OTFC 1s vs South Bank Cuaco
Match Report
After defeating the old enemy Fulham Compton the previous week, the Old Tiffs 1s were ready for a return to the hallowed Grist’s lake turf, hoping to carry on their high-scoring form from the previous game. James Kimber (aka Uncle Jimmy, Creepy Uncle Kimber or ‘The CUK’), the day’s minder of the armband, delivered a rousing pre-match speech, welcoming Amr (and a few hours later Ralph) to their home debuts, with South Bank Cuaco IIs standing between the good guys and a fifth win in six games.
Unpredictable pitch at the ready, the home team started off on the front foot, with regular goalsman Joe Jordan uncharacteristically finding the visiting keeper’s palms rather than the back of the net on a couple of occasions.
Switching up from the norm, JJ11 soon turned provider for the game’s opening goal, played through before rounding the visiting goalkeeper and delivering a perfect cross for Jabs to head home from close range. 1-0 Purps. The visitors were struggling to breach the home side’s backline, their only real threat coming from long throw-ins that wouldn’t look out of place at the Gtech Community Stadium.
One up at halftime, The T’s were good value for their lead, keen to take the game fully away from their opponents in the second 45. It was South Bank however who made the faster start, pinning back the home side and testing their concentration and communication from the off. After riding the storm, the momentum began to swing back in favour of the men in purple, and the lead was doubled by substitute Sandy, foxing in the box for the game’s second goal.
The home side showed no signs of settling, with each member of the frontline posing a threat to the high Cuaco backline. There was a heart-in-mouth slice from keeper Seb Rose that led to an audacious long-range lob attempt from the visitors which narrowly cleared the crossbar, however it was the resulting goal kick that actually led to a contender for goal of the season. A short ball from Seb to Jack Shannon, who fizzed the ball forward where it was deftly flicked round the corner by Louis, and within the blink of an eye Sandy was closing in on goal. After calmly beating his marker, he clumsily juuuust about slotted home for the game’s third goal.
South Bank were able to get a goal of their own not long after, a loose ball on the edge of the box was sent wide, fired across the penalty area and tapped in to keep the home side on their toes… but the three goal lead was soon restored, as a pinpoint long ball over the top from Jordan sent Louis through. The latter holding off his marker and keeping his composure, sending a fearsome strike beautifully home at the near post.
That was game over, and a precious three points secured, the memories of a narrow defeat to the same opposition a month before banished by the good guys in Purple.