A Tale Of Two Cities Games Sunday 12^th December 2004 ____________________________________________________________________

Michelle was on the Mic, Jordan was away, as was Joby, so Sam B took the gloves.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Sam B

Callum Oscar Jack

Jim Luke A Max

Rolling Subs: Sam K & Tom

This was a close game throughout, Jack going on a run at the start. Callum passed to Jim and he went forward but the ball was lost. They came at us and Jack was there to clear. It came back again and Sam B made a great save. He then kicked it over half the length of the pitch! Jack then cleared twice with both Oscar and Callum having to do the same as Stoke Lane exerted some pressure. Max then went on a run, passed it to Luke and he went forward also. They got it back and this time Callum was there with the decisive tackle. Luke then ran forwards and passed to Max, who got it to Jim to win a corner, but it was cleared. Max then went on a run but found himself being tackled. Callum won the bass and passed well to Luke but he was crowded out. Stoke Lane attacked again and Sam made another great save. The ball was knocked back high into our half but was met with a firm header from Jim. Tom then tackled their defence to win us a corner, but the half was up.

HALF-TIME: STOKE LANE 0 FRYS 0

Sam went on a good run with the ball and got it to Luke. Tom then won a header, went on a run, and then passed to Sam K who did not give up fighting for the ball until it had gone for a goal kick. Back to our end and Sam k & Max defended well as Stoke Lane pushed for the goal. We then won a free kick for a foul on Tom. He dusted himself off to take it from just outside the box, but it went agonisingly wide. Down our end and Sam in goal was left one on one and made a fantastic save. This was followed up with a header clear from Jim. Jim then passed the ball to Luke but his shot was wide. Sam K then went on a run but he was pushed over twice whilst trying to get forward and won a foul. Tom then found himself surrounded by three players, but still managed to emerge with the ball. Down our end and Jack just missed the ball to leave them through, but Sam made a great save again. Back up their end and Sam K battled strongly to win a corner which Jim took but we just failed to connect with it. Max then went on a run, lost the ball but fought hard to win it back.

FULL-TIME : STOKE LANE 0 FRYS 0

Man of the Match – Chosen by Maurice Baker for excellent play – Sam Burgess

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Mark James

Dan Josh Josef

Luke G

Rolling Subs: Joe, Ethan & Spike

James was straight into the action as he stopped their first attack. Josh and Dan linked well with a series of passes but were eventually crowded out. James and Mark were then both tested as stoke Lane started to pile on the pressure. Josh took a kick to the face and whilst our team were half distracted by that, they scored 1-0. Still reeling from that blow, Stoke Lane attacked again and despite James’ valiant efforts, it was soon in the net again 2-0. We managed to refocus at this point and Dan won the ball well and went on a run forward. He got the ball to Josh but his shot was across the face of the goal. Josh was then put through again but his shot was just wide. Josh and James then had to make last ditch blocks but even then Stoke Lane managed to get their shot away only to find Jamie ready and he made the save. Mark was then called upon to defend, then Luke going forwards had a shot, which was saved. This galvanised them and they attacked with renewed vigour 3-0.

Another shot flew in and across the goal, in off of the post 4-0. Ethan went on a run with the ball, lost it, but battled back well to clear the attack. Josef won the ball, passed to Joe who put Spike through, only to see him crowded out. We then defended like lions, but somehow the ball managed to get through 5-0. We seemed in a bit of a daze at this point so it was no surprise to find it in again 6-0. Determined not to let anymore go in, James and Spike flung themselves in the way of the ball and Jamie was able to safely gather.

HALF-TIME: STOKE LANE 6 FRYS 0

At the start of the second half, Dave Glover was heard to shout, “Luke, no skipping on the pitch”, and to be fair, it worked! Spike and Joe exchanged passes well to get us forward, and then there was some lovely passing between Josef, Luke and Joe. Joe then had a go at their defence but found himself outnumbered four to one. Stoke Lane then to a speculative shot and it crept in off of the far post 7-0. James then cleared the next attack to Joe, who ran forwards and belted it 7-1. Ethan was next to have a go but his shot was just over. Josh ran forwards, the ball was passed into him, but he just missed the goal. They attacked again but Spike was on hand to stop them. Next up it was Mark as he stood firm. A nice passage of play followed with Josh, Dan and Ethan passing amongst themselves. Joe won a free kick which he took and saw it just cleared off of the line. Stoke Lane broke and Jamie came out, made the save, but then somehow managed to lose it and it trickled over the line 8-1. Josh went on a run and shot, but his too was just wide.

FULL-TIME : STOKE LANE 8 FRYS 1

Man of the Match – Chosen by Mark Yeoman for excellent play – Josh Batt

OVERALL RESULT : STOKE LANE 8 FRYS 1

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

The first was a hard fought contest and honours even was the right result. The second game was more one way, although in the last 15 minutes we were a lot stronger. If only we could have done it for the other 25, it would have been a totally different game!