So this is it then....the game everyone pretended didn't matter...in the scale of things it was right up there...Chelsea v Arsenal, Man Utd v Liverpool, Newcastle V Sunderland...Celtic v Rangers and a new addition to the list....Monkton Vipers vs Monkton Vipers Reds....oh yes...with John Motson and Jonathon Pearce commentating on the other "big games" today, you'll just have to put up with me... The anticipation and atmosphere had been cooking for weeks, just below the surface but always there..comments like "what's going to happen, who's available, how will it go, a draw would be great, will the hot dog van be working"...cranking the pressure up to intolerable levels..of course the van would be working ! Anyhow...back to the game....it was Halloween...a sacred, mystical day in the Calendar and the magical elves had conjured up a spell...mysteriously spiriting John, Bev and an in-form Jack "Torres" Taylor away to Legoland for the weekend...and striking the midfield dynamo Adam "the Wizard" Wardle down with flu like symptoms...was there more at play than met the eye ?....The Vipers defensive "Captain Composure"....also know as "Maxxy baby" was also missing, returning weeks later with a strange accent, a sun tan and a Mickey Mouse T Shirt....how would the loss of these key players affect each team ? Could we hope that the rest of each team would stand up to the test ? There never was any doubt really.... The Reds have been awesome recently, defeating a strong Jarrow team last week in a fantastic team effort, making a steady climb up the League, improving week on week, but the Vipers are no softies...oh no, no, no...not a softie amongst us...well maybe the coaches....but not the lads, harder than a Kyle Ferguson shot they are...and thats hard ! We sit top of the (imaginary) League for a reason...spirit, fight, determination, talent and teamwork has generated a team spirit that the rest of the League has found tough to match....and they were bursting at the seams to get out there today..I had to stitch Mason & Thomas up twice in the warm up...they were THAT bursting ! A shake of hands from the Managers and coaches (my fingers are still crushed) and best wishes from parents to both teams for a fun, attacking game - may the best teams draw ! (was the general feeling) Kicking off with Matt, Thomas, James, Mason, Kaie, Kyle and Joe...James and Sam warming up...the Vipers were straight in from the kick off, a lesson learned from the Jarrow game and today saw no hesitation in pushing forwards and tough tackling. Quick breaking away by Mason and Kaie down the right brought the first chance of the day, but Alex was out smartly to collect, making a good long clearance downfield...tough tackling in midfield from Adam Elstobb and Kaie saw Kaie attacking again, this time pushed out of play by the pairing of Jordan and Lewis, both looking ominously focussed... The ball coming in from a quick Mason throw, lobbed across by Kaie to Kyle who fired a long shot just wide...great effort. Another nice clearance from Alex saw the ball long through to Adam Elstobb, running with the ball then passing to Rob who, despite great tackling from James and Thomas got his long range shot away but was beautifully collected by Matthew - as focused as I've seen him, the epitome of determination ! Nice, quick, long clearance from Matt, right down the middle, saw the ball collected by Kaie, again out wide to Kyle then a slide pass in to Joe who ran on well, just about to shoot but Lewis in with the last ditch tackle...great effort and run Joe, well played through by Kyle. Some solid possession in midfield by Kaie and Mason, passing well, with a nudged ball from Harry pushing the ball through to our defence, Thomas coming into the picture and taking a moment to look up before clearing long to Joe and Kaie again, but once again blocked by the wall that is Jordan...good teamwork Vipers and just what's needed today. A half chance in the Vipers box fell to Adam E but great defence from James Catley and Kyle blocking the ball out and away downfield... Kaie away again down the left this time, crossing well but just missing Joes outstretched boot.... Good goal kick from Rob saw the ball back into midfield, Mason battling well and getting away with a brilliant run down the right, only good tackles from Jordan stopped a clear goal scoring chance...Rob collecting and playing Harry through, but brilliantly tackled by Kyle who cleared away well. Kaie was everywhere, running chasing, passing and harrying - tough today with a soggy pitch slowing things down - great effort. Thomas and James holding their positions well, always in the right spot to mop up the long ball, Thomas making one tackle to Harry that looked particualrly dangerous down the left - good stuff mate. Long ball down the left