DBFC 4 – 2 HK Scottish
30th March 2019 at Happy Valley Pitch 1 with 18:30 KO
Squad: Ricky (GK), Alex, Bryn, LT, Charlie, Danny H (Captain), Marco, Ade, Enzo, Josh, Kafi, Will, Luke and Darius.
Scorers: Marco, Kafi x2 and Ade
DBFC were confirmed league champions 2 games before this one and the games that followed, albeit played in a lot more relaxed manor, were still played with a desire and expectation of winning. So it was the same for this game.
Many of the older players, in their 20’s, were away for this game so there was an opportunity for our young guns to get more game time to do their stuff, and they did exactly that. Ade was back from illness and played at holding midfield role to dictate the play and encourage the young midfield and forwards to express themselves. However, with all the play, DBFC just couldn’t get the ball in the net and Kafi was guilty of missing half a dozen glorious chances by miscuing shots or hitting the woodwork. It was left to Marco to show how it’s done by scoring directly from a bullet corner curling in at the far post.
DBFC went in 1-0 at half time and in the second half continued where they left off. Enzo continued to dazzle down the left wing, making the Scottish defenders dizzy and Darius on the right wing was sensational, using his fast feet, close control and speed to make the defenders’ lives a misery. Kafi got the second goal with a great free-kick from 20 yards out that curled into the top corner and then he got the third by driving in a cut back by Darius. Darius set Kafi up on at least 3 other occasions but Kafi only found the goal posts. Another passing move from the middle ended up at Darius, who done what Darius does best down the wing and cut it back for Kafi. As Kafi set up to shoot he was fouled but the ball traveled through to Ade at the edge of the 18 yard box and he coolly step inside the defender to slot the ball past the keeper, just inside the post.
At 4-0 up DBFC were cruising to an easy victory. However, the referee obviously felt bad for poor Scottish and he awarded them a ridiculously wrong hand-ball penalty: Will made a slide tackle and won the ball, which rebounded up onto the Scottish players knees, then into Will’s face while he was spread on the floor and then onto his arms. This happened in the corner of the 18 yard box nearest the corner flag and as far away from goal as you could get. So at 4-1 with 3 mins to go, Scottish launched a long ball into the box at the penalty spot, which Ricky called for and consequently, Alex didn’t challenge the Scottish attacker standing in front of him. Ricky didn’t get there and the Scottish player in front headed the ball up and backwards to float into an empty net. The game finished at 4-2.
MOM: A number of players in for this: Enzo for his skills going down the wing and his continuous hard work, Darius for his positive contribution with his speed and trickery to set up so many scoring chances. Ade for controlling the middle of the park, encouraging and guiding the younger lads despite still recovering from illness, Kafi for scoring 2 good goals, Alex and Bryn for taking up the CB positions and adapting impressively. However, the call is for young Danny Haggarty, Captain for the match and putting in another impressive attacking midfield role, full of commitment, work ethic and skill. All that was missing was a goal from young Danny.
DOD: Ricky was considered for claiming a ball in the air that he needed to run out 10 yards and jump over Alex and above a Scottish player twice his height (he was never going to get there). However, the award goes to JB who, residing only 10 minutes’ walk away from the pitch, didn’t turn up because he fell asleep with his phone off. He missed the match that he wanted to play so that he could score goals to cement his place for the league’s golden boot. As it happened Kafi’s 2 goals now takes him 1 goal above JB. These 2 guys will be going head to head in the last game.
