C-Team Match Report for 2nd Oct

Oppenents New College

 

You could feel the excitement between the lads, the anticipation of what we were about to achieve.  Only 9 of the squad turned up at the changing rooms, and Kenny was a little worried, but deep down he knew C wouldnt let him down. We learnt how Kenny and Wilderspin where staying at school, a few rumours had been going round as to who was taking C-Team to the match, but more importantly, where was the match being held? Mr Plant was the man to step into the boots of our, what was then, manager/coach Steve, and what a man to take over the position! Planty was well organised and arranged for us to wear the pristine England strips and also drinks bottles, a new feature for the Cs.  Eventually all the C arrived and off to the old changing rooms we went.  The hype built up around this match was immense; C wanted the best start to the new season that we could get, and did we fulfil this dream?  Only the C knew how!

 

Through a mix up with the directions given to Planty, and the poor organisation seen within the teaching staff, the C-Team ended up at the wrong venue, to what we thought, would end up in just a kick around between the lads.  But no, the heaven sent, who is Mr Plant himself didnt let us down and managed to reach the oppositions coach, to only be told we are in completely the wrong place, the right road, be wrong place.  Back on the coach C went, and to the venue we went!  Arriving at the venue, C were only greeted by the one person who we didnt want refereeing, and that was THAT old man from the match before.  But this didnt deter our minds on the task ahead of us.

 

As we moved out onto the pitch, there they were, New College.  Is that a girl? Questions where asked. Not at Rorz though, at New College. Shes fit rang from the mouth of Philip Berry, but only to be known later on in the game that it was a boy! Disappointed frowns where seen on the Berries faces.  We began our stretch sequences as Planty began the team talk that no-one could give but Planty! He believed in C, and that we could, and might actually give this team a match.  Never has any speech from anyone hit the spot in every C-Team members heart as did Mr Plants.  A new side of Planty was seen, he was the man we have been looking for to lead us into every match.  We love you Planty!

 

A controversial centre kick was taken by Ben, yet the ref allowed play to continue for the time being.  It took a few minutes for the lads to calm down before fitting into the formation, which was to end up being one of the most important ingredients of the match. Yet before we could adjust, a break from News striker into the penalty box allowed an unfortunate goal to be conceded by C.

 

New 1-0 C-Team

 

Heads never went down though. Memories of past matches may have entered Cs head, but to be shunted out by the strong and determined words of Planty from the sideline, and the captain Ben.  C were straight into the game with only one thing on our minds. A goal! Something never achieved by the C-Team before in an 11-a-side match-up.  C-Team had a lot of possession on the ball.  The passing between the team was something never seen before in the C, we were ripping News midfield apart, yet we couldnt get into their box for any clear goal chances.  The link-up between Phil and Ash was impressive in the middle of the park and the ball playing, down both flanks was superb, a goal was inevitable.  From the back, I could see how much C had improved throughout the summer break, and that this was ultimately the strongest and best team C could put out onto the field, an advantage only to work in favour of the C-Team.  A well-worked possession battle in the centre of midfield and a break down the wing resulted in a corner for the C, something weve never really practised as a team, yet had wrote the tactics down on paper.  Pirie stood up to take the corner.  The edge of the six-yard-box was lined with defenders, with Cs attackers and midfielders creating movement towards the goal. (Im so excited writing this!!!!!!!!). Pirie struck the ball with perfection. Curling into the area, above the heads of the defensive block, the ball glided towards the back post.  Everything moved in slow motion.  The ball looked as if it was to run wide over everyone, but that wasnt to be the case.  Up stepped Rorz, skipped past his marker, composed himself, positioned himself and hit the ball with a bullet of a header.  The momentum of the ball from the strong head of Rorz, took the ball firing into the back of net. It was there, what we had all been waiting for THE FIRST C-TEAM GOAL! We went CRAAAAAAAZZYYYYYY! Rorz had scored a monstrous header, and what a goal to begin on.  Subs, fans invaded the pitch as the celebrations began in the team! No one believed it could happen, but C, Rorz made it happen!

 

New 1-1 C-Team

 

This was just what C needed, our hearts and minds were now pointing in a different directiona win was on the cards.  Straight back into formation, C got ready for kick off, making sure we did not concede again.  New came out strong, but C were stronger.  New were desperate for a goal and resulted to, what we be a scary tactic for the Cs defence, hoofing the ball forward.  It took a few well-timed movements from the keeper, Russ, to dispossess New of their attacks, as the defensive 3 couldnt seem to get there heads on the ball, the bounce throwing us almost. Our passing and movement again was outstanding.  Movement up the flanks from Jim and Pirie, where increasing the confidence of the players, resulting in them pushing forward and trying to cause some damage.  News keeper loved kicking the ball as far as he could forward, yet just this one time, he ran himself to the edge of the box, and released the ball towards the halfway line on the far right with a throw, hoping to beat the retreating attackers and midfielders. Jim saw his chance. Stepping in front of the player the ball was meant for, Jim booted the ball back in the direction it came from.  Never have I seen a ball hit with such perfection and direction! The keeper, not even being given the chance to retreat to his line was struggling to understand where this piece of magic had come from.  The ball floated into the far corner nestling itself in the back of the net! Could this be true? THE C-TEAM ARE WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once again everyone went wild! Tears are seen in the eyes of every C-Team member, this is the best day EVER! A lump must have been felt in the throat of Planty, he loves C so much!

