MEFF #55: UKRAINE NO BRAINE’S 3 – 1 THE MO BOTS:
Sicky’s Squad Scores (sponsored by Experian):Griffiths’ Team = 8.24, Brett’s Team = 8.33. Brett should win by 1 goal.
With Griffiths late to his own party, Pete helped to select the squad for Ukraine No Braine’s, and it proved an inspired move as their assembled team earned a hard-fought victory over pre-game favourites The Mo Bots. An incredibly close first half ended 0-0, and despite both sides being limited to a handful of chances each, Pete and Steels still had to be alert and clear their lines with reaction saves, but it was probably The Mo Bots that should have been ahead at the midway stage as Phil P hit a left-footed shot against the post from 4 yards, while Patto saw a volley ricochet off Pete’s back, then the post, and then Kieran’s face to safety.
Once the second half began both teams tried to force the result and this lead to the inevitable mistakes as passes started to go astray. Ukraine No Braine’s made the most of this to win back possession and hit on the break, taking a two goal lead as rebounds and deflections seemed to fall in their favour. Luke was denied his team’s third goal having accidentally controlled the ball with his outstretched arm, before The Mo Bots increased the pressure on Pete’s goal, forcing him to save well from Toobs, Spence, Phil G and Patto, while Phil P missed another good chance, this time hitting the right post with the goal gaping! Eventually Patto gave The Mo Bots some hope by slotting home Brett’s pass, but it was too little too late as Ukraine saw out the win, adding a cherry on top in the last seconds with a 4-on-1 attack that ended with Captain Griffiths slotting under Steels.
0-1: Ash(Luke’s cross to Ash from the right was poorly cleared, and Ash eventually bundled the ball into the goal)
0-2: Griffiths(Yet another scramble in the box ended with Fletch passing to Griffiths, who flicked the ball into the net)
1-2: Patto(Brett collected the ball on the left and squared across goal to Patto for a simple left-footed finish)
1-3: Griffiths(In the dying seconds, Luke and Griffiths broke downfield after a Mo Bots corner, with the latter slotting under the helpless Steels)
Men of the Match were Pete, for “sweeping well at the back and making some good saves”, and Phil G, for “never wavering in his commitment and endeavour for his team”.
