ESSA Leagues

2009/2010 Fixture #10 : Dunbar -v- Abercorn : 14.01.10

Just how many black cats did the Dunbar Squash Team run over on their way to Halhill last night?

That was the question being asked by the large crowd as they slowly made their way home after a night which promised much but delivered little – well – nothing to be more accurate. Never mind the growing debate about Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, the real sporting question this morning is how on earth a Team of 5 can have match balls in three matches, and win none!  Surely another stat for the ESSA Record Books.

In fact the real tragedy last night was the dreadful injury suffered by Dunbar ’s No.2 Evan Green . A suspected snapped Achilles looks like keeping Evan away from the Courts form the entire second half of the season. More on this to follow, but clearly Dunbar will now need to call more heavily on their famously shallow depth of squad to stave off relegation…..

Philip Revell –v- David Ross

The first match on court saw the return of Philip after an injury break, against a young 20 something. It was a match where Phil probably needed to take one of the first two games, and although he had a few chances in what were frantic and to-and-fro games, both went to his opponent, by  9-6 and  9-4. I think the legs were beginning to go a little at that stage, and to be fair his opponent reduced his error count in game 3. Although Phil kept trying, it was becoming increasing difficult to hit winning shots-against a young player who was now moving much better, and most rallies ended with a tired ‘tin’ or a shot Phil couldn’t return. No disgrace in the first game back against an Abercorn Team who were already clearly stronger than in our first half encounter…..

Graeme Jones –v- Graham Caughey

Graeme Jones came out of the traps like the proverbial in this one, completely overwhelming his namesake 9-0. Just how much Graeme has learned this season became clear when a much tougher 2^nd game developed into a dogfight. Graeme had very wisely remained grounded after the easy win in game one, and was very aware that his opponent was always going to make a huge effort to get back in to the match, however Graeme kept his concentration well and calmly took it 9-6 for a 2-0 lead.

So it was all looking better for Dunbar at this stage, as Alistair Nichol had taken the first game on the other court at the same time. How quickly things can change….

It possibly started with Graeme making a huge effort to win his match 3-0. He was well down in game three but pushed really hard to get back to 8-7 up – match ball! He couldn’t take it though, and when he lost both the game 10-8, and then game four more quickly 9-4, it didn’t look good for the fifth. He soon showed that he had plenty left however, and raced to a 7-1 lead in the decider. Unfortunately no-one had told his opponent that the match was nearly over, and he slowly but surely crept back into the game. In fairness, the Abercorn man played much tighter than he had been doing in these crucial points, and eventually the line was crossed by the wrong Graham, to put Abercorn 2-0 ahead. A dramatic rubber in what was fast developing into a dramatic match…….

Alistair Nichol –v- Brian Montgomery

Brian was probably playing too low down the order in the eyes of most observers (including a very welcome Willie Paul, who may have to dust off his competitive racket soon…). Brian has played National League in the past, and plenty of Div 1 squash for Colinton Castle , ESC and Abercorn over the last 25 years. That in itself says much of the efforts of Alistair as he played really well for a game and a half. The first was a long encounter, lots of straight and crosscourt driving, but of a quality where neither player was really able to cut out balls for winners. It came down to patience and the odd loose shot/winner, and Alistair ultimately held his nerve to take it 10-8. I think Brian was frustrated at losing that, and he quickly fell 1-7 behind in game two. Was the Dunbar fight back beginning to gain a foothold? Well if so it didn’t last long, and when Alistair tried to perhaps over-reach for the line, his crampons suddenly came loose and he tumbled headlong down the North Face of his own personal squash Eiger. A couple of minutes later Brian had taken the 2^nd 9-7. Clearly more relaxed now, Brian proceeded to give full reign to all those ‘National League’ shots - flicks, feints and trickle boasts, feather drops and nicks. It was champagne squash now for Brian, and he eased away from a gallant Alistair, who never stopped running but was now helpless against the showboating Brian. 9-3, 9-2 were the last two games and Abercorn now had an unassailable 3-0 lead in the overall match.

Could things get any worse? Of course they bloody well could……..

Evan Green –v-Ian Ross.

