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4 May 2008: Maresfield 0:1 Grasshoppers May 5, 2008

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We were really struggling for players for this game.  Max was out injured thanks to his brother’s bloodthirsty challenge in the FA Cup final in their garden.  Apparently the Grasshoppers were 3-2 up on Man United when Toby went right over the top and the ensuing riot and pitch invasion by Phil, Millie and Katie forced the referee to abandon the game.  Tom was also unavailable, apparently preferring to play for another team in some tinpot competition in

Brighton, which left us with the bare 11.  Or it would have done if Miles’ mum been able to follow the simplest of directions.  She was obviously too busy doing her make-up in the rear view mirror to see that everyone else had turned off the main road.  Still, no harm done.  After a quick visit to

Lakeside, Miles was back in time for kick off and Keith’s blood pressure reduced back down to stratospheric.  In terms of the lineup, Mike went to the right side of midfield, Nick went to right back, Harry dropped into the middle of the defence and Connor played in midfield.  These enforced changes could easily have unsettled the team, but the guys all focused well and took them in their stride.

 

 

 

Maresfield will either finish second or third in the league, so we knew that this would be a tough game, and so it proved.  We had the best of the first half and Harry was very unlucky to have a brilliant free kick chalked off for offside.  The otherwise excellent referee surely got that call wrong and Harry deserved the reward for a great free kick.

 

 

 

In the second half, as both teams tired in the heat, the game became more open, with both teams creating chances.  I’m obviously biased, but it seemed to me that we had the better of the chances, but it was a good tight game.

 

 

 

The turning point came half way through the second half when Michael was wiped out by a shocking challenge.  After extended treatment and surgery to mend the broken neck and fractured skull, Michael bravely staggered to his feet and asked for his mummy.  The ref produced the only yellow card we have seen in any of our games this season and Harry delivered a wicked bending free kick.  Connor, Oskar, Miles and Cian all wanted it, but they were all cruelly denied by a very unlucky defender who headed into his own net.

 

 

 

There was no way back for Maresfield and we held out fairly comfortably.  In fact Cian could have spectacularly finished it off when lurking at the edge of the box, but the ball just wouldn’t come down quickly enough.

 

 

 

So we win the league courtesy of an own goal!  Keith chose Connor as his MoM for a hardworking performance in an unfamiliar midfield role.  He won by a nose from a number of other candidates, including Harry, Cian who was back to his best and Michael who produced an excellent performance down the right, despite almost losing his head at one point- literally. 

 

 

 

Congratulations are due to every single one of the players and coaches of this team on a marvelous, sustained effort this season.  We lost the first game of the season, perhaps partly due to some players not being registered in time and since then we have lost none, drawn 3 and won the rest.  With that to reflect on, there can be no CRAP award this week, because quite simply, no one has done anything to earn it.  Other than Miles’ mum of course!

 

 

 

We now lose Danny, who flies to on Tuesday to start a new chapter in his life, so we have to face the last game of our season without the boy mountain.  Unless of course he is flying from Terminal 5, in which case he will probably still be around on Wednesday.  Danny’s parting shot was to present Connor with a very handsome new MoM trophy, which will be known as the Bates Trophy and presented by the manager to the MoM each week.  Good luck Danny (and Alan of course)- we’ll miss you.

 

 

 

Gentlemen, it has been a privilege to watch you this season.  If there is another group of boys who can match you for skill, speed, bravery and for just never knowing when you are beaten, then I’d like to meet them.  We’ll enjoy the last game against Pembury on Wednesday and then we’ll have a proper celebration, but as I’m writing this on Sunday night I’m raising a glass to toast Danny, Max, Harrison, Nicky, Thomas, Robert, Tom, Michael, Harry, Cian, Miles, Connor, Oskar and last, shortest, lightest, but by no means least, Taylor.  Champions one and all!

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