MEFF #25 - THE BACKPASS APPRECIATION SOCIETY 2 – 7 CALL OF DOODIE:
A well-drilled defensive display from Patto’s Call of Doodie saw off the reigning champions The Backpass Appreciation Society. Although the middle half of the game was quite an even affair (with both keepers forced to make some impressive saves as early shots were dispatched), Call of Doodie had the best of the first and last quarters to put away their chances on the break to produce a comfortable winning margin.
The game was smattered with periods of excellent play, with the Society keeping Steels on his toes as early shots rained down on his goal, with Ash in particular doing well on the right wing while Luke, Daz and Kieran were a constant menace with their closing down and ball retention, while Griffin was solid in defence for much of the second half. At the other end Call of Doodie were a little less subtle with their long ball tactics (which Frumpy coped with calmly whenever they were over-hit), although Spence, who had another sound game, produced one deft lobbed-pass to release Patto (who fell over the ball in the area as Frumpy cleared) although the resulting corner did end in the third goal (Spence asked me to say that!) Pete also had one of his best MEFFs and made some great runs, although his lobs and backwards shots didn’t seem to pay off this week!
0-1: Pete(after Crozier and Patto almost fell over each other trying to defend, Spence was released down the right wing and pulled the ball back for Pete to slam into the roof of the net)
0-2: Phil P(a passage of simple passing ended once again with Spence crossing to Phil P for a low finish)
1-2:Luke (an unchallenged jinking run in the box ended with Luke slotting a shot through a number of defenders and under Steels)
Half Time
2-2:Luke* (a long ball from the back found Ash in acres of space, and he produced a bullet-cross that was steered in from two yards)
2-3:Patto (Pete released Phil G down the right wing, and his low, hard shot was finished at the back post by the lurking Patto)
2-4:Patto (Phil G headed on Pete’s throw, and Patto changed the course of the ball with a flicked header to beat Frumpy’s windmill save)
2-5:Spence (Pete drew all the defenders towards him with some good work in the area, which allowed Spence the time to produce a composed finish as he drew Griffin’s tackle and slotted under Frumpy)
2-6:Patto (Pete and Phil G worked a throw-in that eventually fell to Spence, who nudged the ball into the path of Patto for a low toe-poked finish on the turn)
2-7:Crozier (Pete crossed across the mouth of the goal for the predatory Crozier to smash in off the post)
*Some confusion over this goal as it may have been scored by Griffiths! If no-one cares then Luke gets it as he thinks it was him!
Men of the Match were Kieran, who worked hard to dominate possession and released a number of early shots that Paul did very well to save, and Patto, for “a commanding performance”, although there was also a “special mention to Pete for holding the play up front for Call of Doodie”.