This was they only rubber to feature a repeat of the first half encounter down at Abercorn, when Evan had played extremely well to win 3-1. If Alistair Nichol’s opponent was the Kevin Pieterson of the Abercorn team, then Ian Ross is surely the Paul Collingwood. He really makes the VERY most of his limited ability, plays in a vey ugly fashion but is very tricky to beat. Lots of awkward, unconventional shots, but extremely effective. And if you even think of showing Ian an open door, he’ll run through it before you can change your mind and then slam it behind himself, right in your face.  This was exactly the story of the first four games, where Evan was right on top of his game, making as few mistakes as possible, and not giving an inch to take them both 9-6, 9-5. The handle of the aforementioned door was then turned only slightly by Evan, and before he knew it was 2-2, Ian just edging them both (as he has a habit of doing) 9-7, 9-6.  So what did Evan have left? Well plenty as it turned out. He went back to doing what he had been doing at the start, no mistakes, running everything down and then taking his chances when they came. 7-1 he led before the inevitable comeback from Ian. (7-1 was obviously the ‘trigger’ score for an Abercorn comeback, as they won all three games where they had trailed by that score last night – painful to write…..). Although Ian made it all the way back to 7-7, Evan commendably stayed calm to win the next two rallies to stand at Matchball - 8-7. What happened next won’t be forgotten by those who watched it – or indeed anyone within earshot of Evan’s screams (Bathgate I’m guessing). Yes, the big guy in the dark hooded cape carrying the Scythe walked onto court and pointed straight at the Dunbar man. Snap! Evan went down faster than a Bangkok Ladyboy,  and it was immediately clear that his evening was over. After a worried few moments both Evan and Graeme Jones were pretty sure it was a snapped Achilles Tendon on the left leg, a nasty injury which will end Evan’s season.  Everyone present, on both teams, was feeling dreadful for Evan, who has become a very popular team member, and has played so well for Dunbar over the last three years.

On a positive note, Graeme will no doubt put in place an excellent rehabilitation programme for Evan, Dave Legge has given him lots of Squash DVD’s to watch and Dave Weissgerber can provide motivational pep talks if he suffers any emotional low points during his recovery. If that’s not enough, even Richard Baty can ensure that his hair looks nice and tidy!!

Seriously though, we all wish Evan a full and speedy recovery, and that he comes back fitter and stronger than ever for 20010/11.

David Legge –v- Alistair McKenzie.

It was only fitting that after everything that had gone before, the last match should produce the finish that it did. I had been suffering from a chest infection that seemed to affect me less that I had thought it might, and I played reasonably well throughout this match against Alistair who is a real ‘shooter’ No long rallies please, just show me the ball and I’ll hit a winner! I therefore tried my best to keep the ball away from him, and the scoreline really reflected how much I succeeded in doing this at any given time, together with his success/failure rate of hitting the nick. After half an hour I was 2-1 up, and feeling pretty good. I then played some of my best squash to go 8-4 up in game four (Yes that’s right – ANOTHER Matchball). I’m not too sure what happened next, although I’m convinced  Alistair left the court to be replaced by his evil twin, the one who is half a step quicker, chases every ball down and somehow wins a series of rallies that I thought were mine. I had two or three opportunities that ended in either the WRONG shot selection, or a winner from Alistair, and he swept through the rest of that game to take it 10-8. I didn’t like the sound of his ‘Yes’ as he took it, or the clenched fist. This was a different player, one who not only began to hit the nick too often, but was putting a hallucinogenic spin on his serves that caused me to miss three in a row (another record I fear). So very soon I became the third Dunbar player to lose from Matchball up – thereby scuppering any plans to chastise, berate, and flog the other two reprobates. 9-7, 6-9, 9-7, 8-10, 2-9 the score - no sermons from the Captain this week.

So in summary it seems that only Tiger Woods and supporters of Liverpool FC are now more concerned with their sporting prospects for 2010. Every sinew will need to be strained in the next 8 matches if Div 4 is to be avoided next season. Please come down and lend your support to the Team for the rest of the season – drama and entertainment guaranteed!!

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