DBFC Vets take another big step to securing the Legends League title
DBFC Vets 7 – 1 USRC 1911
2 February 2018 at Kings Park Pitch No. 3 with a 9:00 pm kick-off
Squad: Alessio (GK), Morse (LB), Baz (RB), Thierry and Riggers (CBs), Pascal (Captain and CM), Rudi (CM) Rainer (RM), Moti (LM) Crommy and Kieran McK (forwards). Subs: Sam, Scotty, Gazza and Ariel.
Scorers Crommy x3 (assists: back-pass, Pascal and Sam) Scotty x2 (assists: Sam and he robbed CB), Moti (assist: Pascal) and Thierry (assist: Rainer)
On an arctic evening, relatively speaking, Discovery Bay FC Vets prepared to do battle to further their aspirations of a maiden league championship against old rivals USRC at Kings Park lower pitch. Availability for this match was good so a strong DBFC Vets team arrived early for a decent “Baz Brown” warm up and to get some strategic instruction from Pascal (Gianluca away).
The match reporter didn’t get much of the team talk as the wise-cracking Irishman Kieran McKnight was in his ear the whole time but the gist was to battle, stay compact and make the most of our chances. One message that did get through to the whole team was to immediately put USRC under pressure from kick-off by Crommy sending a long ball over the top of the USRC right back for Moti (fast out of the blocks) making to get on the end of and hopefully be through on goal. Well the first part worked with a delightful ball played by Crommy to catch the opposition defence sleeping and land into the left-hand channel but the second part was not taken up by Moti. He just watched the ball being played while rooted to the half way line as he obviously didn’t understand the plan, much to the amazement of his team mates on the subs bench at the same side-line who voiced their frustration with some choice comments.
Early doors dramas were soon out of the way when Crommy intercepted a sloppy pass by the USRC 1911 CB towards his LB and arrowed a shot from 16 yards out into the bottom far corner of the USRC Vets net to put DBFC 1-0 up after their first meaningful attack.
This goal put DBFC Vets on the front foot and in the next attack, good passing between Kieran and Pascal allowed Pascal to drive to the by-line and turn a pass back to Moti, about 7 yards out to net his shot just inside the USRC left post, thus exorcising his earlier demons and put DBFC Vets 2-0 up.
Apart from the odd passage of play from USRC where they managed to string a few good balls together to make the occasional foray into the DB half, the boys in white (DBFC Vets) were dominant. This was nowhere more obvious than down the right-hand side where USRC made a tactical change at left-back to cope with the advances of Kieran and Rainer. Morse, sensing blood, moved up into a more dangerous position on the left, and while this left a gap, which, albeit dangerous, was well marshalled by the marauding Thierry and moped up by an assured Riggers, put USRC under more pressure and that pressure eventually told. A corner from the left hand-side resulted in the ball being recycled out to Rainer on the right pull back a cross to Thierry just inside the 18 yard box to angle in a low drive goal bound. There didn’t seem to be much danger from the force of the shot but the half volley was expertly disguised with pinpoint accuracy to roll across the goal mouth and in off the far post. This made it 3-0 for DBFC Vets and the half time whistle quickly followed.
Due to the less than tropical temperatures, half time was thankfully kept brief to avoid vintage players from seizing up. After a solid performance at right back Baz came off for a raring-to-go Sam and Scotty replaced the Irishman (Kieran) up front, while a tardy Ariel came on at RM for Rainer. The team talk was concise: “Keep doing what you’ve been doing!”
Hoping to live up to the half-time brief, DBFC Vets got underway for the second half looking to press home the advantage. USRC 1911 were also up for it and started the brighter with some incisive passing. Some balls were coming through to the DB defence but were dealt with in a calm manner by the back four.
The battle in the middle of the Park continued and Pascal and Rudi worked hard to reassert the dominance they had through the first half. Pascal was tireless and Rudi was full of energy in not giving midfield of USRC 1911 any respite. It was from the middle the next goal came when Pascal won the ball and split the USRC back line with a great pass into Scott Holmes flying down the right wing to get to the by-line and get in a great cross that Pascal met but his shot hit a defender. However, the ball rebounded out nicely for Crommy to smash in from 4 yards out to put DBFC Vets 4-0 up and cruising.
The fifth DBFC Vets goal was not far behind as Sam Riley, getting in on the action from right-back, picked up the ball on the left from loose clearance and drove to edge of box, shaping up for a shot, but instead made a deft chip through to lightning Crommy to slot home to make it a 5-0 score line with 20 minutes left to play.
Soon after Riggers took a full blast into his wedding tackle from a USRC speculative shot and didn’t seem to be recovering and was refusing a local massage by his fellow players to get the blood circulating to his two extremities. Knowing that Riggers was only part way through his procreating plan for an extensive family DBFC had no other choice but to take him off. .Morse moved to centre back and Gazza came on at left back. At the same time Rainer came back on to take up the right back position and allow Sam (chomping at the bit to get forward) to move to LM.
Credit to USRC 1911, they rallied did get a goal to the annoyance of the defence and keeper Alessio, which at that time made the score 5-1. Failures to clear the DBFC line on at least 3 occasions as the ball bounced around resulted in the ball bobbling through the DBFC rear guard for the USRC striker to blast in from 4 yards out.
Not content with the goal tally, DBFC Vets regrouped and Scott Holmes punished the home side. Sam Riley got the ball on the left and cut inside to make room for a shot, which was blocked by a defender but roll out nicely for Scotty to rifle in a low shot that eluded the outstretched legs of 2 defenders and the keeper’s dive. This made the score line 6-1 to DBFC Vets.
Not letting sleeping dogs lie, USRC 1911 were further tormented by a non-stop Scotty, whose work rate was exemplified by this goal. The USRC CB dallied with the ball and Scotty was on him like a rash to muscle him off the ball and from 30 yards out curl a delicately pinpoint shot to just inside the post to give the USRC keeper, who had unwisely rushed out to meet the danger, no chance.
This was a great performance from all players, with everyone getting decent game time. It was too cold to get a team picture at the pitch so the order was for a picture back at USRC’s (begrudgingly gracious) bar with beers in hand.
MOM: Many contenders for this award. Pascal and Rudi in the middle of the park were the heartbeat of DBFC Vets. The back four were solid with Thierry and Morseman in fine form. Sam and Scotty came on for great full on second half performances and Scott’s two great goals. However, a hat-trick can’t be overlooked for a MOM award and therefore goes to Crommy, who apart from his goals put in a non-stop performance up top to keep the USRC constantly on the back foot.
DOD: apart from a ten second spell right at the start by a frozen in action Moti this award was unanimously agreed in the USRC bar over post-match beers, not only by DBFC Vets but also by the USRC 1911 team players. It is Paul Crompton. Crommy was ridiculed for his artistic dive in the USRC box when his team were 5-0 up and he had already secured his hat-trick. Crommy’s attempt to argue against this charge was quickly shot down.
So there it is: only the second time in DBFC history has a player managed MOM and DOD in the same game. He’s a right lad is that Crommy J
A good crowd returned to the USRC bar for drinks with a very sporting USRC 1911 team.
Reported by Sam Riley edit by Gazza