New 1-2 C-Team

 

It was close to half time and the score was showing just how well C-Team had been playing, and the belief before the match had brought us through this half.  There was an incident where C-Team could have gone 3-1 up. Once again it was Pirie, from the corner, whipped in with such pace, he managed to hit the crossbar with his corner.  C where up in arms, witnessing this piece of master class football, from the eventual Man Of The Match winner James Pirie (Well Done).

 

Half Time

 

Planty gathered us all around and began another one of his inspiring and emotional team talks, he pointed out where we were failing a little in the defence with our interceptions and clearances, and how the attack needed more support from the midfield.  This message sunk into the heads of all the players, and stayed there. C-Team could win this match, and we where going to try our hardest to make this true!

 

2^nd Half

 

The second half kicked off and C began to battle again.  New College began an attack, which needed the help of Jamie Waller in defence to put their striker off.  This he did do, with his quick head and strength, he held their striker off the ball who kicked it out for a goal kick, phew! But no, THAT ref gave a corner, WHAT! Never mind, C-Team had to play by his rules.  Every player had to mark up tightly as New College filled the box with their players.  The corner taker didnt really have a clue about corner taking, as twice he hit the ball to the near post, leading to both Waller and Wiggin heading the ball out for another go.  He took, what was now the third corner, straight into the middle of the box.  Russ couldnt make a catch and the ball landed in the middle of everyone. Scrambles, snaps and kicks where made by both sides to get the ball.  The final touch came from a New boy, who poked it into the goal, DAMN! Nothing could be done as New College celebrated their second goal.  This was exactly what we didnt want to happen.  Conceding a goal so early after kick off.

 

New 2-2 C-Team

 

C kept our heads up; we knew that we did not deserve to lose at all.  We had out played New College all match, and we were going to win!  Planty began shouting the orders and once again his words gave C the boost we needed.  Kick off was taken, and for the time being the match progressed steadily, not many chances at any end of the pitch.  But still everybody was playing their hearts out.  No one wanted to let C down.  Again New began to use their quite effective tactic of hoofing the ball forward, and Planty new it was going to take an affect against us if this wasnt cancelled out.  Planty needed some one to step forward and risk his head to rid New of attacks.  Another miss header by Broomie into the path of the New College striker was the last straw.  Planty shouted across to Broomie, Dont let the ball hit your head, you hit the ball! These words sank into Broomies head, these words where the words that would cancel the hoof tactics from New College, with a solid header back from where the ball came from.  Broomie began to header the ball with passion. 

 

About half way through the second half, C where looking superb.  The passing through the middle and up the right wing was dazzling the New College players.  Link up between everyone was definitely leading somewhere. Once again an attack ended up in a corner.  In Cs head was the reminder of what happened from a corner earlier on in the match, goal number 1 was off a corner, could this be number 3?  Again the midfield and attack where in the box, being heavily marked by News defensive block.  Pirie whipped in another superb corner, again the ball floated towards the penalty spot.  Was Rorz there with his head. No, it was the keepers fists.  The ball was hit straight back out of the area from which a sweet little boot made the sweetest pot shot it had ever tasted.  Not many people new what was happening, New College thought the ball had been cleared, but what they didnt see was, yes, it was him again, Jim on the edge of the box.  The ball was dipped and curled across the face of the goal, hitting the far post and ricocheting straight into the net for his SECOND GOAL!!!!!!! Is it true? Can it be? YES IT CAN! C ARE WINNING 3-2!!!!!!!! AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Fantastic! Jim could hardly contain himself. We came to the match hoping to score a goal, never expecting to score 3! That was it C where having no more of News rubbish goals, we were going to win 3-2, and make damn sure of it.

 

C-Team winning was just a myth, a fantasy living only in the hearts and minds of the squad, fans and Planty.  Until now, C had never scored, never achieved a point, EVER! But now C where winning, not only winning, we had scored 3 goals! We were invincible! It took a superb tackle from Pirie to keep us in the lead, this tackle topping of his MotM award.  The whistle blew, there it was, the first C-Team goal, and the first C-Team win.  For the lads, it was the best day of our lives!

 

New College 2-3 C-Team

We love you C-Team, and you Planty