An incredible game of football that saw both sides create great chances was eventually settled by a penalty shootout as KID'S FC took the crown off the current holders in the Annual Xmas Match up.
The game was in doubt due to the wintry weather, but a late call on the pitch conditions enabled this festive classic to go ahead… The forecast rain was no more than a light drizzle, and the ground was responsive enough for any safety concerns to be put to bed.
KID'S FC took the lead in the first minute through a stunning OG by AL SINCLAIR, who skewed an Exocet into the bottom left corner from a KID’S FC cross, leaving the keeper stranded.
It was not long before the PARENTS ARTHRITIC impressive passing game began to dominate the play, and their dominance was rewarded on 6 minutes, when JO SINCLAIR slammed home the equaliser, lifting the keeper off his feet and beyond the goal line.
The game ebbed and flowed with neither side taking their chances, and the passing style of PARENTS ARTHRITIC dominating most of the play. Time after time KID'S FC tried to break the off-side trap, but the well drilled PARENT ARTHRITIC backline had the upper hand against the naĂŻve strike force.
On 23 minutes the BLUES took a shock lead through NOAH IGLEWSKI, who pounced onto a wayward back pass from KAMBIZ PARANDIAN, and slotted the KID'S FC second into the bottom corner.
This woke up the PARENT ARTHRITIC forward line, and a quick passing spell saw RODNEY WATTS break the lines into the box, only to be felled by the on-rushing keeper… A penalty was awarded.
And so, it was SAM RAY who stepped up to take the crucial penalty, which he rifled into the top of the net on 38 minutes, with a thunderbolt of a shot… Score line 2-2.
As PARENTS ARTHRITIC enjoyed their best spell of pressure of the game so far, it was KID'S FC who almost added a third against the run of play.
First, NOAH IGLEWSKI was played in through the centre of the PARENTS ARTHRITIC defence by FIN HARRIS, but MATT HEWARD-MILLS was out quickly to smother the effort. A minute later and AL SINCLAIR had to be alert as JAMIE MOORE struck one from inside the box, but he did well to acrobatically turn it wide past the upright.
So, in a cacophonous atmosphere, the game played out the 60 minutes with both teams having their chances, but the keepers matching every effort with a number of man-of-the-match saves… Sending the game to penalties.
KID'S FC won the toss, and chose to go second, with SAM RAY stepping up again to take the first pressure kick…
1 - SAM RAY… Scores: PAFC [1v0] KFC 2 - FINLEE HARRIS… Scores: PAFC [1v1] KFC 3 - EUAN SINCLAIR… Miss HIGH 4 - NOAH IGLEWSKI… Miss SAVE 5 - RODNEY WATTS… Scores: PAFC [2v2] KFC 6 - DOMINIK CHUDY… Miss SAVE 7 - PAUL MOORE… Miss WIDE 8 - OLLY RAY… Scores: PAFC [2v2] KFC 9 - AL SINCLAIR… Miss HIGH 10 - KIAN SINCLAIR… Miss SAVE
And so, with five penalties taken… It was time for sudden death!! 11 - JO SINCLAIR... Miss SAVE 12 - NAYAN HEWARD-MILLS... Miss SAVE 13 - ANNABELLE RAY Miss SAVE 14 - JAMIE MOORE... Miss SAVE 15 - KAMBIZ PARANDIAN... Miss SAVE
So, it fell to EMILIO PARANDIAN to step up an take the pressure kick. 16 - EMILIO PARANDIAN… Scores: PAFC [2v3] KFC
PARENTS ARTHRITIC may have lost the crown in 2023, but there was plenty to be proud of.
Well done KIDS FC… Until next year!!
