Another unbeaten run bites the dust!

Division One

Aberdeen 0 Norwich City 2

Sunday, 11 December 2005

Team: Semple, Higgins, Taylor, Harris, Utting, Slater, Boucher, Wilson, Utting, Stephenson, Gallagher. Subs: Seecharan T, Seecharan N, Howard.

Fresh on the back of the previous week's inept performance against Exeter the Norwich contingent were hoping the inconsistency that?s plagued their season would not strike again, and the Jekyll to last weeks Hyde could halt Aberdeen's 100% start to the campaign.

Theme of the day was back to basics, including the simplest of tasks like turning up on time. Last weeks shambles saw a quarter of the team come straight off the team bus and onto the battlefield, so when Higgins took a call from a local officer of the law on behalf of a team member fears were rife again?

Police officer: "There's terrible traffic on Putney Bridge, and a Mr Rick Utting has asked to pass on the message they'll be late"

Andy Higgins: "What's the hold up? Can I send my private chopper to pick them up?"

PO: "Not possible I'm afraid. A man claming to be Tom Perrett is depressed and threatening to kill himself in the middle of the bridge".

AH: "Why? I know he's bad, but not that bad?"

PO: "No. He says he's so depressed about being caught cheating that he's stopped in the road, threatened to douse himself in petrol and set himself on fire. He says his family hates him, fans hate him, his teammates hate him, and now he's lost his job and is totally bankrupt? I'm walking around taking up a collection for him."

AH: "Oh, really?, how much have you collected so far?"

PO: "So far only 18 litres, but a lot of people are still siphoning".

Fortunately Perrett was 'talked down', and managed to take his place in the starting eleven, with the final pre match worry taken care of when Slater's hairdryer ensured his socks were heated up to the optimum 70 degrees as recommended by his spiritual advisor Dr Hans Zarkoff.

Kicking off the game at exactly 2pm not a second later, the female contingent within the crowd immediately left when they realised the enchanting Matt Davies was absent due to modelling commitments. So it was left to the extra ordinary looking forwards of Gallagher and Stephenson to take up the reigns. They wasted little time in pressing the Aberdeen defence at every opportunity, closing down space and time, ensuring the Scots had little option but to hit hopeful balls to their forwards. This played into the hands of a Norwich team, whose superb defence marshalled by the handsome Taylor coped effortlessly with the threat. Repeatedly they won the ball allowing the wide midfielders of Utting and Perrett to receive possession and dictate play.

It was surprise to few then when after 15 minutes Norwich created the first opening of the game. Tidy build up play from Callum Wilson saw his measured pass find Utting in space on the left, beating his man the left winger superbly found Gallagher at the far post, and while most of the team turned away thinking a goal a foregone conclusion, they hadn't expected Gallagher to do the same, and taking his eye off the ball he contrived to head the ball into the ground and over the bar, an angle that mystifies to the same extent as the Kennedy assassination bending bullet.

Half Time 0-0.

Far from dwelling on missed first half opportunities Norwich pushed for another opening, creating several chances that the Aberdeen keeper kept out. An outstanding 35-yard shot from Higgins that the phrase 'pile driver' was surely invented for resulted in a corner that broke the deadlock.

As expected this shook Aberdeen into life, who sensing their 100% record at stake, switched formation, trying to break Norwich's stranglehold with shear weight of numbers upfront. Norwich coped well, with support from midfield picking up the extra forwards, and despite having the majority of possession for a 20 minute spell, Aberdeen rarely looked like carving out a clear chance as Norwich?s defence held firm.

The outcome of the game was finally decided with a moment of brilliance that brought Aberdeen's spell to an end. Good work by Utting in the far left corner of the pitch resulted in he?s cross being met by Gallagher, who brought the ball down well and found the supporting Slater. The midfielder had a little work to do, having shrugged off a challenge he found the ball under he?s feet, but with no back lift managed to 'spoon' the ball over keeper and defender and into the top corner of the goal.

Nonchalant celebrations, bordering on the arrogant ensued, and Norwich saw out the rest of a mist filled game. Although having swallowed Slater's second blow of the game Aberdeen rarely looked like threatening in the remaining 20 minutes.

Full Time 0-2

Norwich weren't through for the day as post match celebrations coincided with their Christmas party. Fortunately there were no fire extinguishers, no Joey Barton wannabe's or Ray Parlour-esque antics for the remainder of the night. Although there was a slight moment of unease when Tom Perrett nodded suggestively at a nervous waitress upon receiving his dinner, those nearby could hear the dishevelled beauty commenting to the waitress "I'm really looking to getting this bird down me?" Unsure the waitress left, and the incident thankfully passed.

Great Result for the Capital Canaries, fully deserved and all those present can be proud of the effort they put in. Happy Xmas had by one and all, although Ellen MacArthur getting anywhere near the top sports personality award slightly tainted the day. "Personality"? Exactly. One posh idiot stealing the headlines today was enough. Good game Lads.

MoTM: Taylor