Sure as Mike Fondop-Talum rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Well that really WAS a Good Friday, wasn’t it? More of the same please, Michael.

Mellon finally saw sense and started with Yoganathan in midfield. I like Rossiter, he’s a little terrier, but him, Conlon and Pett are too similar, we need someone in the middle with pace who’ll get forward. Sutton was in for the injured Leake, and Fondop was restored to his rightful place.

It was better, definitely better than the last two games, although we looked in the first half like we were a bit muddled at times. Sutton played a great ball into the box for Conlon, who headed it wide. Stop shouting “SHOOT!” when Conlon’s on the ball, lads, he isn’t terribly good at it. Harratt had a few chances, including a hilarious attempt at a backheel.

Given how well Sutton played, it was all the more gutting that him not being able to keep up with the player he was marking led to their goal. Hudson – who had the best game he’s had for a good while – made a great save from Madine, but could only punch the ball to Charman, who squared it to Mani Dieseruvwe to head them in front.

I feared that the atmosphere could turn toxic if we were behind at half time, but the crowd got behind the players – something Conlon paid credit to after the game, saying how much it helped them – and our heads didn’t drop. Just a minute later, Raglan headed us level from a Conlon corner, which was a huge relief.

📸 Thomas Lee Stacey

We came out fighting in the second half, and Fondop, unsurprisingly, looked more up for it than anyone. Yoganathan, who was superb and deservedly got the MOTM award on his first start, seemed to have picked up the baton from Fondop in terms of being persistently fouled and nothing being given. We all thought Mikey’s header from Caprice’s free kick was going in when it hit the post, but it turned out he was offside anyway.

There was only ever going to be one player getting the winning goal this Holy Week, though, wasn’t there? From a neat bit of play from a throw in, Conlon capped off a true captain’s performance by playing a great cross into the box, and God’s Number 9 rose like our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ from the tomb to bury another trademark header at the far post. Get the fuck in, as I believe the Virgin Mary would have said.

📸 Phill Smith

In what can only be described as a disgraceful hate crime, the referee then booked Fondop for praying in celebration. On Good Friday. Jesus did not die on the cross for this.

(OK he actually booked him for doing this.)

📸 Phill Smith

With less than ten minutes left, Evans came on for Yoganathan, who got a standing ovation, and Lundstram came on for Conlon. Garner came on for Harratt in injury time to see the game out, and he immediately got in their defender’s ear, got booked for two-footing someone, and tried his best to get sent off in the short time that he was on the pitch. The magnificent shithouse.

I don’t want more FROM Mike Fondop, I want more OF Mike Fondop. More trademark headers, at both ends of the pitch. More running. More enthusiasm. More Bible quotes on Instagram. More fist pumps. Extend his contact. He’s more than earned it.

Have a great time and safe journey if you’re off to York today. Deffo in the top 5 cities in England for pubs, so you should have a great day out. I’m not confident about our chances on the pitch, but you know what, it’s 2nd vs 4th, it’s not an insurmountable task. Prove me wrong, Micky. KTMFF.

📸 Thomas Lee Stacey

Written by Arlene Finnigan