They say good games come in threes and this commentator would certainly agree with that. Following on from Manchester United v Southampton and Arsenal v Liverpool, this was the third installment of the eagerly anticipated trilogy.
The lights shone on Latimer Park, a stones throw from the BBC Outside Broadcast team who wouldn't be covering the event. No fear, the tie had been built up for months: SEGRO v dohertybaines. On a balmy evening, the game would be played at temperatures more suited to the Azteca Stadium, Mexico City rather than under the A40 flyover in early September. Kick Off was slightly delayed to 6:15 on police grounds to allow the local youths to be coaxed off the pitch.
The warm up was orchestrated carefully by Chris Mitchell. This consisted of booting the ball as hard as possible past Paul Londra in goal. This was followed by David O'Donovan and Stuart Atkinson enacting one v one scenarios with David finishing well. Alistair Finn was noted doing some strange stretching exercises and Rob Nelson was on the phone. Michael Haines and Alex Stothard were keeping an eye on the bags and said children. Andy Baines then proceeded to hit the ball hard and low into the corner of the net. This was an indication of the SEGRO attack to come later on.
Segro arrived in their red strip, black shorts. The average age, around 26. Firstly Martin, then Tom Royston, then Alan Holland. Richard Smith followed another youngster with terry. All were studying their opposition's strange warm up routine intently. Would the experienced line up of dohertybaines triumph over the youth of SEGRO marshaled by Alan Holland? All would be revealed shortly.
Michael Haines assisted SEGRO by starting off for the reds before Ben Baldwin and Tony Hines arrived.
The first few minutes were characterised by careful moves by both teams but the defences were on top. Neither keeper being tested in the earlier skirmishes. Unfortunately this was not going to be replicated throughout the match. Dohertybaines were first to settle bringing a brace of smart saves from Tom Royston in the SEGRO goal. With the scores still at 0-0, 15 minutes in, the audience were beginning to think that this one could go to penalties. They were wrong. Dohertybaines were caught up field and SEGRO broke at pace, down their left wing. A nice one-two movement set up by Tony Hynes for the shot which he dispatched with aplomb. This was a move that SEGRO were to plunder mercilessly throughout the match while dohertybaines threw men forward in the vain hope of leaving the scores.
The second SEGRO goal came from the same side and a similar movement, this time at the far post, rifled in. 2-0 and dohertybaines looked shell shocked. Some substitutions were made, notably with Alex Stothard coming on to add youth to the dohertybaines line up. It seemed to work. A well worked move by Stuart and Andy, allowed Andy sight on goal. He powered home the ball to make the scores 2-1. Hope springs eternal for dohertybaines. Andy then made space for himself to shoot again but this time he hit the crossbar and the ball went out. Some might say 2-2 and game on, but it was still 2-1 and this may have been the wake up call for SEGRO. They pounced swiftly to quell the uprising and finished well yet again; 3-1, knocking any momentum out of the rigid pass and move game and asking questions of the dohertybaines zonal marking system.
The weary legs of the dohertybaines team were changed again but this had little effect as SEGRO continued to break forward and hammer in shots on goal. All three keepers put in good shifts helping to keep the scores respectable along with a rearguard action from Nelson, Finn and Haines making several good late interceptions.
However, a flicker of light shone through the westway dual carriageway and onto Chris Mitchell who decided enough was enough. He made good progress on the dohertybaines right wing, and took it upon himself to shoot from distance, GOAL! and probably the best one of the night. Two goals for dohertybaines and double what Jurgen Grobler the german rowing coach had predicted.
There was a late flurry of shots from David and Chris but the dogged defence from SEGRO kept dohertybaines at bay.
After another trio of good strikes from SEGRO, that was that. David suggested next goal wins, but SEGRO got that anyway! The game finished 10-2 which was no disgrace as SEGRO are the current IAS champions and have a Monday night 5 a side club allowing them to hone their routines and set pieces. We have a Monday night curry club!
A great sporting occasion played in the manner and spirit of the Olympic backdrop.
Then all of the elgin for a well deserved pint of organge and lemonade/strong continental lager and the largest porkie/scotch egg platters many had ever seen.
Paul Londra
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