DBFC 2018 Legend League Champions
DBFC Vets 4 – 1 Spartans Masters
Wednesday 18th April 2018 at HKIS in Tai Tam with 20:30 kick-off
Squad: Gianluca (GK), Riggers (RB), Thierry (CB), Matija (CB), Morse (LB), Scottie (RM), Pascal (Captain and CM), Rudi (CM), Stefano (LM), Crommy (#10), Kieran (CF) subs: Baz, Sam, Ariel, Gazza.
Scorers: Crommy (assist Crommy), Stefano (assist Crommy), Ariel (assist Stefano) and Thierry (assist Ariel)
DBFC arrived at the HK International School’s playing field with a big squad, knowing that nothing other than victory would secure the league title. Straight from the off DBFC maintained a high tempo and nerves were a little settled when after 15 minutes of the game Paul Crompton shot down the left wing like a grey hound (looks not speed) to skip past the defender and cleverly allowed his legs to be caught by the defender’s missed tackle. A penalty was awarded and Crommy got up to smash it in to the corner of the Spartans’ net. Ten minutes later Stefano Bulgarelli relieved all tension when Crommy slid in a pass through the Spartans’ back line for him to break loose on the left flank and rifled in a low shot to the near post under the Spartans’ keeper. Overall the first half was a bit disjointed for DBFC and they got away with 2 or 3 boobs at the back that could have been converted by Spartans but equally DBFC had a number of very good chances, one in particular being Riggers missing an open goal from 5 yards out. The first half finished with DBFC 2-0 up.
A few changes were made at half time that seemed to bring a better balance to the DBFC team: Riggers moving from his unaccustomed right back to Centre Back, Matija coming off; and Baz Brown going on in his usual right back role, Scottie coming off to allow Ariel a run at right midfield and Sam Riley on to replace Kieran McKnight up top. These substitutions left the legendary Gazza on the bench, and he was asked to run the line, which he did after a 10 minute cry in the corner of the stands.
DBFC resumed the high tempo and constantly put pressure on the Spartans’ goal and it wasn’t long to wait for Ariel Winiger to get the third goal when he timed his run perfectly to meet Stefano’s corner to volley the ball into the Spartans’ net at the near post. DBFC continued to press Spartans and after a number of decent chances that should have been buried, not least, again, by the ubiquitous Riggers when he was put clean through to miss a one on one with the Spartans’ keeper, DBFC won a free kick at 19 yards out from the Spartans’ goal. Some nice passing got the ball to Ariel on the edge of the Spartans’ 18 yard box and as he turned in the Spartans defender stumbled to the ground and his outstretched arms caught the ball. This was just inside the box but the referee deemed it to be outside by a full yard. Nevertheless, DBFC got on with it and Thierry Jacquemin stepped up to curl a free kick over the Spartans’ wall and into the top corner of the net. With 15 minutes left to play the football park fell into silence as Gazza took off his tracksuit, cleared all his tissues and swaggered on to the field to replace an exhausted Morse. Many of the DBFC players were now tiring and the tempo dropped and allowed Spartans to have some joy with the football, although this joy never really threatened the DBFC Goal. That is until the last 3 minutes of play when a clearance from Gianluca fell to Pascal’s feet and he inexplicitly turned with the ball infield away from his own players into a mass of Spartans’ players on the edge of the DBFC 18 yard box, lost possession and took out the Spartans’ player. This foul was a yard outside the box but the referee awarded a penalty, which was converted and DBFC players soon realised that Pascal’s intentions were a Captain’s charitable gesture in seeing that Spartans had a consolation goal for their never give in attitude in a very good game of football. A couple of minutes later the final whistle was blown and DBFC had a resounding victory that secured the 2018 Legends League title. A good number made it to the Pier Bar for a few celebratory drinks.
