It’s fair to say the league has thrown up several peculiar results already this term and hoping to prove last week’s capitulation at Upper Beading was one of those, the front side faced a stiff test away to Capel.

Speaking with come club officials on arrival at Beare Green, they too couldn’t get their head round our result last week, not taking anything away from Beading of course.

The boys picked to represent the 1st team this week were keen to make amends and knew it would take a much more mature performance to get something from todays game. Capel, who are enjoying their 3rd season in County 2, boasted a similar record to TD prior to last week, having scored plenty of goals and few conceded. Unbeaten at Home also, something they were clearly keen keep intact, a message of ‘Our Home Is Our Fortress’, plastered by their dressing room door.

Usual management of Scott and AJ were living it large in Tenerife, meaning Lofty was at the wheel with crocked Rano as ass gaff. The side had been picked prior to their departure with a strong bench at our disposal, AV, Kano and Ayman coming back in to the side with Jerome missing through injury.

We knew we weren’t necessarily going to blast Capel into oblivion from the get-go in usual TD fashion, and a cagey first 10 from both sides resulted in very little possession from either team. Capel started with two up top, a bit of a throwback these days, both of who looked useful and proved to be a bit of a handful for AV and Shane all afternoon.

The tone was set early doors with the Capel manager being sent from the dugout for verbal towards the referee, having disputed some tough challenges. Naturally Capel’s players got on the ref’s back, which is where the men in Red had to show maturity and discipline in not getting involved in any nonsense.

TD gradually clicked through the gears, seeing joy down the left hand side with Ayman posing a threat, linking up nicely with Broad and ACS. The deadlock was almost broken with some neat one touch passes between the 3, Ayman just failing to get enough on the final ball across goal where Adam was waiting to finish into an almost open goal. Some strong Capel challenges resulted in some yellow cards being dished out, Bubbsy somehow managed to pick one up himself, still not sure why.

The game started to turn in TD’s favour, Ayman and Kyle swapping flanks and on 40 minutes ACS took his goal tally beyond double figures already this season, with a fine blasted finish past the keeper. Just what TD deserved on the balance of play.

Scoring on the stroke of half time can go one of two ways, knowing Capel would be fired up for the second half. They weren’t used to conceding at home and perhaps expected less of TD based off the Beading result.

Brad was introduced at half time for Bubbsy, Dylan moving to full back with Taylor switching sides. Taylor had been superb by the way and continued this at right back, a coming-of-age performance for someone proving to be a key utility man. Bradders made a near immediate impact with his first touches of the game, showing his class and setting Adam up for his and TD’s second of the game. Brad’s blocked shot fell kindly to Ad’s who made no mistake when it fell to him inside the area, cooling slotting past the despairing Capel keeper.

The home side were riled, challenges continued to fly in, which seemed to cause them more injuries than anything, with subs being made from a depleted bench by the looks of things. TD were at this point showing great game management and discipline, Kane was like a madman, winning every tackle, header and loose ball in site, regardless of where it was on the pitch. Broady dazzled as usual, class close control, jinking left and right with the ball at his feet putting their defence in a spin.

Capel began to throw the kitchen sink and ultimately drew a couple of free kicks in dangerous position for their right winger take aim. He possessed a wicked delivery and almost clawed a goal back, crashing Woody’s crossbar, with the ball bouncing down on the line and out, much to TD’s relief.

Woody was starting to see more action in sticks and pulled off some unbelievable saves, without him we would have conceded sooner and unfortunately this was the case on around 70 minutes, the ball broke in the area and the 9 dispatched at the first time of asking. Momentum swung slightly in favour of the black and yellows, but calmness prevailed for the Dragons, who introduced the classy Nick Pritchard to shore up the middle of the park. Kane had run himself into the ground and took a couple of knocks which brought about his substitution. Toby had come on also and it was like he had never been away, tirelessly chasing what others might perceive to be a lost cause whilst being a thorn in the left backs side.

As time dwindled, frustration set in for Capel once again, the 9 lost his head, sin bin issued with around 10 minutes of normal time remaining. TD had dealt with most of what Capel had thrown at them but set pieces had been the biggest of those threats and a free kick given away on left hand flank, saw them equalise with a delivery to the back post and only 5 minutes remaining. Jubilant scenes from the home team but both sides still had the belief they could win it. A feisty last 5 ultimately ended in a stalemate. Probably a fair result on reflection but TD felt as though it was 2 points dropped having led for much of the game. That said, heads and spirits were high considering the manner of our performance. We learnt a lot from this game and ultimately it made the squad stronger as a collective. Cup action next and another game which can’t some soon enough. Kane MOM for his workmanlike performance, followed closely by Woody and the two units, AV & Big Shane.