Mens H 5-1 Khalsa C...max dec etc!

HKFC H 5 - 1 Khalsa C : Maximus Decimus Meridius

During midweek, Chappie and I decided that he would teach the team the plan
that I had hatched to counter the "Indian Five - Five" formation, whilst I,
as a non-playing manager, would check Khalsa's player registration cards for
any Div 1 ringers.

The game started with five orange shirts sat high up in the stands.  Chappie
and the umpires kept a beady eye on them to ensure that they were going to
be nothing but spectators throughout the match.

Nev Watkins had early difficulties adjusting to his new man-marking role at
Centre Back.  Roger Nissim, sweeping behind, eventually kept him on a tight
leash and our defensive stall, with Alan Powrie / Martin Lane and Randall
Arthur guarding the left and right flanks respectively, was set to
perfection.  Key to this new plan was also Joel Chu sweeping in front of the
backline.

The first 35 minutes saw us perfect the Art of Defending as a unit.  One
intimidating Khalsa hit after another bombarded our D, but the backline
stood firm.  A flurry of short corners was conceded.  Cyrus Law blocked the
first with his pads and, after a slight change to the running order, Guy
Higgins was out quick enough with his stick down to diffuse the danger posed
by the others.  On about the 15-minute mark, a clear-cut chance did
materialise for a Khalsa forward 8 yards out, whose snapshot was blocked by
Cyrus' right foot for what must be the save of the season so far, simply for
his split second reaction time.    

It was by no means one-way traffic.  As the midfield area had little or no
congestion, the game developed like an end-to-end game of basketball.
Khalsa scythed away, whilst we cleverly "relayed" the ball like a baton from
defence through Joel and Guy to David Lloyd and the rest of the forwards.

We created plenty of opportunities behind and through their "2-3" back five,
so much so, Brett Goebel came off for a first half breather certain that
"we'll get chances and score".  The prophecy came true on the 25-minute
mark, when Guy's neat vertical through ball to Lloydy in the D was slotted
through the legs of the goalie.  1-0.

More chances followed, as Khalsa got increasingly frustrated by our defence
and failed to bring players back to help their defence.  We had frustrations
of our own when our chances went a-begging and one of our player's stick
received plenty of abuse as it smashed against the pitch's periphery wall.

Because of the one-nil scoreline and beautiful defending, I went for a
half-time cup of tea beaming from ear to ear.  Chappie kept the team
focussed with his pep-talk, which I didn't have the pleasure of hearing, but
apparently it was far better than the 15-man "Indian democracy" team talk
that Khalsa had.  

Khalsa's non-stop debating amongst themselves carried onto the field.  We,
on the other hand, simply got down to business.  Taking heed of Chappie's
half-time tip, Paul McGuire relaxed into a sublime first-time shot off
Robbie Collins' right wing cross to put us 2-0 up within three minutes of
the second half.  

Robbie and Tim Loh, with speed to burn, were making great inroads.  Our
third goal scored by Tim is now known as "Chappie's Playstation" goal.  From
the dugout, he called four consecutive passes that took the ball from Tim on
the left wing back to Guy, then to Lloydy in the middle, who spread it wide
right to Robbie, who then squared it to the P-spot where Tim was ready to
pounce and score.  Arguably, our best crafted traffic cone goal this season.

Khalsa's heads went down - they had punched themselves out against our
formidable defence, our forwards were beginning to pick them off at will and
the fat lady was beginning to clear her throat .

Lloydy got in on the scoring act shortly afterwards, when he single mindedly
cruised into the D and smashed a great goal into the right corner of the
backboard for our fourth.  I high-fived Chappie.

The summer sun started to affect our defenders and Khalsa threatened to make
it interesting when they scored a consolation goal with 12 minutes to go.

However, with 5 minutes left, the soulful tones of Aretha Franklin could be
heard after "Q" Burrows ghosted round their young nippy right back, leaving
him to eat dust and, using an upright reverse stick flick, squared the ball
right across the face of goal for Brett to dive and deflect into an empty
net.

With the game safely in the bag, the final few moments saw us gladiators,
"upon Roger's command, unleash Nev" into enemy territory to try and grab a
sixth.  

We reflected in the Sportsman's Bar afterwards at how cruelly we had
dismantled the opposition - little by little, slowly but surely, we
emasculated them.  

"Epic performance", says Lloydy.  "Chappie's gonna get the A team to watch
us." says Q.  "Is the Hun going to the I's now?" asked another. 

Khalsa C play Bullets C next Sunday.  It would be great to be a fly on the
wall watching their respective 15-man half-time team talks.  I might also
eventually get to see Khalsa's sixteen player cards for today's match...

Cheers,

Louman