Match report by Rory

“Surely that was over head height ref!” Welcome back sports fans for what was another outstanding manifestation of pass and move football of the highest order. The reds and blacks were once again evenly matched with each side possessing a surfeit of ball juggling wizards to delight the capacity crowd at the polideportivo.

The reds curiously had switched to a back 5 with newcomer Keith making an impressive debut in goal. With Scottish Steve pinging the ball out of defence there were plenty of early threats on the blacks’ goal, where Kevo has an outstanding record of fine saves. The reds early incursions were characterised by some strong running down the left wing by George (USA! USA!) supported by some classic centre forward hold up play from big Al. Eoghan had a free role and had some effective link up play with Keef through the midfield. There was possibly too much passing early on as both teams struggled to find a way through the opposition’s defence. Boris and Glyn gave the reds plenty of width and were the focal point for some penetrative wing play early on. Breck found himself in the hole just off the front as always looking dangerous with his keen eye for goal.

 

Dave Bradley – Welcome back

The blacks welcomed the return of Dave (surely he’s too young for this lark) to “walking” football who provided a strong core to the midfield, combining well with Steve and Rory. The boys were hitting more angles than a GCSE geometry class. Pete provided some great overlapping runs from full back and Dazza maintained his high level of performance until the last quarter when his synapses finally snapped. The Commander was strangely out of sorts in his preferred holding position just behind the front two. At first it seemed that he’d put his boots on the wrong feet, but it soon emerged he’d attached the wrong legs. (Editor: don’t mention his air shot!)

As each side probed the other’s defences, a goal suddenly came out of nothing after Dave (he forgot the rules!) blundered into his own box and conceded a penalty. After a long delay, big Al calmly stepped forward and slotted the ball with laser precision past Kevo. 1-0 and the reds were in front. The blacks responded strongly, with Dave and Steve linking up well in midfield and eventually releasing Mick on the right. He slotted a ball nicely through to Dazza, but surely the angle was too tight. Not for Dazza 2.0 who drilled a shot along the ground and past the keeper into the far corner. The blacks were back in it with the scores at 1 apiece.

Mike for the reds was finding some space up front and looked dangerous as Keef, Eoghan and Steve started to seize control of the midfield. Eoghan’s intelligent running through the lines found him on the end of a threaded pass from big Al. The mercurial Irish play maker quickly sorted out his feet and side footed the sphere into the corner of the goal. A sublime finish. The reds were ahead 2-1. Welsh Steve was putting in another energetic shift for the blacks but even the best moves were floundering on the rock of the reds’ defensive shield of Scottish Steve and Keef.

Steve for the blacks in midfield was working some good angles with Dave and starting to open up the reds with some fluid one touch pass and move play right out of the Pep Guardiola play book. Sure enough Steve managed to find some space on the edge of the box and imperiously stroked the ball past the keeper.

Both captains made some changes into the second period with Breck going into goal for the reds (Editor: surely a man of the match performance) and Kevo moving into a deep lying role for the blacks. The commander, having attached his legs to the correct side of his body dropped back into goal. Apologies sports fans, but your correspondent couldn’t resist yours truly efforts on goal, twice hitting the bar and extracting a Gordon Banks like save out of the agile Breck between the sticks for the reds.

But not even the seemingly impregnable Breck could deny Dazza 2.0, with some neat passing combinations between Steve and Dave in midfield prising open the reds’ defence to allow Dazza to pounce and stab the ball home from the edge of the box. VAR confirmed that Dazzas twinkle toe had not entered the box, much to the chagrin of the hard-working reds’ defence. 2-3 to the blacks and everything to play for. With Kevo caressing the ball like a long-lost lover (Ed: steady on!!) the blacks were starting to look increasingly threatening. They hadn’t reckoned on one of the best goalkeeping performances since..…..Kevo, about three weeks ago. Breck stopped everything the blacks could throw at him and kept the reds in the game. But hold the front page, George (USA! USA!) wasn’t going to leave this game without some reward for his hard running forward play.

A warm welcome to Keith

Goal hanger Mike always looked dangerous up front for the reds, stretching the blacks’ back four and creating space for his pacey counter-attacking midfield. After a period of pressure, the reds struck with a beautiful ball up to Mike. He didn’t waste much time wheeling out his best impersonation of Denis Law circa 1972. Unlike Law, he drilled the ball across the box to be met athletically by flying George (USA! USA!) who somehow was able to volley the ball into the net. What a goal. 3-3 and the reds saw their chance. But they hadn’t banked on the commander arching his back acrobatically and clawing some goal-bound shots away from the goal.

The blacks continued to look dangerous, but when Dazza 2.0’s synapses started to misconnect, he reverted to his default play and began shooting like he was playing for Cork against Kerry in the latest GAA game. Let’s hope he can be rewired before the next game and rekindle the spirit of Carlos Alberto.

As Steve Loasby called out one minute to go it seemed like the game would end in a draw which given the standard of play would have been a fair result. But football is a harsh game and unbelievably Kevo to Mick (not holding any grudges after the Tiger’s fantastic away win) layed on the ball to Rory……Final score reds 3-4 blacks.

What a superb game, with some great play from both teams. Big shout out to Steve Loasby who was a great referee and allowed the game to flow, making it the spectacle it turned out to be.

Also best wishes to Stuart who had to go off injured with calf knock in last Thursday’s game. It may be a season ending injury, so here’s wishing you all the best and hope you’re back making those crunching tackles at the heart of defence in the near future.