A Win Against Tonbridge

 

Quarter Finals. Quarter Finals! The last eight! Charterhouse smashed through to the next round with a resounding victory away at Tonbridge and again the hero was the coiffured Allen, slotting in four goals and leading the away side to a famous victory. After a tough first half in which Charterhouse were staggeringly wasteful with their chances, there were many observers who feared that it might be 'one of those days'. It was rather like Brandenburg-Prussia's attempts at expelling the Swedes and gaining West Pomerania. Try as they might and close as they got, they were always foiled at the last. But then, at last, the breakthrough. Jamie Platts sauntered down the left and crossed for Allen to nod in his first. And Stettin was finally in Prussian hands! Well for a bit. With a nagging feeling of deja vu we watched in horror as Tonbridge found a reply from a corner. From all of three yards. Right in the middle of the goal. Ah. 

 

And so the game started all over again. Once again Allen, acting like some sort of Prussian field marshal, seized the initiative, announcing, like King Leonidas, to all and sundry: 'Gentlemen. This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! Remember this day men, for it will be yours for all time!' And with that he gathered his retinue about him, swept his cloak around his shoulders and strode into the opposition box to first demand, and then receive, a second goal for the visiting team. And soon it was three. And it was Allen again, this time with one of the goals of the tournament. You could go the breadth of the kingdom, from Taunton to Newcastle and you'd never see a finer goal. Andrade-Brown, who should never have played rugby last year, fired an absolute cannon of a pass across the diagonal of the pitch, whereupon Allen controlled the ball on his knee, swivelled and then volleyed the ball into the goal with staggering and unflustered nonchalance. There was just time for Jamie Platts to knock into an empty net after unselfish work from the magnificent Hammond. Oh and for Allen to score. Again. 

 

And so in the end it was an outstanding victory in the backyard of a great rival. And we now await the draw for the last eight with great excitement. With baited and rushed breaths. Lovely to be quarter finalists. But it's just a service station on a long motorway. We hope to pick up an assortment of nuts and maybe some fresh mango and get back on the road. We've a destination in mind and there's still a long drive ahead. Fire up the speakers and think carefully about the 80s playlist. As Miley Cyrus said 'I can almost see it. That dream I'm dreaming'. Got to be in it to win it. And we're in it!! Bring on the draw.