Match Day One
Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Adrian Elmer 1 – Rob Retalic 0
The league started with a tense game, so tight that the game’s first goal kick didn’t happen until five minutes into the second half. Neither player gave much away in defence. Rob managed to put the ball into the back of the net after Adrian’s travelling ‘keeper was stranded, but with one of his strikers off-side, the goal didn’t stand. From the ensuing free-flick, Adrian managed to move the ball quickly forward and have it in the back of the other net before Rob got a touch.

The second half continued in a similar manner. The best chance came mid-way through the half when Rob threaded the needle with a midfield player to have a powerful shot that cannoned into the goalkeeper and then stopped dead. Adrian had a late chance as the clock’s dying seconds wound down but missed with his attempt on the moving ball.

Steve Diasinos 0 – Raffaele Lombardo 1

Another cagey, early season affair. Raffaele, playing his first competitive match in 24 years, showed he knew his way around the field with some silky touches. Steve began nervously and was on the back foot with a goal to Raffaele mid-way through the first half, following a powerful blast. However, he grew in confidence as the game progressed, with one shot towards the end of the half hitting both uprights before trickling back onto the field.

The second half was much more even, though Steve was forced into a number of good saves as Raffaele pressed and had the better goal-scoring opportunities. In the end, the early goal was enough and Raffaele started his campaign with a win.

Paul Magee 3 – Steve Diasinos 2

The match of the week saw Steve back up and play against Paul with his trusty Superfooty team. Steve was now warm and up for the game and kept things tight in the first half. However, Paul’s experience showed through as he eventually poked a whole through Steve’s defence, his delicately slotted shot wrong-footing Steve’s ‘keeper. 1-0 at the break.

The second half was where all the action took place, though. Within 38 seconds of the kick-off, Steve had sent one of his players from deep in his own half, though the tiniest of gaps in Paul’s defence to take an exquisite long range shot and pull off the goal of the evening. He seemed to relax a little too much, though and, within another minute, Paul had his lead back as he pulled Steve’s defence one way in order to open up space the other way, slotting home his second. He seemed to then put his stamp on the match with a third a few minutes later, again following some patient build-up work to create space in behind the defence. However, Steve wasn’t going to roll over and with a few minutes left on the clock, dug his way through Paul’s defence, taking an option no-one expected to put himself into a goalscoring position, which he duly dispatched resoundingly into the back of the net. Then, in the dying seconds came the real post-match talking point. Steve again found himself on goal before Paul managed to sneak a defender between the obvious shooting striker and the ball. Steve was forced to use an attacker on a more acute angle and his shot couldn’t find the net. As the game finished, however, it was pointed out that Paul’s defensive block might have touched Steve’s attacker. Neither player nor the referee noticed this during play but, as the figures were still positioned after full-time, a close inspection showed there may (or may not) have been an infringement, though even from multiple angles, the video ref would have been hard pressed to make a confident decision.

All games were played in an excellent spirit to start the league on a great note, with everyone coming away satisfied with their efforts for the evening. Match Day Two will see the other 3 participants make their league débuts, as the competition rolls forward. Of course, Adrian forgot to take his camera out to get photos of the games, and promises to do better next time. 🙂

Table after Match Day One