Sports 2009/10

THE VIKINGS CAME, PLAYED, AND WERE SENT PACKING BY THE NATIVES

Sports first team were in action in the cup this week as we took on OAKINGTON VIKINGS in our ongoing quest for Sunday league cup dominance.
This game was billed to be one to watch as Oakington had a reputation as a very decent , physical side having beaten various other teams in higher leagues. The game was also a chance for Sports and especially Chege the Gaffer to get revenge for his reserve teams defeat in the cup to them last season. Basically this could have been a potential final had the draw been different.
This cup tie was switched to our new home away from er well home, Luard Road. The pitch worthy of what could be an epic battle between two footballing sides. Had we played at the home of football (our very own capital park ground) Im sure the pitch would have only hindered our desire to play football the way it should be played. Alas The Vikings landed on shore ready for battle, with Sports already out with the cones warming up courtesy of Kev Jacklin. The warm up was something new to the lads as normally we just stand about smacking balls at each other. However the lads looked sharp and geed up for the fight.

The gaffer pulled us in for the Al Pacino insipred coaches teamtalk (if ya dont know what Im on about, youtube The game of  inches speech by Al Pacino he performed in the film Any Given Sunday, its epic! ). 4-5-1 was the formation chosen, giving us a bit more stability in midfield which turns into a 4-3-3 when attacking.
Affective at both ends of the pitch as we have found out in previous games.
Absentees this week notably were Captain Wright, who fractured his hip during ballet class last week, (seriously thats how he done it) , Laurie had taken a knock the day before after a nasty game of hopscotch which got out of hand. Bobby Saunders still out injured after climbing conker trees and falling (loves a game of conkers that boy) Smudger also absent after jumping on stage  during Jedwards performance on X factor and pulling a muscle whilst busting a move to Vanilla Ice.  Also nice to see our support on ther line from John Mason, Kev Jacklin (who I believe got us the pitch, after all he had the keys) Cara Mason, Brentos and Blackie from the A team (and no Blackie is not a nickname for MR T, but Brentos could be mistaken for Mad Murdoch!) Apologies if I forgot anyone, I either dont know you or you sneaked onto the touchline out of sight,

The line up:       Coops the cripple in sticks.  Left back was Dan
‘handbags’ Bashford , JULES FC  the catwalk model partnered our very own part time Brummie Dre (MBE, OBE, CBE)  with Good old Mason on the right. Im sorry Mason, but I cant think of a decent nickname for you !  The midfield
5 from left to right  consisted of twinkletoes Lynch, Red Leader Kizza, Slinky Sean Jacklin, George bruiser Lunn and Jack ‘I get buckled 10 times a week’ Burch . The lone ranger up top was Bambi  (Damo to you lot) who also skippered the side in Wrightys absence.
Subs this week were Matty the fatty Bashford, Liam ‘Stuart Little’
Fletcher, John ‘Kibue’ Chege the other half of our fearless leader, Dan Hench Booker and  David poltergeist Bates (poltergeist as he was around but not seen)

