Mens F 1 - 2 DBS

23 May 2010

Dear F Team,

Well its a sad and somber start to the week knowing we just failed to make the cut in yesterdays Semi Finals game, losing literally with 1 minute to go having played the best of games.

It all started well enough with a top F Team 16 turnout and additional supporters and a VERY young, fit and skillful DBS team, ready to go having finished their homework and gotten permission to go out on a Sunday from their Mums !

We played probably our best hockey of the season, putting together more passes in the first half alone than Dermot has on his Bar Fines list. We took the game to DBS and kept their defence working hard. Most of their attacks were well stifled and Jeroen had little to do.

Our strong defensive back line, of George, Fergus, David W, Lyle and Walter, whose combined age ( only slightly dented by the "youngster" Fergus ) was probably still 50% more than the entire DBS team added together, did amazingly well and remained calm and composed.

Midfield really had full control in the first half and the likes of Chris, Bertie, Ali-G, Philip S, David G and Pete all had great games, combining well, passing and driving forward to get balls into the opposition "D". Upfront, Oscar, Dermot, myself and Tom all had chances but DBS were defending well and their GK was good, as seems to have been the way in recent games. Finally after constant pressure and a goalmouth scramble, it was Tom " The Dog" Young who put his trademark flick into action and we were ahead and he was within a goal of being top scorer.

the half closed out with our 1 - 0 lead remaining intact and a feeling the Finals were within our grasp. A long talk from Chappie, all positive, had unfortunately those fatal words or not letting in an early goal and one goal was not enough to secure our way to next Sunday.

On we went. Certainly DBS were not giving in and began attacking more and playing better having changed tactics and formation. Not long into the half they managed to score and it was 1 -1, yet the F Team came back after a short period of disarray and losing our form. We had attacks and a hard strike from the WMD was goal bound only for Toms leg to unfortunately be in the way. Not long after, a short corner came, and a push right to Oscar saw a slightly missed short bounce into the GK, up and over and was in the goal, but the Ref disallowed it for an unknown reason, perhaps the turning point of the game. We got back into the right rhythm, and had some more short corners, with the WMD going close but just wide once more. As noted now, the lack of firepower and devastating effect of the WMD has meant its now been downgraded to Lyles new description of Waste Management Device !! Jeroen also made several great saves to keep us in the match and everyone kept up the effort.

Another move forward, saw Chris rumble past two schoolboys who used the oldest trick in the book to halt his advance, and tripped him up. Chris went down, but UP came Jeffrey, to give the poor lad a thunderous chest bump than near knocked him back 2 or 3 inches, and was deemed to be a mere Double Nipple Tackle, which Chappie ( now reffing ) immediately gave the free hit against us, in order to save Chris's blushes for being carded for the limpest retort in F Team history !

Time was counting down, but we as ever were not getting the breaks, or luck or even shots on goal despite having much of the play. It looked like extra time was coming, with just 1 minute and 30 seconds to go we gave away a short corner. Out it came, Jeroen made a great save and the ball broke free, another scramble close in and suddenly all the DBS guys were cheering as the ball was over the line. A desperate last rush up the field got to their "D" again but was held and and moved away and the whistle blew for such a disappointing loss after such a great run and such a great team effort and level of play from everyone.

So, we lost 2 - 1 and I can't say to the better team. Just to the team who managed to take that extra chance and unfortunately so late in the game as has so often been the way this season, that we had no chance to come back.

Still, great effort. Good game, wrong result but all credit to a very young DBS. Lets hope they go on to lift the Cup and give a bit more meaning to our loss. A near full turnout to the Sportsmen's after, bar fines for all and as ever the positive fun side of the F Team.

I'll attempt to get a full Season Report out this week ( meant to do that for the Club anyway ) and note the MVP, Gold Stick, etc et etc as before.

Finally as everyone was far to drunk to remember, there was clearly no unilateral decision made on the fact that the Captains Position has been filled for next season. I have written to Jose Mourinho and await his reply !!

Thanks to EVERYONE throughout the WHOLE SEASON for some great hockey, fun times and near misses. NEXT SEASON will be a whole new ballgame ! See some of you at the End of Season "DO" on Friday 28th May and to all keep fit, healthy and in touch through the Summer months. There may well be F Team "events" to come like a dinner or tour so some emails to follow no doubt. ( you'd just get bored without them !! )

Ciao for now.

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

GAME " Cup Semis HKFC "F" vs DBS

RESULT : Loss

SCORE : 1 - 2

GOALS : Tom 1

MVP. Entire Team !!!

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