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Nayim, from the halfway line !
06:53, Thu 20 September 2007
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So, it may have been the worst season West Pymble Div 2 have ever endured, coinciding nicely with my arrival at the club (Surely the two cant be linked ?), but we knew last weekend was our opportunity to put the record straight, ignore the fact we were relegated, and go and win the WARATAH CUP ! This is a tournament where all the West Pyble teams play each other in one day in a league fashion, the top 2 teams facing off in a final. When Div 4 play Div 2, Div 2 play with 2 less players, i.e 9. When Div 2 play Div 1, Div 1 play with 10, which evens it all up. You get the picture.....
WP Div 3B, who came 2nd in their league, had been calling for our heads since the season end, suggesting they should take our place in Div 2 if we were allowed to stay up, which may happen due to the comical middle part of the season when no games were played. This got up my nose somewhat, there's a big gap between Div 2, and Div 3, so I took it upon myself to demostrate that.
First game out, 9am, we played Div 3A (Not the B's, so we like them). A man short, we were a little off sorts. They were awarded a pen that never was, and their striker obviously thought the same as he put it wide. I was playing up front for the whole tournament, as our strikers were all unavailable, and almost grabbed the winner at the end, poor control of a bouncing ball on my part though, and we finished 0-0.
The heavens opened at this point (It's the drought dont you know ?), which stirred the loins of our side, as we are mostly all English, and now the pitch looked just like Hackney Marshes. Next game, DIV 3B - also known as 'The Warriors', seriously, that's what they call themselves. I prefer The Wankers. Anyway, we took it to them from the whistle, 10 men or no 10 men. They really never knew what hit them. Challenges flying in everywhere, our whole side has 1 mission, kill the bastards. They never got out of their half for the first 10 mins, and we capped a great first 30 mins performance with a sweet goal from Douggie. Second half went much the same, we won 1-0. They tromped off saying what a dirty side we were, to which we replied if you wanna play Div 2 expect that sort of onslaught every week, and to be fair that's pretty accurate.
So, next game for us is Div 1, and for the first time we get to play with 11. Now, Div 1 are class. No doubt. They had won all their games up to this point, and to be fair, while some of us in Div 2 have a similar level of skill, none of us are anywhere near as fit. The extra man would not count for a lot, and they can ALL play, where are some of our less than stellar individuals have 2 left feet. Anyhow, we started well, had a few nervy moments, then from a goal kick from their end, Shaun 'The Wand' Sweeney took it down with his left, looked up, smacked it back over the top of the keeper into the net. Stunning. 1-0 us. Half time, our tails are up. I asked to come off, I was knackered. Gez, our coach said go another 5, and run your socks off. So, we start the second half, and a couple of moments in, my mate Mark picks up the ball on the right wing, deep in our half. I made a run out from the centre circle, and offered him a ball up the line, which he hit over one of their wingers, and I was now in down the line. As I sprinted over, I was easily gonna beat the central defener, but their winger, who was lightning was breathing down my neck. I could hear his feet hitting the muddied ground behind me, so I looked at the ball as it crossed my shoulder, and could see it was going to sit up perfect after one bounce. I decided to smack it. I was 5-10 yards in their half at this point, 5 yards from the touch line. I volled the thing, Johnny Wilkinson styley, starting it wide of the goal, and bending it in. From the minute I hit it, I knew it was in. The keeper was scrambling back, fell on his arse in the net, the ball was there long before him. The best bit was my whole team were standing right with me on the touch line as I cantered to a stop, and we all watched it soar in. They went mad, and all ran on the pitch. It was one of those moments in life, and it was all the sweeter considering all of these people never knew me 5 months ago, and now I was getting high fived, smacked on the back, carried off the field almost. I asked to be subbed at that point, as not only had my celebrations of grabbing my groin and running past the club house upset some of the kids watching, but it was never going to get any better for me at that point... The Div 1 guys to a man all congratulated me after the game, which we won 2-1, they really are not only great players, but also great people. I can see why they won their league this year.
So, just Div 4 to go, we won 4-0, even though 2 men down. I did not play, was rested for the final, but it was another great team performance, capped from my point of view by a Steptoe (Clive - he's old) goal, he's deserved it all year but has run out of talent at all the wrong times throughout the season.
So, the final. We're playing Div 1. They wanted to set the record straight, and were all over us in the first 10, but we went in 0-0 at half time. Second half, they tired with only 10 men, we had the better of it, but 0-0 at full time. Now, the pitch is a mud bath. The ref has no shoes on, bare foot in the mud. Seriously, you could not move for water. Extra time, they get a pen ! Handball again, never was. Anyway, Andre the Giant saves ! Whistle, what ref ? Encrouchment. F off, the ref's a Div 3 player (Seriously, he was). Different penalty taker, same result. Another great save. What a keeper ! 0-0 again, now onto Golden Goal. After 10 minutes, everyone was seriously tired, the pitch was worse than ever, and the rain coming down harder by the minute. One of our guys, Whippet, who had to go home earlier, rocked back up, was quickly stripped and changed, and came on as a fresh pair of legs. What a sight for sore eyes that was. 5 minutes later, he bagged the winner. Div 2 are the Waratah Cup Champions !
Over to the bowlo for a few jugs of beer, we relived our success with anyone that would listen. What a great end to the season.
Other than that, baby's doing well, K's ok, house is good, dogs are sods.
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