Middle Park Football Club

Round 13, 19 July

Coming into this game the parkers sit second on the table needing to string together a few wins to put some pressure old xavs and have a chance at keeping the reserves title.

Cuz was back to his best, carefully positioning players to ensure he could get the best out of what he had. He drew some great diagrams for how he planned us to play; no doubt his little boy would be proud of how good they looked. Helen made his way in part way through the rev-up looking completely perplexed by the carefully placed mess on the board. In the end it came down to our dependable 4-4-2 combination.

Before the game started there were a few scores to settle with Fat knee Phil challenging captain Kat to a life or death battle for who will take the ever-important centre half position. It was a short battle, fat knee Phil using his medical skills learnt from priceline to maximum effect and taking capt’n Kat out with some carefully placed deep heat.

The parkers started well, some great lead up work by Rem Tem allowed matty ‘watch me dance’ Lewis to get around his man to whip a ball across the goal face. The ball bobbled around in the goal face until logiemeister flew in and smashed the ball to the back of the net, parkers 1-0 up.

The parkers were playing into a stiff wind for the first half, the defence stood solid but was made awkward with the blustery gusts. A through ball by the opposition had both Phil and Emil challenging for the ball, Phil won the race and carefully guided the ball around Emil to the open net. Score 1-1.

Another great break on the left hand flank manned by rem tem and matty gave berry golden boot driessen the space he needed to slide a beautifully placed ball through the defence to the back post where will managed to guide it past the sprawling keeper. Parkers 2-1 up.

The opposition used the blustery conditions to their advantage banging a ball down towards the goal box, philly tracked back superbly and ensured the opp striker had no chance of reaching the ball. The blind headmaster overseeing the game saw a fair challenge against the way of the parkers and swiftly awarded a penalty. The direct was well taken and evened the game up, score 2-2.

Gifting the opposition 2 goals could have seen a team start to fall over themselves but the parkers fighting spirit endured. The ever-present logie shredded the defence and then made a spectacular flounder that saw both him and the defender eating sand. Again the headmaster took out his ruler but this time the call was in favour of the parkers. Steve ‘the mummy’ leitch stepped up and amazingly threaded the ball like a needle into the left hand corner without a touch laid on it . . .contender for free kick of the year. Score 3-2 to the parkers, this ended the half time scoring.

Heading into the second half the parkers were confident having for the best part dominated the first stanza and now having the wind at their backs. From the defence, with cooksey and tulley continuing the strong form at the back, we had regularly fed the ball through to starrs and leitchy who dictated play in the midfield.

A tactical change occurred after the break with the slick Karl t replacing leitchy in the midfield. The second half started well, matty continuing his probing runs down the line and running onto a superbly placed ball before showing excellent composure to slot it past the keeper. Parkers taking a handy league 4-2.

The opposition received another free kick for another unknown reason and managed to slide the ball through the defensive wall and out of emils reach for their third. The score now 4-3 to parkers.

With the threat of matty getting the golden boot (scored 3 goals in the last 4 games), he was exchanged for our next most potent weapon, iceman lumsden. Kart t also pulled up short aggravating a previous strain in his crutch and was replaced by Johnny ‘a bob each way’ peyton.

With both teams starting to tire berry pounced on a long ball and did well to hold of the defenders. He passed the ball back to will who crossed the ball to goalmouth where Johnny p slammed it home on the half volley with his left foot. Brilliant finish. The score was 5-3 and that was the final scoring action for the game.

If the parkers can continue some of the attacking brilliance exhibited on the pitch in their final matches there is little doubt it will be a tight finish at the end of the season for the top spot.

The End.