Welcome to Adobe GoLive 5

For the first time in the clubs history, we had two Junior teams compete in our (SASH) league. The hurricanes being the stronger side. We had lost only one game in the whole season, but that meant the league would be decided on goal difference. Yet again, Shene had the last match few matches in the season and knew what they had to do (goal difference wise) to beat us. They went all out for it and just managed to get enough goals in their last three matches to beat us.

So, having come second in SASH we ought to be given a harder path through the National championships. But, it seemed that as long as we win our group, we could avoid playing both Boreham Wood and the Wasps all the way up to the final! There was only one problem – our first game was against Leasowe sharks. If we couldn’t beat them, then things would get a bit more difficult. The last time we played them was in the youth play-offs two seasons ago. They beat us when they where at full strength but lost in the later rounds when some of their key players ‘went off to play in an ice match’!

A magical mystery tour

Our first match was the key to the Nationals. We would have to be more awake than they where. So Saturday morning, up bright and early for some pre-match warm up.

Some players are all fuzzy at the edges this early in the morning.

We controlled the play and looked like we could win this. But we failed to dominate their slot. We got lots of shots on goal, but non of them went in. Leasowes however, did convert their opportunities and got three goals past us. 3:0 at half time.

2nd half was better. We kept them out of our goal and managed to score 2 goals. But with a final score of 3:2 to leasowes this was not good enough. We seemed to be the better team but couldn’t get that ball in the net. As it happens, this match was the closest Leasowes got to loosing in the whole Tournament.

Adur.
Adur where next. This was a more straight forward game for us. We outclassed them and ended 6:1 to us. But, this now meant that we where second in our group, and had to fight off Borehamwood.

BorehamWood.
We have got close to beating Borehamwood in the past, but they have such a depth of quality players that its hard to touch them. We lost 5:2.

That night we went to the ‘Inn on the green’ – the high spot of Paignton apparently. This was a bit of a disaster. They took orders for everyone, but made no attempt to give the orders to the right people. In the background a two piece band sang songs from Yester-century very loudly. A bunch of energetic teenage hockey players amongst fox-trotting pensioners. Well, a night to remember anyway.

Adie having trouble remembering what a burger looks like

For what we are about to recieve - was probably ordered by someone else.....
(Daxie managed to balanced that light fitting on his head all evening, you know).

The next day would see us fighting it out for 5,6,7,8 place. First was Havering liberators.

They had given us a mouthing off before the game had even started. We decided to keep our cool and use their anger against them – is called Anger Management I believe.

So, to start with, just to show who was boss, we decided to do our group huddle and shout from the centre face off spot!!

Well, the goals just flowed in. Their anger was working against them. They thought that the refereeing was biased. So much so that their manager got up and walked onto the pitch to stop the game in protest! They where loosing the game by the conventional rules, and so had decided to make up their own. They clearly desperately wanted a punch up. At one point one of their players stepped onto our bench. But, we didn’t rise to their bait and kept things cool and calm and kept putting the ball in their net.

At one point though, David was in the sin bin. We scored (short handed) and I changed up the line with 4 players (accidentally). No one noticed. Not the refs, not the spectators, not Whitchurch. Well the line was a full youth line with tiger in goal. (in preparation for next weeks Nationals). They soon scored. Then David crept back onto the bench. Ooops! The refs said nothing and we kept quiet!

Josh got a 1 on 0 opportunity. Just him and the goalie. A Whitchurch player was having none of this and tripped him just before he could shoot. Penalty shot. Josh took the penalty, pulled his ol’ faithful and scored! He disappeared under a pile of Oxford players.

Highly polished and desireable - the trophies that is.

The rabble in Blue jeans

5th place. But, we had been beaten only by the two tournament finalists and given the winners the toughest game of their tournament.