It had been a tough week last week for football around the world, the Rio scandal,
and the girl accusing 7 premiership footballers of attacking her in a hotel room. But
this didnt have an effect on the minds of the C-Team squad players. We were all
determined to play as good as we had done in the last match, a new we could do.
Once again it was a Wednesday afternoon, and the weather had held out nicely
for us, the sun in the sky, and barely a cloud around. Perfect conditions for
what would be our second game against New Colleges third team, who would be raring to play and beat use after their defeat
against the C a few weeks ago.
Out side the changing rooms we were at 10 minutes to 1, waiting for the call
into the room to get ready. A rumour had been whistling through the air that
a surprise for the C would be found in the changing room. But before we could find out what the surprise was in the changing
room, we had another surprise heading our way! Micky D, the headboy, had been lined up to make his debut appearance for the
C-Team in this match against New College, this arranged weeks in hand. Planty had agreed he could play, and C was looking
forward to Micky playing with us. But this was just not to be. We could see Planty
talking to Kenny Swain but couldnt tell what was being said, but the look on Plantys face told the story. Planty walked towards Micky, and again words were exchanged, it was from the look on Mickys face, the tear
in his eye, that we realised Swain had told Planty that Micky couldnt play for the C. A great loss for the C, but especially
Micky, as all he wants to do is play football, and Swain only lets him be a sub for the A.
C consoled Micky, but it was out of our hands who Micky played for, we only prayed that Kenny Swain would let Micky
play in the A-Team match.
Back to the original surprise for the C.
We were called into the changing room, and right before our eyes, was the England senior squad changing room, well
not quite, but all our England kits were hung up, shorts on the bench with socks, it looked superb. The boys were straight into their kits, complementing each other on how good we looked, and were so excited
about the match. Off to the match we went!
Arriving at the ground we could see our opponents all warming up, but we could
also see that there was a few different players on their team, obviously they had brought in a few better players from the
B-Team, but this didnt scare us, as we knew that if we played like we did in the last match, C were unstoppable. Planty began another inspiring team talk, the main focus being, Dont take the piss! which we did to a certain
extent. (Penny Crayon with chicken legs, fit girl, shit keeper). A small warm up began with a few passes of the ball in a
circle, and we were ready to play.
Kick Off
Straight from the kick off we were onto the New College players. We ran down every ball, and didnt give them any space at all. For
the first 5 minutes we were all over them, I dont even think the ball came in our half with any danger, the defence was just
picking up the ball and playing it back into their half, we looked ace. We continued
to play like pros on the pitch, yet we were not creating any chances upfront at all, we managed a few corners, but no real
chances. New were attacking a little better than they started, but still it wasnt
anything to worry about, our defence just playing there usual way. Before the
match Planty had said that this match wouldnt end in a 0-0 draw, goals would be scored, but it looked like this wasnt to be
true. As it was reaching half time and the score was 0-0. New were still playing the hoof tactics that they resulted to in the first game, but still our defence
were just sending the ball back where it came from, but one freak accident in the defence occurred. The ball floated over our line of defence into the path of News striker who began at full pace towards
the goal. Wiggin was pounding down on the strikers heels, making ground on him. Muscle saw the danger and began a run out to intercept the ball. Russ would of easily collected the ball as he had been doing all match, but Wiggin saw his chance, he waited
for the striker to run with the ball into the area, and before Russ could intercept the ball, Wiggin booted the legs from
under the striker in a disgraceful foul to give away a penalty, much to the appreciation of New College and Wiggin. New had had no chances at all in the match so far, but now they were gifted with a penalty. WIIGGGYYYYYYY!!!!!!
There was nothing C could do as the penalty taker stood up to take the penalty but pray that Russ saved it. The ball was struck and it sailed towards the goal, but there he was, Russ had guessed the right way, but
now he had to stop it hitting the back of the net. The out stretched Russ caught
the ball in his belly, as the penalty was a poor one, hit straight at him, but never the less he had saved it, and C.
Cheers went up as Russ had saved the penalty, and the half time whistle was
blown a few minutes later.
