MATCH REPORT : RED 10th October

RED 3 - 3 Oxgangs

A fantastic performance from the Red team on Saturday saw them return from 0-3 down to almost snatch a win against a great Oxgangs team.

The day started following some great warm up moves from the Red team and a fantastic shooting drill that saw Ali looking like Petr Cech and Pepe Reina rolled into one.  He threw himself around saving anything and everything that came at him.  We have found ourselves one of the best goalkeepers Sciennes has ever seen!

A bright start from Sciennes saw Danny, Kjartan and Eyvindur all go close but they were kept out by an excellent Oxgangs goalkeeper (more of him later).  Oxgangs had a couple of early breaks but these were soon snuffed out by our defensive pairing of Jack 'Terry'  and Oli 'Vidic'.  Behind them Ali 'Cech' looked great with fantastic distribution wide to the defenders who got the ball forward through midfield really well.  Things looked great.

(Vidic and Terry keep things tight at the back!)

Suddenly on Oxgangs first real break into the box the ball flew up in the air and took a deflection off a couple of players.  Ali pushed it away, it hit Jack, it bounced around, took another deflection, Ali leapt across goal and saved again - but fell backwards into the net with the ball.  A heroic effort from Ali and Jack to keep a very awkward ball out had just failed.  0-1 Oxgangs, completely against the run of play.

Red Team were soon back into the Oxgangs box, with Hector coming on to give Danny 'Fletcher' a rest.  Hector 'Scholes' buzzed about in midfield as usual and set up some great attacks by getting the ball wide to Struan.  A couple of great crossed from Struan 'Giggs' saw the ball flash across goal just out of Kjartan's 'Mascherano' reach.


Upfront Eyvindur 'Rooney' was working hard trying to get the ball and pass to his supporting midfield players.  A couple of early shots were well saved by the Oxgangs goalkeeper (him again) but this didn't put Eyvindur off as he continued running around making himself available for forward passes.  Danny moved up front for a bit as Eyvindur took a rest and then moved into midfield.  The team looked great.  Surely an equaliser was just around the corner?


Then a disaster.  Oxgangs forced their way to the edge of the box and had a shot.  Our defensive pairing blocked the shot and it spun on the wet grass and bounced awkwardly into the net despite a great dive from Ali.  0-2 Oxgangs, completely against the run of play.


Sasha came on to help in midfield and was soon flying down the wing with the ball.  A chance to shoot was lost as the Oxgangs defence crowded him out but it was an excellent start to the game from Sasha 'Anderson'.


Red Team looked a little sorry for themselves as they had conceded two very unlucky goals and were being kept at bay by an excellent Oxgangs goalkeeper.  While the coaches were rearranging the team Oxangs broke through the temporary defence and the Red team found themselves 0-3 down.  However - does anyone remember the Champions League final in 2005?  Liverpool were losing 0-3 against AC Milan?  At least one of the Red Coaches thought we could still do this! 


The reorganised defensive pairing of Jack and Danny looked good for the remainder of the half with Oli patrolling midfield ensuring that there would be no fourth goal.  Just before the break another dangerous run from Struan saw him reach the by-line and cut the ball back to Kjartan who took the ball in his stride and smashed it past the Oxgangs goalie.  1-3, and a perfect time to score just before half time.


The best thing about half time was the way the team got together and told each other they could still get back into the game.  Everyone encouraged Ali who felt a little disappointed to have let in some goals.  The Coaches asked Ali to score a goal and then he'd be happy again.  Little did we know what was about to happen...Ali 'Gerrard' was about to start smiling!


Struan was playing up-front and was beginning to terrorise the Oxgangs defence.  A couple of cut backs nearly produced a second goal.  Kjartan was brilliant in midfield and found himself cutting in from the right and blasting a great shot on target that the goalkeeper (him again) saved low down at the post.  Hector was still buzzing around and loudly encouraging his team mates (turning into a great captain?)!  Jack and Oli were keeping things really tight at the back and beginning to press forward themselves.  Sasha was performing well out wide, inter-changing a couple of great passes with Ali.  Eyvindur, now playing in midfield was making excellent use of the ball and finding his passing game really improving.  Danny, now in goals, was also playing in defence as he covered for one of the defenders as they flew forward looking for the second goal.  It was total football!

When it arrived the second goal was officially a 'stramash'.  Struan got past a couple of players and shot.  The goalie saved it (again), Struan had another shot, saved again.  This time the ball bounced out to Ali who, smiling, smashed the ball high into the net out of the goalkeepers reach.  2-3 Oxgangs, but if we had tails they would be up!

Could we get an equaliser and save the game?  Hector, now resting on the side of the pitch, thought so and continued shouting encouragement to his team mates.  Oli too was having a rest and was getting very excited.  Jack and Sasha were now defending but pushing forward all the time, pressing for that third goal.  In the second half Oxgangs had a couple of chances - one was fluffed in front of goal and the other brought a tremendous save from Danny.  He leapt across goal and grabbed a shot that has heading into the bottom corner.  Still 2-3, phew!  Danny kept us in the game.  Shortly after his save Danny was called into 'action' again as a long shot from midfield trundled past our post.  Just to make sure Danny threw himself after it proving that his diving skills were still top notch!


Eyvindur was linking well with Kjartan in midfield.  Together they were pressing forward and bringing Struan into the game with some nice passing.  Ali was providing some great support to Struan with late runs into the box.  Time was running out though and the Oxgangs goalie was continuing to keep out our best efforts.

(Oxgangs keeper clears as entire Red team press forward for equaliser!)

(Note the lone striker and the line of midfield players backed up by the holding midfield player. "Diamond Christmas Trees" make Coaches are very proud!)

The Red Coaches feared the goal was never going to come.  With Hector urging his team forward Jack took the ball and spread it wide to Kjartan, who passed to Eyvindur, who gave the ball to Struan.  Struan set off on a run, cut inside and gave the ball to Ali.  Ali smiled again, cut inside the defender and blasted the ball past the Oxgangs goalie!  3-3, and the large home crowd were going wild with excitement!  Eventually order was restored - we couldn't possibly grab a winner?  Could we?

For the final five minutes we bombarded the goal.  Kjartan had a fantastic shot which was heading for the top corner saved.  Ali had a fantastic long distance shot tipped over the bar.  Struan had a shot pushed past the post as the Oxgangs goalie tried to keep his team in the game.  With the last kick of the game the Red Team launched another ball into the goalmouth from a corner and Oxgangs hacked the ball away.  The referee blew for full time and both teams had to be happy with the result.

A tremendous effort from the Red team to come back from a disappointing start.  The Coaches were extremely pleased with the way the team stuck together, started encouraging each other and urging each other to keep going.  This reporter can't wait for the next match!

(Stunned Oxgangs team congratulate Red Team on their comeback!)