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| Yesterday Albion Reds played their
long awaited opening game of the Jack Walker Shield group stage
a.k.a. the champions league. It was a cold but mercifully windless
evening, amateur weathermen amongst the team pointed out that
it looked like there would be snow later. We had a strong team
out, with Paul T assuming the cursed left back role and Big Jim
Amoruso covering for Mark at centre half, the latter alas being
unable to make it back from Northampton in time for kick off. |
| So we lined up like this, 4-4-2
right to left: Rob; Dom, Jim F, Steve, Paul T; Rich, Captain
Pete, Aidan, Jim McT; James, Paul C with Ben, Matt C and Monkeyhanger
on the chilly bench. |
| Things augured well from the off,
within five minutes Amoruso scored powerfully with his head from
a corner, an equally powerful vocal celebration followed. He demonstrated
his commitment to the cause shortly afterwards with our first
booking of the season, in true Wenger style I didn’t see
it myself. Old Street put the frighteners up the home fans and
the defence by breaking through a couple of times but the rapidly
advancing Rob put off the strikers on both occasions. These incidents
merely had the effect of steeling our defensive resolve and they
didn’t get a look at the goal for the rest of the half. |
| The Reds’ passing and movement
also moved up a gear, James found several runs from winger Rich
and Dom and also his striking partner Paul C, the ball was also
being played nicely out of defence by full backs Dom and Paul
T. And Steve punted it away when necessary. We didn’t score
again in the first half but the Old Street keeper was kept busy.
The Albion would have had even more chances were it not for the
opposition’s stand in linesman who excitedly raised his
flag every time one of us approached their back line. |
| Sure enough, it started to snow
as the referee whistled for the break so a mass scuttle for the
warmth of our tiny changing room ensued, the oranges were as succulent
and sweet as ever, indeed Jim McT was noticed collecting the skins
in an attempt to glean any juicy remnants. It was agreed that
if we took the game to our opponents they would crumple. |
| Our second goal came after ten minutes of snowy
football, Paul C was brought down in the area, James had his penalty
saved but managed to get the ball home after a few attempts at
the rebound; as predicted the Reds settled nicely after this and
took control of the game. Old Street’s goalie made a few
good saves but, seemingly within no time at all, James had his
hat trick and Paul Connell had scored too. Alas the Albion manager/match
reporter/stand in linesman was at the other end of the field looking
forward to collecting his £7.50 fee so I can’t tell
you much about the goals; being without either glasses or contact
lenses I couldn’t see that far anyway. |
| After the fifth goal had gone in
Captain Pete decided that the time had come for some substitutions.
In quick succession, Matt replaced the stalwart Dom, Monkeyhanger
came on for Rich and Ben took the place of Pete, although not
before James had scored his fourth and our final goal of the game
to leave the score at 6-0. A clean sheet you’ll notice. |
| The team put a lot of effort into the game and
not even the lure of sandwiches and lager could tempt the majority
of them to the pub, fortunately Dom is made of sterner stuff and
joined me in trying to cheer up the Edexcel lads in Rosie’s
after their apparently inexplicable hammering at the hands of
Camden Lions (formerly Camden School), 8-2 would you believe.
And the sandwiches didn’t go to waste, no sir, the two of
us must have got through a good two thirds of the platter before
the barmaid tentatively suggested that perhaps we might like to
offer them round the pub. |
| So, a fine performance from the
Albion, Aidan and Pete were strong in midfield and worked well
with the centre halves, while James put in an impressive performance
as playmaker never mind scoring four goals! Left back Paul also
had a good game and was unlucky not to score at the end while
striker Paul held the ball up well and encouraged his team mates
at every opportunity. This week’s Man of the Match is Jim
Amoruso, he organised the defence with Tony Adams like verve,
could be heard throughout the team and brought the ball out well
too. Muppets of the Match: every b*stard who didn’t come
down the pub. |
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