10-MAN TIGERS TRUMP TRENTS

At last! The 10-man Tigers finally gained the victory that their play has so often deserved this season, playing under-strength but with the heart and tenacity that the team name implies. Playing their final home game on the immaculate new surface at St. Mary's for the first time, it was a day of extremes but it all pointed to a stunning victory.
Liddiard and Biggs cried off within an hour of kick-off so Tigers once again took to the field with just 10 players while Caversham Trents, sitting third in the League, arrived with 15 players. Tigers moved Sinclair to right back and boldly used Davies and Sabado in a two-pronged attack. Both decisions were to prove inspired.
Trents started with the stiff breeze coming over their right shoulders and with the confidence that their league position and superior numbers merited. Tigers were determined to disrupt the visitors at every turn and Lee, Pickrell and Carter were quickly snapping into tackles. Chilvers did an excellent job of marshalling his defence and every time that Trents mounted an attack, one of the strikers was caught offside. Tigers had more than held their own for the first quarter and it was no surprise when George Lee picked up a loose Trents pass and worked his way into the penalty area from which there was only ever going to be one outcome. It was Lee's 11th goal of the season.
Trents did not look particularly threatening although they did present composed build-up play. Rustomji looked very comfortable at the heart of Tigers' defence but it was a lack of communication between him and Kassab that allowed the visitors to steal in at Wallis's left hand post and secure the equaliser. It took a little bit of the confidence out of Tigers and for several minutes passes were going astray and tackles were being missed. Tigers wanted to play the ball through the packed midfield where they were heavily outnumbered and it played into Trents' hands. When Tigers played out of the middle they looked much more of a threat and on 40 minutes Sabado and Lee were both given opportunities inside the visitors' box. A good save by the keeper sent the ball over the head of Ned Davies who managed to perform an exquisite bicycle kick that sent the ball rocketing into the Trent net, and a clear winner for "goal of the season".
A tired but ebullient Tigers 10 welcomed the half-time whistle and the question for the second half would be whether they would be able to maintain the level of effort against opponents who were constantly refreshing their line-up.
Tigers started the half well and within three minutes, Trents were penalised for handling in the penalty area. The usually reliable Sabado stepped-up, only to see a poorly placed kick easily saved. Trents sent the ball straight up the other end and a couple of missed tackles enabled their winger to look for a shooting opportunity as he worked his way into the Tigers area, only to be brought down from behind. Trents made no mistake from the spot and the scores were level. It gave Caversham renewed vigour and Wallis was called on to make several outstanding saves. But Tigers have never been guilty of losing heart. A few stern words from Chilvers and Pickrell encouraged Tigers to dig deep. Indeed, it was Pickrell who danced his way into the opposition penalty area and was brought down by the keeper. This time Davies took responsibility for the spot kick but saw his effort smash against the crossbar. 13 minutes later, it seemed that Trents were set to run away with the match. A lack of conviction in the Tigers' defence gave Trents the opportunity to claim the lead as the ball was pushed past a furious Wallis. Tigers had seemingly lost their composure and their hurried and inaccurate passing was leaving far too much space on which the visitors could capitalise. Wallis turned away one effort quite brilliantly and Sinclair made a magnificent defensive run to clear the lines with Wallis beaten.
A further Caversham score looked inevitable but Sinclair and Chilvers managed to work the ball to Carter in Tigers' midfield. Carter found Davies who, with two defenders around him, lobbed the ball forward to Frazer Pickrell charging through the middle and the Tigers skipper finished clinically to level the scores once more.
With less than 8 minutes remaining it still seemed that Trents could nick it but Tigers had regrouped and had re-established a measure of control. The Trents keeper had spent much of the second half standing very high towards the halfway line and Coach Simon Wallis was encouraging his goalkeeper to pump the ball long, with the possibility that the wind could carry it over the Trents No1's head. One effort did come close and with two minutes remaining another long clearance found Ned Davies who finished cooly to put Tigers back in front, claiming his second goal of the day. It was a great assist for Joe Wallis, capping an outstanding performance by the Tigers' stopper.
Caversham threw everything in search of a late equaliser. Sinclair, seemingly beaten for once, brought down his opposite number on the edge of the Hearts box. It was a dangerous position but the foul flustered Trents; Chilvers's nose and Sinclair's foot were pouring blood and a Caversham player found himself despatched to the sin bin. Without the extra man, Trents were subdued and Tigers had conviction and determination to deal with the final blows.
It was a superb win for Tigers and a very fitting end to their time at the heart of Teddington.