should win 6-4 next week.
They can also take faith from the fact 'The Grand' are only one goal ahead on goal difference after losing 9-4 to Varndean Academicals. The Ghosts have also scored more goals than 2 other teams and only one less than League leaders RS2 whom they meet next week.
Keep the faith.... yeah!
Ghosts Line-up:
Gill; Stewart, Miller, Parish; Crossingham
Goals:
Crossingham 3
Gill 1
Other Results:
The Grand 4-9 Varndean Academicals
Dudley's Breakfast 2-0 FC Red Snapper
Brighton Arthritic 0-3 RS2
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