Matty S Hits Hat-trick as Sensational Strikers go Tetradecimal ! F-F-F-F-Fourteen !

And back we go to Herbert’s Farm for the re-arranged match against Plantation Youth after the farcical last minute cancellation a couple of weeks ago.  The Youth are not one of the stronger teams, but have a had a few decent results. However, Bottisham, who we despatched 8-1 last week, beat them 7-0 a couple of weeks ago so Duncan seems fairly relaxed about the match. Controversially, he’s stopped talking to the media after seeing himself on video and, taking a leaf out of Fergie’s book, has delegated press relations to Dave. Dave says they’re looking to “take advantage of the slope” and hopes for victory. Someone is going to have to send these guys off for media training.

Duncan sets the starting line up with Oliver in goal, Ed and George at the back, Alex and Matty S in the middle and Jake up front. Subs are Mark, Matty P and Joe. The match is quickly off and the Youth are soon on the attack with a shot on goal unceremoniously hoofed away by Ed. NST quickly retaliate with Jake and Matty S combining smartly, but the Plantation defence clears the danger. The start is surprising taut with both teams going well and no one really on top. Then Jake breaks through but his shot is collected well by the keeper. The throw out is short, though and Alex gathers the clearance. His smart pass into the box gives Matty S a chance but his shot is excellently saved. The rebound comes out to George who buries it in the bottom corner with aplomb. 0-1 to NST Strikers. Game on !

The boys start playing some classy football with Ed in fantastic form to-day. His driving run and cross into the box creates another chance for Matty S but again the goalie pulls off a terrific save. Ed comes off to let Mark have a run. Plantation go looking for a goal but George and Mark have got things sewn up at the back and Oliver has barely had a sniff of the ball in goal. Meanwhile in midfield Alex is looking very skilful and industrious and when he crosses into the box the ball comes back off the far post and into the path of the foraging Matty S who bundles it over the line for a 0-2 lead for the Strikers.

As Plantation continue to press Mark breaks up an attack and picks out a brilliant pass out wide to Alex who drives forward delivering an inviting cross into the danger zone. The defence concede a corner and from the resulting play Matty S picks up the ball and spanks it into the top left hand corner for his second and NST’s third making it 0-3 to the Strikers. A very satisfactory end to the first quarter.

For the second quarter Matty P and Joe are brought on, Oliver is released from goal and Jake pulls on the green jersey. The game is fairly even with the new boys showing their stuff until Joe gets injured and is withdrawn for a rest. Ed comes on and combines well up front with Oliver who brings out a couple of decent saves from the keeper. Soon Joe recovers and returns energetically to the fray. He threads a ball across to Matty P out wide right. Matty cuts in and tries his luck with a long range shot. The goalie at full stretch pushes it just round the post.

Ed is still on and dominating the midfield. He wins the ball and flicks a cute ball through to Joe who coolly slides it past the goalie from an acute angle to make it 0-4 to NST. Then there’s a tremendous piece of play started by Ed. Picking up the ball deep in his own half he plays a subtle one-two with Matty P. Joe picks up the play and sweeps the ball wide to Oliver who bursts into the box and fizzes the ball into the back of the net before the keeper can react. Magic play and 0-5 to the Strikers.

This is now typical of the game as the boys really start to turn it on. The ball spins across the pitch and although Plantation are still competitive, NST are first to the ball and looking sharp. There’s surely more goals to come. After some cracking play, Mark is unlucky not score following a mazy dribble in the box. From the resulting corner the boys get their reward as Ed slides in for his first of the afternoon making it 0-6 to NST. After some more dynamic play Ed is unlucky not to get his second when the goalie brilliantly saves his fierce strike.

Soon Matty P, out on the right wing, finds himself on the ball with space to manoeuvre. His quick pass finds Jake in front of goal and Jake doesn’t disappoint, bringing the tally to 0-7 with a smart finish. To their credit Plantation continue to threaten and play good football. A quick one-two between their front men brings them a chance in front of goal but Joe comes dashing out and the danger is averted. Matty P is having a purple patch out on the wing and brings out yet another good save from the keeper. The clearance only gets as far as Jake though and his quick pass to Matty S is stabbed past the goalie for Matty’s hat-trick and great celebration! 0-8 to NST.

Soon after Matty turns provider when he slots a ball through to Matty P who finishes clinically with his left boot to make it 0-9. You could say the two Matts are giving Plantation a carpeting ! (OK, I’ll get my coat.)

To be fair the team work is terrific everywhere on the pitch. Matty P and Alex combine on a throw in and Matty picks out Ed in midfield. Ed rounds his man and buries a sizzling drive giving the keeper no chance to react. That’s double figures and 0-10 to the mighty Strikers. The ref blows up to end the quarter and provide some respite for the dogged Plantation defenders.

The opposition manager has mixed things up in the break and the new formation is quick out of the traps battering down on the NST goal. After some great individual skill their “Mini-man” is unlucky to see his shot drift just past the far post. George is back on and battling well in midfield. He sends Joe on a run and Joe is unlucky not to score. Mark is also back into midfield and tackling like a terrier, unafraid of players twice his size. He creates another opportunity for Joe but the opportunity fizzles out. Then a sublime piece of skill by Oliver as he receives the ball from Joe and beats his defender in one silky motion. His carefully crafted flick drifts inches wide of the post denying him the finish he deserves.

Not to worry, George collects the goal kick in midfield and wins a corner from his long range shot. This leads to the goal of the match when Oliver plants the ball right on Joe’s head for a scorching header past the diving goalie. 0-11 to NST. Check it out on the video. I think it stung a bit, though !

Then the tireless George breaks up yet another Plantation attack and feeds the ball to Joe. Joe bursts forward and wins another corner. From the kick he nearly scores, but the ball is cleared off the line. Mark follows up like all good strikers and smashes the ball through a melee of players for his first of the match and makes it 0-12.

The only player who hasn’t scored is Alex. This is a complete mystery. He has been outstanding and played out of his skin for the entire match. He is soon on another mazy run beating three players and denied only by the keeper’s outstretched finger tips. On another day he would have had a hatful, but today it is not to be.

Now somewhere in the match I missed one goal by Oliver. So we’ll call that number 13 – unlucky for some. There is still more to come when Jake pounces on a loose ball and cracks a stinging cannonball shot past the keeper to bring in the final goal and the Strikers lead 0-14. There is even time for one last lung-bursting run and shot by Alex but the goalie has got the voodoo on him and steers the scorching drive wide of the post. Shortly after this the ref blows for full time and the boys celebrate their victory.

This has been a cracking match with some brilliant football (from both sides actually) played with terrific skill and passion. So we salute the young men of Plantation Youth who kept playing to the end with great spirit and never gave up. They are true sportsmen.

Fourteen is the base of the tetradecimal notation and using that method the score today was 0-D !

Squad: Joe, Alex, Matty P, Mark, Jake, Oliver, Matty S, Ed, George

Scorers: Joe (2) Matty P (1) Mark (1), Jake (2) Oliver (2) Matty S (3) Ed (2) George (1)

Video Tip: if you have broadband: Once started click the HQ icon on the bottom right of the screen and you get a higher quality video. 

QUARTER 1