Atholl 1965 Football Club News

Marked down

For the second week in a row the weather was red hot and this had brought out the crowds to watch the eagerly anticipated battle between Inter and 1965. To be honest the crowds were more there for the sunbathing than the game, but every little helps as they say. I actually knew most of them, so 30 spectators points please Chris!!

The Atholl found themselves with only 11 men after a couple of late dropouts, and against one of the best teams in the league this was always going to be a touch game. Especially as the Atholl famously don't play well outside of Zone 2. Most of the squad needed to top up their oyster cards to get there.....

Luckily the ref's free bus pass was a zone 1-3 and when he eventually made it to the centre circle he didnt move for 90minutes. To be fair, for a 70 year old he was better than most refs we have had this season.

In the first half the traffic was pretty much all one way. However if it hadn't been for their Number 4 banging in a hat-trick we would have gone in all square at half time. 2 of them were good finishes - one a great header from a pin point cross, and the second stabbed into the top corner from 15 yards as the ball dropped from a corner.

At half time the Atholl still believed we could get something from the game, a quick goal would make a big difference and we new the oppo would start arguing amongst themselves if things started to go wrong.

We started the half brightly with some good possession and a couple of good chances, however as we started to push forward to grab the goal back, Inter hit us on the break with pace and power and their forward finished well.

Inter then scored a final two goals on the break, one of which didn't actually cross the line after their forward rounded Monk and then cockily got down to head it in and didn't have the power to push it over the line - but, hey, when the ref's stood in the centre circle how are you ever going to know!?

Atholl had a few late chances for a consolation goal but just didnt have the clinical finish of Markfield.

Credit that we kept our heads and played until the end. We lost to the better team and probably the best team in the league.

Three games left against West End and if we win them all we'll finish in the European positions and be in a cup final. Most would agree that'll be a successful season for 1965 and i'm sure most of us would have taken that at the start of the year.