Damo won the toss and changed ends. Much to Coops delight, as it meant Oakington would be facing the sun. As always Sports looked to get the ball down early doors and get a stronghold on the game. The early exchanges were fast paced with a few niggling tackles, a few strong challenges and some general good football from both sides. A bit of moaning ensued aswell about some of the decisions of which for both sides the ref wasnt shall we say the strongest for a game between 2 physical sides. The sun played a factor in the early goings as Sports crafted out a few half chances, Coops long goal kicks werent dealt with too well by the Oakington centre halves although you couldnt blame em, I couldnt see a bloody thing in the 2nd half and I play in goal! Sports looked to capitalise on this and forced a few early corners putting the Vikings under pressure. Coops and his D line were rarely troubled by the two strikers, who worked well together for Oakington. Most throughballs were taken by Coops, or dealt with by our V.I.Ps at the back Jules and Dre. Bashford and Mason looking comfortable on their respective sides. A free kick from the left pinged in by Georgey Lunn was nodded out by the big Centre half under pressure by Damo the ball fell kindly on the edge to Dan Bashford who lofted a ball back towrds goal. The big fella equal to it again just beating Damo for a 2nd time. However Lynch was first onto it, controlled and smashed the ball home much tothe delight of the fans, the players, the people passing on the train and the squirrels in the trees playing with their nuts., 1-0 Sports
Vikings restarted and began to put some pressure on us, to their credit they knocked the ball around well. Our midfield were working hard, putting in some sterling tackles to slow them down. The back 4 had a couple of shakes  in places, but the general covering play was there to see. A Sports break away was made  from the right. Mason sliding the ball down the line to Jack and with a flick played in the on rushing Damo who worked his socks off to get there, he lifted the ball over the keeper before contiuning his run . As soon as he done the keeper, there no doubting Damo would send us 2 up and the fans applauded the simplest of moves and clamest of finishes.
2-0  Sports cruising and in control. A cry from one of the Oakington lads of ‘whats going on lads for F£$% sake we’re better than these’  came out.
Laughable really considering his side were 2-0 down and they hadnt had a shot yet themselves!!!
Again Vikings took the centre and worked the ball across the backline and through the midfield.  A few more tackles wnet in, more moaning at the ref followed. A viking centre midfielder smashed Seany Jacklin with a late challenge, nowhere near the ball. Wrghtys shout (and the only thing he does
shout) “HOW MANY MOOOOOOOOREEEEE” was belted out. Although he was right, and the ref got his book out and gave the lad a yellow for the foul, that being his 4th foul of the morning.
The Vikings resilliance nearly paid off when their striker nipped past Jules onto a long ball, but an on rushing Coops narrowed the angle and saved comfortably with his knees and jumping on the loose ball. However a wake up call for Sports that there was a long way to go in the game. The kick from Coops was high, long and evaded the Oakington full back. Lunn the menace, ever willing to chase a ball down ghosted past the left back, and slotted home first time past the stranded keeper. 3-0 Sports, celebrations on the side began again. Game Over?  Oakington looked shocked, and bewildered at the scoreline. However it was deserved as our persistance paid off. Everyone of our team members worked hard and didnt give up chashing lost causes, closing down attackers, and the tackling all over the pitch was superb. The game was nearly put to bed just before half time, a Lunn free kick found an unmarked Lynch in the box whos header rattled the bar.  The keeper quite rightly blasted his defnce for giving one of Sunday leagues deadliest finishers a free header, especially when they were 3-0 down already. There was still time for more drama down the other end. A cross field ball from an Oakington midfielder was flicked off for a corner by Dan Bashford, who did well to beat his man to the ball. The corner came in, a flurry of bodies piled in, the ball came loose, hit by an attacker, Coops instictive right hand parried the ball away from goal, Kizza cleared off the line. By this point the ref had blown his whistle and in some broken English language pointed to the spot. Handball was the call, Sports argued like children in the dinner hall. He wasnt gonna change his mind.
Like Arsene Wenger says.. I for one didnt see it hit his hand, but there was no doubt  from the ref.  The ball placed, Coops was sent the wrong way by Josh Bridgeman. Cracking penalty, 3-1 …. the half time whistle blew a minute after.

A very pleased Sports popped into the changing rooms for the half time gospel according to Chege. The game was not won yet, we had the sun 2nd half and we knew the Vikings would be gunning for us. Well Vikings used axes.swords.bows and arrows so technically they wouldnt acually shoot us as guns werent invented back in those days. The lads oiled up their armour , got a drink and a breather and went out for round 2 of the battle

Oakington looking to bounce back in the 2nd half and with the sun behind them, came out fighting. The second half started the same as the first.
Both teams looking to play some tidy football and create chances. Sports soon took charge again. The midfield 5 were superb throughout , closing down their markers and giving the defence of Super Jules, God, Mason and Bashford support when needed. The fourth goal soon arrived for Sports, some neat midfield play between Lunn and Jacklin after yet  another  clearance from Dre led to a Lunn run into the box, his square ball back to Damo was inch perfect and Damo banged home to send us 4-1 up. Game over now surely?
No , certainly wasnt. A dejected looking Oakignton restarted again and pushed hard to get back into the game. A shot by the foward Shaun I think his name was? was hit with power towards Coops near post top corner. unlike last week where he thought it was going over and ducked and YMCA scored.
Coops got the hands up and parried it over safely. The corner that followed was defended well with a Damo header and sports went on the attrack again.
After being broken down, the Vikings came at us again piling on the pressure. The balls in the air over the top were causing us problems as no bugger could see the ball in the sun!! Bloody weather, we moan if its too cold, we moan if its too windy or it rains. We dont mind it when its sunny as log as ya dont get blinded by it!!!  A long ball somehow made its way to a forward who was dealt with by Jules. The ball found its way across to Dre, but he was closed down by Bridgeman who was 1 on 1 with Coops. He chose to twat the ball hard and straight but Coops was equal to it standing tall and the danger was over. The Oakington pressure continued as Sports were getting sloppy up front. Jack and Sean Jacklin missing sitters to extend the lead after good work by Damo and Kizza. A few free kicks were won for silly fouls by the Sports midfield. The keeper came and lobbed the balls into the box but all were dealt with by a Coops punch, a Dre or Damo head, a Mason volley, a Dan Bashford overhead kick, a Jason Lynch control skin a player and smash it away. or a Kizza punt. Sports held firm until more sloppy marking, allowed a snap shot from Bridgeman went through Kizzas legs, Coops saw it late, got a fist to it but the power and quality of strike beat him into the bottom corner.To be fair to the lad he was a menace to us all game and deserved his two goals.  4-2  to Sports.. was there a comeback on the cards? could Oakington go on to get a couple more and win the game? No chance!!!
Play restarted and Sports went back on the march, looking to put the Vikings to the sword (see what I did there?) The gaffer made an enforced sub as SJacklin picked up a knock after being chopped down after turning his man cleverly on the half way line. A quick shuffle of the pack saw Damo move to the left, Lynch dropped into midfield and our very own HASSLEHOFF , Dan Booker came on up front to bolster the attack even more. I remember the ref giving out a couple of yellow cards to a player from each side. The first was for a foul by one of the Viking lads, wasnt a booking if you ask me. The other went to Dan Bashford for arguing with fresh air. He was talking to himself and the ref thought he was having a pop at him? Er if ya say so mate. Maybe the Cambs FA are a few bob short coming upto the xmas period. Nevertheless the 2 lads went into the book,

A moment of sheer class, brilliance, magic whatever then appeared before our very eyes. No Jules FC didnt skin ten men, Damo didnt make a great pass to anyone (shock if he did though) nope. Our very own Nice guy Lynchy. The ball was half cleared by the defender. it went up, we saw, we watched  and Lynch’s first time volley nearly broke the net. It was as if THOR the thundergod himself had appeared, a thunderous strike. BANG!!!! Keeper didnt stand a chance. I had the view from behind and there was no way anyone on that pitch woulda saved it. we cheered, rejoiced, laughed, cried, applauded. Contender for Goal of the season…… 5-2 the game now was well and truely over. It was just a case now of how many more as Sports carved out a few chances. Damo bringing out a great stop from the Vikings number 1 with a volley from the corner of the box. Oakington continued to play their football, and fair play to them. Credit where credit is due, they didnt give up, but the wall of DRE , JULES, MASON and  BASHFORD stood firm. .
Chege then made a straight swap bringing on Fletch for Jack, whos work had gone unnoticed and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, with the keeper saving a shot from close range. Fletch showed him how it was done though, five minutes after coming on. Damo robbed the midfielder of the sphere in the middle, a 1-2 with Lunn and a skin of a defender. A beautifully weighted cross to an unmarked Fletch at the back log, was taken down with a deft touch and blasted home for our 6th. Thats how a first touch should be fellas. Awesome Sports now relaxed knowing the job was done and the next round beckoned. 6-2.
Chege made his final change bringing on Fatty Matty , brother of skinny short Dan Bashford. He too made an instant impact. Battling for the ball and linking well with Fletch. Booker would have the final say of the game.
He at times looked lazy, but its all part of his style. The man has skill, and composure. Makes things look easy. A nice little through ball by Matty Bash fell to Bookers feet, turned his man and opened him up like a tin of heinz baked beans… Laters mate!! t he left him for dead, strolled into the box and tapped in our 7th of the game. It was a deft finsihed from the big Sports lifeguard. Thats how it finished , we move onto the next round against Fulbourn Rovers I believe? which should be another hard tie for Sports. So there ya have it 7-2 Sports, awesomeness oozed from us today.
Chege had a big smile on his chubby little face. We walked in the changing rooms knowing we’ve just taken apart a very good side on their day.

As once said by Denzel Wshington in the film Man On Fire..  “revenge is a meal best served cold” and today we served it up!!!!!

M.O.M and mentions…..   (Cheges words) Everybsingle player performed
today to give us our best showing of the season so far. The subs also having a big impact. Damo led by example as skipper for the day, endless workrate from Lynch. 2 stand out players were Geroge Lunn and Michael Mason both immense and didnt put a foot wrong. Lunn run the show in midfield and Masons covering play and link up were second to none.Of the two Mason just pips Geroge to the M.O.M today. Although its good to see Lunn back and back playing how he can.

I myself wanna give everyone a big shout out. for the performance. Awesome stuff fellas. Kev and John for the warm up and running the line, cheers again guys for coming down to support us, those who came. Those who didnt
and didnt play where were you? Shame on you!!!   I think its fair to say
The Vikings didnt conquer everything back in the day all those years ago whenever it was, and that was the case today. Maybe Other Sunday sides will see this result and take note that Sports are going places……… if they dont its at their perol!!!!!

On another note, and one last thing. Ive tried to make this as even as possible. Ive had criticism lately from the outside about my MR’s being a little one sided? If that is the case its because I am a Sports player and theres no better side than us. and Also when ya stuff teams convincingly like we have done this season its hard not to say a game is one sided when ya win games 9-1. 7-2 , 5-1 , 6-0 or whatever.

Cheers and tata for now   Coops your resident Guvnor

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