MEFF #64 FAECES FINAL - THE WARSAW PACK 0 - 0 THE AUTOBAHN DANCERS (THE AUTOBAHN DANCERS WIN 2-1 ON PENALTIES)
Sicky’s Squad Scores (sponsored by Experian):Patto’s Team = 8.30, Luke’s Team = 8.19. Pattoshould win by 2 goals.
The MEFF FAECES Grand Final sawLuke’s Warsaw Packtake on Patto’s Autobahn Dancers, and the game did not disappoint as the thrillingly close encounter ended goalless (for the first time in MEFF history). Luke’s mobile team dominated possession for the first 40 minutes of the match but they struggled to really test Rowan as Patto’s resilient squad defended well and blocked almost every shot (Jack coming closest with a long range effort that fizzed centimetres wide). The Autobahn Dancers were content to lump long balls forward to Spence or Phil in attack, while the Warsaw Pack allowed Pete to play sweeper, bringing the ball out and passing it short to his willing teammates. The Dancers only really came close from corners (or Phil’s audacious overhead volleys!), but most of the game was spent around Rowan’s area as Fletch, Sicky, Griffin and Patto defended stoutly and cleared hopeful balls forward.
Predictably the game began to open up in the second half, and Brett and Pete began to find Crozier, Jack, Kieran, Luke and Ash in more space down the wings, but strong defending saw long range efforts rarely test Rowan, and their best chance came when Rowan ran outside of the area with the ball, but Crozier’s quick free kick could not be turned home. With Griffin picking up a knock, Rowan came outfield for the final 15 minutes, and his pace suddenly turned the game as the Autobahn Dancers hit on the counter-attack to create the best chances of the whole match; Patto played in Rowan twice for what looked like simple finishes, but he failed to hit the target, Phil and Rowan also combined with Spence to come close but Pete saved well, while Patto pounced on a poor clearance but scuffed his attempted curler around Pete, who also made three crucial saves from Sicky in the final ten minutes. Griff plucked several shots by Brett and Ash from the air, but once Patto had finished a final solo run with a narrow miss in the final minute, the game ended 0-0 and penalties loomed...
With Patto, Fletch and Luke converting their kicks, and Spence and Crozier both scuffing their attempted shots, the crucial penalty was assigned to Ashley ‘Southgate’ Vaughan, but his composed sidefoot was tipped onto the post by Rowan (making amends for his earlier misses), allowing The Autobahn Dancers to become Champions of FAECES (following yet another efficient German penalty display!)
The Men of the Match were Rowan, for “a strong performance in goal and changing the game when he came outfield“, and Pete, for “dominating the play with metronomic precision and making some crucial saves at the end”.
The £25.70 prize money was awarded to Rowan as a contribution towards his charity runs (http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RowanSZ).