Half Time
0-0
Planty gathered us all around and told us of how great we were playing. The passing was superb and our general attitude to the match he loved. But we had a task on our hands now. 0-0 at half time, and
only because of the penalty save by Russ. We had to come out this second half
and play our hearts out. For Planty, for C-Team!
Second Half
Out we came second half, exactly how Planty had told us. We were back on the heels of our opponents, giving them no room, no time.
I couldnt believe how we hadnt scored yet as we were playing perfectly, again we looked like we were born to play C-Team
football, and I dont doubt that at all! The pressure we were applying was huge,
this eventually winning C a corner. So far in the match corners hadnt really
been successful in the match, maybe this one was going to be? Pirie stepped up
to take the corner as usual, which he whipped into the box with pace and curl. From
where I was watching the corner, it looked familiar. Where before had I seen
this? Oh yes, it was in the last match. This corner looked exactly like the corner
Pirie took when Rorz scored the first C-Team goal ever, exactly the same. Yet the ball had passed over the head of Rorz who
was by the front post. The ball sailed to the back of the post. There was a big gap awaiting the ball at the back post, which was soon filled with the presence of Hef. He had sidestepped his defender on the edge of the box, and began his run into the
box. Hef saw the ball and dived. Not to get the penalty, but to smack the ball
with the front of his head straight into the back of the net!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
There it was Hefs first ever C-Team goal, and the first goal of the match! Everyone went wild! C-Team where ahead, and deservedly
so! Hef couldnt contain himself and went CRRAAAAZZZYYYYYY! Scaring the likes
of me (Broomie), but he was allowed to, C had the lead!
C-Team 1 0 New College
This is exactly what the match and C needed. New College kicked off and C were
straight back into their positions chasing down the ball again. All C wanted
now was a second goal. Hef had given us our first, now we needed a second. If it wasnt for Russ, that goal could have been an equaliser, but it wasnt thankfully
enough. Planty believed we could win again, and making us know that. Wiggin commanding the defence, Phil and Ash strong in the middle, Ben and Rorz lighting up the attack,
C-Team were ruling this match!
As the rest of the half was progressing, New College were getting a little
more of a hold to their play, still not causing problems though. Something needed
to be done to stop these small attacks from New College, something needed to upset them, make them believe C were going to
win.
New gave away a free kick in our half, and I stepped up to take it. I could see Ben about to make a run away from his marker, so I stepped up and thumped the ball forward. The ball hung in the air, enough time for the keeper to make a run out to Ben, who
had a defender closing him down. Ben brought the ball down with his head just
as the keeper and the defender reached him on the edge of the box. Ben, with
his quick feet, collected the ball, turned and holding off a tackle from the defender, who swung a boot out to the ball, bunted
the ball under the oncoming keepers arms. The ball was rising, rising at a quick
pace. Everything was moving in slow motion, or could that of been Ben as he followed
the ball. The ball rose up towards the top of the goal striking the cross bar,
down onto the line and into the back of the net! It took a few seconds for everyone to realise that it was a GOAL!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOO
Ben had scored a tremendous goal, off the bar and in!!!! Some may say that the defender scored an own goal, but Ben claims
it, and what a goal it was!!!!!!!!!! I love you C-Team!!!
C-Team 2 - 0 New College
No piss taking was allowed and C got straight back into positions for the kick
off. 2 goals without reply, what more could C ask for? Nothing, we were going
to win! New kicked off but still didnt put much of a fight towards us, they were
demotivated by the 2 goals scored by C, and it showed. They were beginning to
play dirty and trying to win free kicks, but were failing to some extent.
New only really had one chance, other than the penalty, and it was due to the
Sandwich rule, no-one had heard of this rule, but it meant that New College had been given a indirect free kick in the penalty
area. It should have been another penalty, but no, a free kick. It was taken but C discarded of any trouble, and the whistle was blown securing the 2nd C-Team
victory in a row, FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Final Whistle
C-Team 2 0 New College
Managers Man of the Match Russ for his influential penalty save.
