MEFF #71 – ATHLETICO MINCE PIES 2 – 5 80s CASUALS:
Sicky’s Squad Scores (sponsored by Experian):Ash’s Team = 8.15,Luke’s Team = 8.35. Luke should win by 3 goals.
With Griffiths dropping out at the last minute due to illness, an interesting 15-man MEFF saw Rowan play a half for each team, with interesting tactical consequences. Luke’sAthletico Mince Pies chose to start the match with Rowan in goal, and the man advantage helped them to dominate possession as Ash’s 80s Casuals sat back and soaked up the pressure in defence with Spence in particular showing a great ability to ‘hoof’ the ball clear. Having repelled several attacks with Patto palming shots from Crozier and Pete wide, it was surprisingly the Casuals who opened the scoring with a swift counter-attack. The Mince Pies eventually raised their game and took the lead thanks to several mazy runs from Porty who the Casuals struggled to defend against. Brett made one particularly good save just before half time, clutching onto a fierce strike when a goal looked certain.
With Rowan swapping teams, the Casuals knew what they had to do in the second half and it wasn’t long before they levelled the scores as Spence and Brett combined for a great goal. As the Mince Pies pushed forward through Luke, Crozier, Fletch and Phil Parrot, more and more space opened up and Ash, Adam and Kieran had loads of space to run into against Pete and Phil G in defence. Brett, Griff, Kieran, Spence and Patto continued to combine in front of Rowan, and the Casuals slowly extended their lead, which could’ve been greater had several passes been played slightly earlier (and if Ash hadn’t missed an open goal when he tried to find the top corner!) Nevertheless Rowan still had to make plenty of excellent diving saves as Pete came close thanks to several long range strikes, while Porty and Crozier both had shots cleared by defenders.
0-1: Ash(A quick goal kick was played to Kieran, who spun and flicked the ball into the path of Ash on the right wing, and he strolled into the area and struck a fierce shot under Rowan from a tight angle)
1-1: Fletch(A great shoulder-dropping run from Porty eventually ended with his shot being palmed onto the post by Patto, and when the ball couldn’t be cleared quickly, Fletch picked up the ball and rammed it into the net from 3 yards)
2-1: Porty(Porty dispossessed the Mince Pies in midfield and then struck a fierce shot beyond Brett into the bottom left corner)
Half Time
2-2: Brett(An accurate long pass from Spence at right back found Brett unmarked on the left, and he swivelled to produce a low half-volley that beat Pete)
2-3: Ash(Griff found Patto down the left wing, and he pulled the ball back to Ash in the centre, who ran forward and unleashed a fierce strike towards goal which Patto, who had continued his run into the box, dummied through his legs leaving Phil Parrot in goal with very little time to react)
2-4: Own Goal(After minutes of composed build-up, Griffin sent in a cross towards Brett on the penalty spot, and although Toobs missed his header, the defending Crozier couldn’t avoid the ball and volleyed into the net with his knee)
2-5: Patto(A slick passage of passing between Patto, Griff and Brett ended with the latter passing to the former in the centre, who dropped his shoulder and sent a disguised left-footed shot through a sea of legs which Pete couldn’t see)
Men of the Match were Ash, because “it’s a goalscorer’s game and he got two”, and Fletch, as ”he looked like a young Aaron Ramsey out there”.
