Great comeback (to Istanbul) for the Heathens.

Cold, wet but slicker than your average and that's just 6x at the back. You know the great thing about this club is our hospitality. If you give a team a 10am push back, we will ensure you enjoy your first half…...then we will turn it up.....loud!
A strong Heathens team gathered and, with much delight, captain Andy 'Rafa Benitez' Moore announced a line up full of power, passion and precision. The inclusion of the silent assassin Tristan Lacon-Alin played into the H's hands as he ran the show like Xabi Alonso at his best, defence splitting passes and accurate through balls saw the H's attack with wave after wave. But, much like at the Ataturk, Holcombe found some space in our D and from a yard, just like Shevshenko, their forward would finish, boom 0-1. That was odd, we had had all the play and, most of the chances but Dida in goal for them was having a blinder, a short corner save, a worldly stick save and a quality clearance had us wondering if it would work out for us! But, Tristan Alonso had other ideas as he paraded through 17 challenges and calmly lifted it over the keeper.....1-1....
Then a period of too many substitutions and a bit of confusion kicked in as Holcombe took control of the game. First a long ball forward from Maldini found Crespo in space and bag, Dudek was beaten, 2-1, HOW? Two attacks and we had been undone. Then disaster struck, a sloppy corner conceded, Fenno 'Hyypia' Outen and Johnny 'Charagher' Lewis couldnt quite clear and a deflection past Seb 'Dudek' Zane put the reds 3-1 down and our European dreams were being broken.
But a moment of magic would light up the game as Dave 'Garcia' Forsyth slammed it in Ali 'Milan Baros' Basham roofed a deflection, on the stroke of half time it was 2-3 and game on. Not only game on but with the ball still rattling around in Dida's net, Shevshenko & Crespo were officially given the rest of the morning off as Fenno & Johnny slammed the door shut on the Holcombe front line.
The 2005 Liverpool lads needed inspiration and it was our very own 'G' that matched the captains performance of Istanbul. Olly 'Stevie G' Greenhead provided the impetus for the Reds to drive the game home. Having already had a chance magnificently saved by Dida, Olly would make no mistake 2nd time. Rich 'Harry Kewell' Mills robbed Japp Stam of the ball, fed Edd 'Vladimir Smicer' Thorogood and he fed 'G', cool doesn't cover it, 'Stevie' slid it under the keeper to make it 3-3, come back complete, now for the finish.
Adrian 'Traore' Greham and Will 'Steve Finnan' Godsiff were having a ball at Right and left back and feeding the midfield and forward lines as Forsyth, Lacon-Alin & Basham started to run things. But it was Fenno 'Hyypia' Outen that played the ball of the game as he slide passed to Edd Smicer up top and the forward hit his first successful upright backhand in 14 years to send the H's 4-3 up, epic.
The play was good, brilliant at times, Cameron 'Riise' Lester was marauding all over the shop, causing havoc and having party at Holcombe's expense, on another day he could have had 3. Chris 'Hammann' Hall was lively through out and played some outstanding passes, unlucky at times to not be the provider of assists but he was a constant threat from the left. It was heading toward the last 5 minutes and Andy 'Rafa the gafa' Moore was keen to wrap it up, on charges Olly 'G' Greenhead and following a mazy run by Martin 'Biscan' Harris, the Reds had it sealed as 'G' flicked the ball home to finally deflate Holcombe.
An outstanding team effort that Rafa will be delighted with. Comebacks are always great as you give the Oppo hope only to rip that away from them in a flash. A great day out and, dare I say it, we finished with a bang on Guy Fawkes night! BOOM!!!!
Goals:
T Lacon-alin x1
A Basham x1
E Thorogood x1
O Greenhead x2
Man of the Match to the wonderful Olly 'Stevie G' Greenhead!
DoD: Fenno Outen (for falling over, it was a tough call this week)

Well done boys, great win and a joy to be part of!

Report By Edd.