Mens F 2 - 0 Elite D

21 March 2010

Dear F Team,

On a beautiful hot sunny Sunday morning the F Troop assembled at the far more more reasonable hour of 10.30 to continue its Cup run.

The pre-match warm-up of watching the "H" Team lose 2 - 1 to the team at the bottom of their Division was obviously enough to fire up the spirit and see we kept focused from the starting whistle.

Elite D were a young and well organized team and yet the F Team proved throughout the game we were in control and easily capable of a win, it just took a little time and effort to get it all together.

Jeroen in goal was rarely troubled as the final score line reflects, but had his moments when Elite did manage to get a few close calls and shots on goal. That of course was helped by great defending. David WE was his solid self and was assisted by returning "newsboy" David Fergus, who having escape mudslides and other dangerous encounters on his way back, strolled through the game as if he'd never left while also nursing quite a heavy hangover ! Even newer "newsboy" was Fergus McCoy, a new "Bertie" signing and very solid centre back ( cum left wing ! ) who looks like he's a natural I Trooper and has returned to the fold once more, with the added benefit of dropping the back line average age by at least 10 years ! Great defending and as noted stepped in to a left wing position as times into he second half too. JP was also in the back line together with Tim Hancock and both defended well and determinedly throughout. Much of the first half was pretty even, but really Elite did not have the drive and chances came and went for the I Team. The midfield combinations of Chris, Bertie, Ali-GO, Bruno, Anthony and Pete saw sustained effort and attacks with near misses and a lot of GK saves from Tom, the WAD and Dermot. Several short corners came very close from direct hits and flicks but we couldn't get a breakthrough. Tom had two good chances though a lot of hassling and was free on goal twice only to be stopped by the Elite GK. The half ended 0 - 0.

A happy Chappie talk was all positive for once and noted we just needed to be a little more focused, watch out passing, take a little more time and distribute the ball better. So what happened....we went out and did just that and played some of our best hockey of the season. The GK and backs held up everything and pushed the ball out straight to the wings or midfield to build attack after attack. Chris and Buno had run after run, Ali G was on song and blasting through with hard crosses to the "D". Bertie was as ever up and down the pitch, tackling and hassling. Finally, maybe 15 mins into the half, another attack built up, and the ball came out to Buno who brought it into the D and shot straight into the goal. 1 - 0 and the nerves were calmed and we were on our way. The F Team did not settle back to defend but kept up the pressure. A lot of attacks down the left and right wings and a switch yet again of the WMD into midfield to put a slowing Chris upfront worked well ( but is becoming a worry trend for the WMD ha ha ) and saw good passing and defending. We pushed up again. A long ball to Dermot saw him miss a good chance but this was put down to the fact that the WMD had actual passed the ball to him and that last happened in 2008 so he was a little unprepared ! Yet again more chances, a few short corners and a drag flick going inches wide , then came a scramble in the D, the ball went outwards, the WMD was running back to strike when in came Anthony, and remember to keep stick and ball only 6 inches above pitch level rather than 6 feet, swept the ball hard across the face of the goal to slot it home just inside the far post ! 2 -0.

So, the last 10 minutes came and went and we could have had more but 2 was enough for a well played and well deserved Cup victory. On we go now to the Quarter Finals on 16th May ! Thanks also to support from Ahbinav who came down to play if need be, but had a hamstring problem and luckily everything went our way on the day.

Great Team effort once again. A good near full team turnout in the Sportsmans afterwards, got the F Team back into party mood and the Margarits came out for a first bar-fine session of the season ! Champagne too courtesy of Dermot and for Berties birthday..39 again I suppose.

Next League game is 11th April on my sheet..but who knows if that's true or not. Keep in touch and have a great 7's weekend, Easter Break and keep fit and healthy too. On we go to more Cup glory.

*************

GAME : HKFC "F" vs Elite "D"

RESULT : Win

SCORE : 2 - 0

GOALS : Buno 1 / Anthony 1

MVP : Buno.

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