MEFF #30 – SCZCESNY HAWKES 2 - 0 SLIGHTLY PORKY POWER RANGERS:
Aidan’s Sczcesny Hawkes made it 5 games unbeaten in an incredibly close game against Phil Parrot’s Power Rangers that was decided by two break-away goals in the second half. The Captains chose two very even squads (in Sam’s MEFF ModelTM the two teams “scored exactly the same to a 1,000th of a Ratings Point”), and it wasn’t until the second half when the game began to open up, although the first half did see Rowan make a number of stops on his line while Phil P, Ash and Patto all came close to beating Sicky at the other end but couldn’t produce the required finish. The icy surface didn’t help and it took 40 minutes for people to finally find their passing boots, with a remarkable number of over-hit passes evident from the very start!
After taking a fortuitous lead, the Hawkes weathered a siege on their goal (Aidan clearing Patto’s header and Griff’s chest denying a certain goal from Crozier’s cross under pressure from Spence) and eventually they put the game to bed with a quick counter-attack from Griffin’s inspired flick. Rather than lacking a cutting edge in attack (like last week) this game was noticeable for the quality of defending, with both teams refusing to commit men forward (until the end) with Brett, Jack and Phil G shoring things up for the Hawkes with Sicky behind them, while Ash, Phil P and Neil did a good sweeping job for the Rangers.
Second Half:
1-0: Luke(a hopeful long ball from the Hawkes backline provoked an uncharacteristic error from Rowan, who spilled the ball into the path of the lurking Luke for a simple tap-in)
2-0: Brett(Griffin’s delightful reverse flick released Brett beyond the last man, who bore down on Rowan and finished comfortably into the far corner)
Men of the Match were Aidan, for an inspired Captain’s performance full of energy, and Phil P, who “was the engine room, starting attacks for his own team and breaking up the opposition’s.”