saw the ball out for a Vipers corner, well crossed in by Kyle but cleared by The Reds, away to midfield....well chased by Mason and out for a throw, James Catley taking the runner down the line and easing the ball back in to Kaie in midfield - excellent James. A quick break from the reds this time, saw Rob fire in a long shot, Matt palming it away and Adam Elstobb just putting the follow up over the bar... Nice passing from Kaie to Kyle then Joe brought another chance, this time just put wide by Joe but great teamwork. James Reed on, Sam on, James Catley and Mason off.... Both subs straight into the action, Sam supporting Matthew, under some Reds pressure and helping to clear the lines... James Reed collecting from the goalkick, running away down the right and again, only tough tackling by Jordan and Lewis stopped him in his tracks, though earning the corner, this time taken by Kaie, coming out of the box to a hard working Kyle, who's tricky footwork created enough space to fire a shot away ...just blocked by Rob who did a great job saving the day. One final chance for the Vipers fell to Joe from a cross shot by James, unluckily just going wide but great pressure. After more midfield battling the ref blew for half time....pretty even and half chances for both teams but great committment and work rate all round. Team talk from Phil - looking for continued effort, and a few more shots from midfield, make the most of the slippy surface and fire them in !....oh yes and we ALL had drinks...got to keep the throat moist to keep up the encouragement ! 2nd half underway Same line up as the first half and the same electric pace as the 1st half.....Harry working hard to get away down the left but Kyle just would not let him go and chased him down every time....it reminded me of what Gandalf said to the Balrog in Lord of the Rings...."You shall not pass !" (of course Gandalf then fell off the bridge but that's by the by) Harry's long rangy runs are a key element to the Reds success and the defensive work of Kyle and Sam down that side were massive today. More Monkton pressure saw more chances for Joe and Kaie, the ball coming in from the left this time, James Reed tackling and the ball bobbling round the edge of the goal line...Alex just saving the day with a scrambled save...well done mate. James really up for this one today and tackling in midfield then away down the right, crossing but just beyond Joe.... More subs saw Mason and Sam back on, Joe and Kyle taking a break ... After more midfield tussling a quick check with the ref confirmed there was literally 1 minute remaining....the ball went through to James who's shot was blocked back y the irrepressible Lewis Ireland... Mason passing back to James who jinked and looked across to his coach - how do I get past this defence ??...the look in his eye said it all.....and then it happened...a subtle but noticeable feeling descended onto the pitch.....I swear I heard the words "Use the Force James"....it really was Obi Wan, disguised as Phil...and magically, with Jedi like skill, James moved the ball drifting gently through the defence and sliding his shot across the Reds goal, leaving the keeper with no chance....1 Nil to the Vipers....and a medal to Obi Wan for his intervention.... The match was literally kicked off back underway and the ref blew for full time....what a game, entertaining, incident packed, but played in a true Monkton Vipers spirit....I heard comments from at least 2 spectators who really enjoyed the game and said how great you ALL were.. Heartbreaking for the Reds who really deserved something from the game but well done Vipers, you never stopped trying and were a credit to the Club today. Midfield was the key area today, Adam Elstobb and Rob have been in great form these last few weeks and Kaies work, coupled with Joe tracking back, Mason and James chasing the ball everywhere and Kyles long passes just gave us the edge today - but every one of you deserve a round of applause. Congratulations on the spirit you played the game in, but also in victory by keeping it low key and commiserating with your team mates, and important to remember your friends, from the Reds - I know they would have done the same to you guys. Right across the pitch you were awesome - defensively massive, stopping nearly every breakway the Reds made, composed on the ball, working hard to win every loose ball, quick throw ins, good corners, great goal keeping and clearances...just brilliant all round performance ! Man of the Match today was the whole Vipers team, from Matt, James, Tom, Sam, Kaie, Mason, Kyle, Joe and goal scorer James, you played and worked for each other today and showed how well you can play together - well done ! Bit of a lie in next week - Cup game @ 11:00 so enjoy it ! Gan Canny ! Chris
