MATCH REPORT : RED 28th November

ST PETERS 2 - 3 RED

The RED team had to make some late team changes ahead of the visit to the mighty St Peters.  With Danny being unwell poor Sasha had to gobble his breakfast and make an early start for the RED team instead of helping the YELLOWS.  Making his debut for the RED team was Keir and returning from a week away was Jack (who decided to take a turn in goals for a half).  At the back we had our fantastic Ollie and Hector combination, Kjartan, Struan and Eyvindur in midfield and Ali The Striker looking like he meant business up front.  Keir and Sasha started the game on the bench but were soon involved.

The RED team have started every single game poorly this year.  What they need to do is start well.  The coaches remind the teams of their positions, don't pass across goal, midfield help the defence, get the ball wide, get the ball going forward, strikers help the midfield.  Everyone got that?  Yes!  Everyone going to start well, start as soon as whistle goes?  Yes!  Ok, lets go play...

...St Peters hit the post in the first minute and then spent the next 5 minutes camped in the RED box.

(Ollie - busy early in the match!)

Ollie, Hector, Kjartan, Eyvindur and Jack all had to look busy.  Struan looked lonely standing out wide looking for the ball.  Ali?  He was coming nice and deep to get the ball but RED team just couldn't get the ball away.  The RED coaches could hardly look (mostly because the sun was very low and right into their eyes, local knowledge meant home crowd took their positions on the other side).

After what seemed an hour of pressure RED got the ball wide to Struan who took the ball up field and fired in a great cross.  Kjartan, supporting wonderfully from midfield, connected and force the StP goalie to make a good save.  Kjartan was working extremely hard in the middle of the field, winning some great tackles in tricky conditions.

(Struan and Kjartan, linking up well in midfield!)

StP immediately returned to their attacking ways but a great break from RED saw Kjartan and Eyvindur combine to get the ball to Ali - who was coming deep to help the midfield.  A lightening break from Ali forced the StP keeper to make another great save.  A minute later a fantastic back heel from Ali set up Eyvindur who fired just wide.  Great play from the REDs who are beginning to mount some pressure on the StP goal.  Just when the coaches are feeling happier StP break and despite Hector and Ollie making fantastic blocks the supporting StP midfielder fires the ball past a helpless Jack. 1-0 StP.

This brought on another few minutes of pressure.  Shot after shot was being fired at the RED goal. One of them was hit straight at the RED defence and hit an over worked Ollie on the hand. "Self defence?" the crowd thought but after a quick query from the referee ("Did that hit your hand Ollie?", "Yes on the side here where it is all muddy...") a penalty was awarded. "Harsh..." said the local expert patrolling the away end. Jack looked cool on the line though, we wondered if this cool confidence would put the StP striker off? It did - the penalty was fired just wide!!! Phew.

Time for changes.  Sasha and Keir were introduced and some fine play from our debutant set up Ali for another break - but the StP keeper makes another fine save.  Sasha was looking great in midfield again with excellent tracking back to help the defence and some great passing.  Kjartan and Struan were linking well in midfield, a nice turn and run from Struan resulted in a great shot hitting the base of the post.  "Ooooh" shouted the away end, but the ball fell kindly to Ali who tucked the ball away very nicely.  Great finish!  1-1.

What happened next is known in the trade as a 'purple patch'.  RED team swarmed forward at every opportunity with StP trying to do the same thing.  Another break from Struan saw another shot hit the post, StP break forward but Hector snuffs out the danger.  A quick series of passes sets Ali free again - this time he fires high into the net!  1-2 RED.

Wow.

One minute later the same trick - great midfield play from Keir and Kjartan sets up Ali through the middle.  Shot, goal, 1-3 RED.  Hat-trick hero!

(Ali, hat-trick hero scores his third goal!)

Double wow.

Half time arrives and the coach sits down, while the RED team all chatter about what a great game it is.  In the last few minutes of the first half they made it look so easy.  Everyone was comfortable on the ball, Jack was saving anything that got through to him, Ollie and Hector were magnificent, Sasha and Keir were full of energy and were passing really well.  Eyvindur was on top form and was always looking dangerous near the StP box.  Struan and Kjartan were playing really, really well, linking well in midfield and playing some nice short passes around the StP defence.  Ali?  Three goals in one half?  Sounds like a hero to me!  Only one thing left to do - put him in goals!

Second half started with Ali in goals, Ollie and Sasha in defence, Jack, Kjaratan and Eyvindur in midfield and Struan up front.  Keir, who had an outstanding first half, and Hector, magnificent in defence and midfield in the first half, started on the bench.

(Keir had a fine debut for the REDs)

RED team made a fantastic start to the second half with lots of early pressure.  A great midfield break from Jack resulted in the shot that flew just by the StP goals.  StP are, however, a fantastic team.  In defence they have some guy called Callum, who looks like he might be the best centre back this country has ever produced.  He looks elegant on the ball, knows how to defend and isn't scared to knock his best pal Struan into next week when he had the cheek to try to get past him!  RED coach wasn't pleased with this assault but the local expert (still patrolling the away end) muttered something about "...that's my boy..." in a slightly scary way.  With Callum's excellent passing from defence and some great midfield play StP look like a great team.

(Callum and Struan, still friends!!!???)

Great play in defence from Ollie, who was bringing the ball out of defence wonderfully, set up Kjartan, who passed to Jack.  Jack found Eyvindur and a cracking move ended with a great save from the StP goalkeeper.  Great play RED team, unlucky Eyvindur.

Soon the pressure began to mount again.  Sasha had to clear the ball from the line, Ollie was making some outstanding tackles, Eyvindur was tracking back to help out and made some great clearances.  Keir was back by now to help out a tired looking team and really made his mark with some great running to help out in attack - and then back to help in defence!  Hector was busy, busy, busy.  Always looking for danger and quick to get the ball out wide.

Jack was having a fine game in midfield, and really giving StP best player something to think about.  He was quick to stop any danger and then able to break forward, at speed, and deliver some great crosses.  At the end of one of these crosses Struan fired in a great shot which the StP goalkeeper did well to save.

(Jack - excellent in midfield!)

With the game nearing the end StP mounted a last charge.  The RED defence was holding - only just - but with Ali in outstanding form things were looking okay.  Suddenly a break from StP resulted in a stramash in the box - penalty StP!  "Uh-oh..." thought the RED coaches looking at imaginary watches.  One excellent penalty later it was game on! 2-3 RED.

The last few seconds were minutes.  StP raged forward now and Ali had to make a series of wonderful saves.  Ollie and Hector were outstanding, StP were a little unlucky to see the ball hit the top of the bar after a great shot from outside the area.  As injury time turned into extra time and extra time turned into a replay the ref finally remembered where his whistle was and blew for full time.  2-3 REDs and the away crowd goes wild!

(Celebrations in the away end!)

Phew!

(Teams shake hands at end of match)

What a magnificent performance from the RED team against a brilliant StP side!  Well played to everyone.

(Back row : Ollie, Jack, Struan, Ali, Eyvindur, Kjartan ; Front : Keir, Hector, Sasha)