MEFF #28 – BRADLEY’S BRUISERS 5 – 6 SZCZESNY HAWKES:
The final MEFF of 2011 served up a ‘Classico’ as 11 goals were scored and the lead fluctuated between the two teams on at least 30 different occasions (probably), as Bradley’s Bruisers took on Aidan’s still unbeaten Szczesny Hawkes. The MEFF started with 5-a-side (and Patto refereeing), before Crozier and Kieran turned up to bolster numbers and allow a (still knackering) 6-a-side competition to take place, with Crozier taking up referee duties for most of the game due to the odd numbers. The whole match was incredibly close, but the final score could have been anything as legs began to tire and both teams had numerous opportunities to score, with both keepers (Griffin and Rowan) making some good saves when one-on-one. Phil G, Aidan and Patto all wasted chances on the break for Hawkes, while Brett and Jack both smashed the woodwork from long range, and Pete and Luke posed a constant threat up front for the Bruisers as Griffin tried to find them with long balls. The major incident of the game occurred when Pete released Luke through one-on-one with Rowan with 5 minutes to go, and after going around the keeper, Luke missed the open goal (to finish off the game) as the trickling shot bounced off the far post into Rowan’s grateful hands. The quick-thinking Rowan then immediately released the ball and the Hawkes went up to the other end to score the equaliser at 5-5 (before subsequently scoring the winner).
1-0: Luke(Pete played a precise ball down the right wing and the unmarked Luke swivelled to strike a low, first-time shot across Rowan)
1-1: SuBo(under pressure from Spence, the Bruisers defence could only clear straight to SuBo on the edge of the area who side-footed the ball into the bottom right corner)
2-1:Jack (good build-up play allowed Kieran to release Jack into the area who finished confidently)
2-2:Phil G (Patto charged down a defensive clearance and the ball fell kindly to Phil on the right, who took one touch before finishing under the diving Griffin)
2-3:Spence (a great right-wing run from Aidan ended with SuBo trying to tap home his cross from a yard, but the saved shot fell to Spence at the back post who finished from a tight angle)
Half Time
3-3:Pete (finding space on the right wing, Pete produced a low shot from long range that crept into the bottom left corner beyond Rowan’s toes)
4-3:Jack (Kieran’s corner was held up well by Luke, and he eventually laid the ball off to Jack to strike home a low shot)
4-4:Aidan (good work from SuBo down the left culminated in a strong cross that Aidan finished from close range)
5-4:Pete (a poor defensive clearance fell straight to Pete who curled the ball into an empty net)
5-5:Aidan (a quick counter-attack with some crisp passing between Patto and Spence ended with SuBo being played through to the by-line, and his dragged cross was tucked home by Aidan)
5-6:Patto (a last minute break saw Patto play a one-two with Phil G, with the former striking home the return ball from the edge of the area under Griffin’s diving fingertips)
Men of the Match were Aidan, for “two well-taken goals” (Bradley, 2011), and Jack, for “two well-taken goals” (Blenkinsopp, 2011), although Referee Crozier also did well for the Bruisers... LOLZ.
