06/09/2026
Grumpy Piper’s Perspective
Holsworthy 3rds 3 – Equalisers 4
Having scooped up half the team from a field in Shebbear, assistant manager Piper had mixed feelings about the task ahead.
A full squad and a pitch looking amazing boded well.
A bright start, some early silky feet from ‘super-vet’ (super as in ‘really good’ or ‘very old’ remains unknown) Gary Brownjohn, and the team actually listening for once saw the Magpies playing good passing football from the off.
A lapse at the back and suddenly 1-0 down, but it still felt like the game was there for the taking.
Rory Piper was causing problems for the oppo up top despite the lairy home ‘support’ by the dug-outs. 😆
Big calls for a sending-off from the previously flip-flopping support followed the worst shirt pull in history, after Piper skinned their centre-half, who had the turning circle of an oil tanker. The ref gave him the benefit with a yellow.
The tanker would have the last laugh.
The boys stepped up a gear though, and only a great save onto the bar denied Piper.
Charlie Vile finally powered home the equaliser from a corner, returning to his prolific under-8s scoring days.
The talk was good at half-time. The many positives were highlighted and the foundations seemingly set for a first win of the season.
It then appeared to go in one ear and out the other as we regressed in the second half.
That was until Tom Glessing played to the whistle while the oppo stopped to claim the ball had gone out, giving the Magpies the lead.
Piper then got his just deserts with a coolly lobbed finish over the advancing keeper.
3-1. Flagging Equalisers. Playing downhill. Sun shining. Home crowd. Can’t mess this up…
An injury to Gav Cockwill and a few tiring legs in the home side started the rot, but mostly it was just naive play. We stopped looking after the ball and allowed the oppo to put us under unnecessary pressure.
The Equalisers’ second goal gave the Magpies a challenge they simply didn’t rise to.
Usually ‘Mr Encouragement’ on the sidelines, Piper Snr started losing his morals as his eyes rolled black in search of that first win of the season.
Unfortunately, his increasingly desperate competitive streak wasn’t matched on the pitch as Equalisers pounced on hesitancy at the back and bundled in two late goals to leave everyone speechless.
Fair play to Equalisers. They had been outplayed for spells but came away with the win because they never gave up and fought until the end.
Silence in the home dressing room and a snakey assistant manager focusing solely on collecting the match fees.
Nothing much to be said.
Maybe the boys are getting old enough now to be told when they’ve ballsed it up properly. If they want to start winning games, they’re going to have to learn to listen — and listen to learn.
Time will tell on that one.
Piper was rightly punished for being a grump by having to clean out the away changing rooms before delivering the boys back to the party, while he headed home to sulk — aware, deep down, of his own contribution to a badly missed opportunity.
Another home game next Saturday at Stanhope Park against Northam.
Let’s hope the boys get back to their passing best…
…and Piper takes a chill pill.
🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤
