. . . again
November 2nd
Warning there are parts of this report that are the deranged imagining of the author, those involved will be able to put the record straight
It rained today, not heavily but persistently, a miserable drenching drizzle that sapped the spirit. Despite this we had eleven Cubs turn out: Tom H, Tom W, Robert, Shaun, Mike O, Mike E, Dan, Ryan C, Ryan S, Ben, Bradley. We started bang on time . . . twenty minutes late. Nick, our referee, looked after the first half and did a sterling job, unfortunately even with his magnificent command of the game he allowed them to score first,
This was not a good start. But with a brilliant solo effort supported by several of our smaller Cubs running in a diversionary pattern Mike O scored, BRILLIANT.
1 -1
Ditto
2 - 2
Dit. . .
. . . in a moment of generosity Mike O let young Robert have a goal, Mike was busy wiping the mist and rain from his glasses.
3 - 3
Our defense was a little week, with nobody willing to get muddy (ha!!!)
So the first half ended with honours even. This first half, as this game is a game of two halves, had shown that the pep talk given by Akela had been almost completely ignored. Instead of the 1 - 8 - 2 formation so beloved by Akela the Cubs worked out their own 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1 system that worked for them.
The second half was refereed by a young man who obviously knew a lot more about football than any of the 148th Leaders and was given some stick by them. Poor sad people. Mike O and Tom H played their socks off, but after a few minutes St Luke's were ahead again, the crowd were getting behind the players as the realisation that this could be more than just a game and lots of witty sayings were uttered, well almost.
It was at this point that Mike O rather lost it and Tom managed to keep the
ball away from him and scored.
4 - 4
The rain at this point kept up it downpour and some of the watchers began to wonder how long the agony was going to last. Tom W who had been goalie in the first half came out and ran around like a Cub possessed, the Ryans were brilliant in midfield chasing anything that moved with a red shirt on. Then Mike O got back into the swing of things with two quick individual goals, we were ahead for the first time in the game.
6 - 4
While people were getting over this he scored again, but was also warned that his 'Norman Hunter' tactics were not appreciated. He was to take quite some stick from the Saint Luke's players when they started chanting "Send him off, send him off" Not a pleasant moment at all. Saint Luke's were awarded a penalty. Shaun guessed wrong and the ball went past him as he dived the wrong way and the score moved on to
7 - 5
Despite ferocious pressure in the last few minutes we only let in one more goal.
7 - 6
Bradley blocked a shot that looked like going in but sadly it was too fast for him to get out of the way and we were denied another possible goal.
The final whistle went and as it sank in that we had won. . . again. Ben, who
has a birthday on the 3rd was given the bumps, he had picked out a nice soft
muddy patch and was quite happy to be dipped into it. His mother may think
otherwise.
Thanks to the two Akelas for organising it and the rematch will be in February when the weather might be better, it may be snowing. Thanks to the two heroes that refereed, a thankless job done with dignity and impartiality. The Cubs went home to a hot bath / shower and Akela (148th) was to go onto the next thing on the to-do list that Mrs. Akela had given him to keep him out of trouble.
Sorry no team photos but the camera had somehow wiped out the photos I tried to take.