Match Report v Manchester Business School

2/12/15

History FC 1-1 Manchester Business School

History FC’s 9 game winning-streak came to an end after a hard fought draw against third-placed Manchester Business School in tough, wintery conditions down in Wythenshawe.

History were complacent in the first half; perhaps owing complacency to last week’s cancellation, as well as the sequence of comfortable victories in previous weeks in which the team hadn’t been tested.

MBS certainly provided a test. They were fit and combative on an extremely boggy pitch and scored a scrappy goal mid-way through the first half, and despite a few opportunities for History’s SAS strike force, MBS deservedly took the lead at half- time.

After an acknowledgment at half-time of the below-par performance, History took to the field in the second half with something to prove. A much more convincing team performance in the second-half followed, with an early equaliser provided by midfield dynamo and playwright Tom Glover, who finished close range after a rare MBS defensive lapse.

MBS’s central defensive pair proved solid throughout and it certainly takes some doing against the Campus League’s most potent strike force with Joel (9) and Henry (7) regularly tearing defences to shreds.

History dominated the second half of an exhausting encounter and fully deserved to be level and arguably win the game. It clearly wasn’t History’s day when with 5 minutes to go the ball landed at Captain Dan Bunter’s feet about 25 yards from goal. Reminding some of Gerrard’s heroics against West Ham in the FA Cup final, Bunter unleashed a venomous shot towards the bottom-left corner of the goal and it was in…surely it was in…but no! Divine forces were not on our side as the ball cannoned off the inside of the square post and was subsequently cleared, how unlucky!

Joel almost got the victory for History in virtually the last kick of the game, but a very good save from the MBS keeper denied Joel from a one-on-one from a tight angle.

Whilst frustrating not to win, especially in light of another win from league leaders BA Econ, History cannot be too disheartened with a draw against a good team in tough conditions. Also to be unbeaten in 10 games, comprising of 9 wins and 1 draw is still a highly impressive record.

This next week will be hugely significant for the team’s prospects for the season. Firstly a cup game vs Divison 1 opposition on Saturday and then next week’s league game against leaders BA Econ. Let's hope the unbeaten run continues.

Onwards and Upwards we go!

Dan Bunter