Azaña the anchor of the Marlborough machine
Marlborough United managed a 3-1 win, and it was Venancio Azaña who made it look effortless. While others were chasing shadows, Azaña spent the match simply being in the right place. It is a rare thing to see a player so comfortable that he looks like he is merely out for a stroll, despite the chaos around him.
He played with a proper sense of composure. There was one moment where he took a touch that seemed to freeze time, just long enough to spot a gap that no one else saw. It was a bit like watching a man arrange his furniture while a storm raged outside. He didn't need to sprint every single blade of grass; he just knew where the ball was going to land.
Crookes United spent the afternoon trying to find a way past him, but Azaña had the door bolted. He is an honest player who does the hard work without making a song and dance about it. The lads around him looked better because he was there to tidy up the mess. There is little time to reset before the next matchday, but if Azaña keeps this form, Marlborough might actually start expecting these results. He is a calming influence in a game that is usually anything but.