MEFF #70 – THE ANTHONY TAYLOR FAN CLUB 1 – 2 ATHLETIC MINCE PIES:
Sicky’s Squad Scores (sponsored by Experian):Brett’s Team = 8.16,Luke’s Team = 8.38. Luke should win by 2 goals.
A close and extremely open 6-a-side MEFF saw Brett’s Anthony Taylor Fan Club finally defeated as a string of impressive saves from an inspired Rowan gave Luke’s Athletico Mince Pies the platform from which to claim a narrow victory. After a 15 minute friendly in which Phil G scored the only goal (with a composed left-footed finish down the left wing) the competitive game began and it was obvious that everyone was going to get a good run-out on a particularly zippy frozen surface! Luke scored the only goal of the first half, but both sides should’ve added more as Rowan tipped a number of efforts wide and also did well to smother a one-on-one with Patto, while Griffin came close with some long range shots. At the other end Pete cleared a number of efforts from Spence and Luke, who couldn’t pull the trigger at the right moment.
With the keepers joining their respective attacks whenever possible, both tiring defences struggled to close down every man as the opposition always had an extra body, but neither team could make the most of each attack as long range efforts drifted wide. Brett equalised with a strong finish before Rowan proved his worth again with some Spiderman-esque saves, plucking Fletch’s fiercely struck shot from the air, tipping a goalbound volley from Griffin over the bar and flicking shots from Patto and Toobs wide to keep the scores level. Pete watched a number of dangerous crosses or corners from the Mince Pies drift through the area unchallenged or skit past his post, but he wasn’t required to make a save until Griffiths claimed the victory with a hidden left-footed shot through 2 defenders that Pete didn’t even have time to react to. The frustration and bickering increased in the final 10 minutes for the Fan Club who suddenly began to misplace passes in the final third, and the Mince Pies simply sat back and defended their slender lead until the final whistle.
1-0: Luke(Spence worked a counter-attack down the right wing and then drew Brett towards him before squaring to Luke in the centre, who calmly slotted under Pete)
Half Time
1-1: Brett(A rapid counter-attack from the Fan Club allowed Kieran to spray the ball into the path of Brett, who walloped his shot through Rowan into the top left corner)
2-1: Griffiths(Griffiths put his head down and ran down the left wing, and before he was shepherded into the corner by Brett and Patto he managed to unleash an unexpected left-footed shot from a tight angle which beat Pete)
Men of the Match were Brett, “for his well taken goal”, and Rowan, as ”he made about 10 quality saves”.
