The SBA squad for the reinstated Charlton tourny was me, Joe, Tim, Ali, Dave, Banjo, Jed, Simon, Martin, Ross, Kiwi Dave, Millwall Dave, Marlon and James (the latter three all being ringer mates of Ross.) I think that`s everyone, but it`s been a while.
Although the SBA are traditionally slow starters in tournaments, getting thumped 5-0 in our first game by QPR was a new low, so I'll save myself the hassle of discussing the game by simply saying I didn't enjoy it over much.
On to our next game with Lincoln and a few changes: Kiwi Dave was replaced in goal by Millwall Dave, and I was drafted into the sweeper position, with Ross coming into midfield. Our defence wasn't seriously tested for the first couple of minutes, until we realised that Lincoln were playing with 9 men. Not wishing to play with a two-man advantage, we offered them one of our players for a game of 10 vs 10, Banjo volunteered to switch sides and we settled into a revised 3-4-2 formation.
Despite the exchange of players, we still looked the better team, had the majority of possession and carved out a couple of half-chances. At the back, Dave and Simon were marking attentively, probably well aware of the potential tomfoolery lurking behind them, whilst I busied myself retrieving anything that the oppo punted over the top and taking the occasional goal kick.
The game remained goalless until half-time and we gave ourselves a bit of a scare in the second half when we surrendered possession in the middle of the park and Lincoln broke forward into the area, but Ali chased back and averted the danger by conceding a corner.
With the clock ticking away, it was about time we turned our possession into goals. Finally, I played a one-two with Jed which, after the opposing centre-half had accidentally trod on the ball, left me with a clear run on goal from halfway. The keeper advanced determinedly, but I evaded him with a sneaky swerve and indecorously bundled the ball into the open goal. This was actually our first goal in over 200 minutes of football (going back to day two of WorldNet.) It was easy to see why when Jed subsequently managed to clear the crossbar from about two yards out.
The score remained 1-0 to us and the wheels were finally back on the SBA tournament juggernaut. Gratifyingly, a couple of other teams subsequently played 11 men vs 9 against Lincoln and got pegged back by late goals. Some justice there, methinketh...
Our next encounter was with Dulwich Hamlet, but we were now playing with the self-belief of footballing demigods. Again, a dominant first half failed to bring us the goals we merited, but we righted that in spectacular fashion in the second half. Firstly, Ali picked up the ball in midfield and strode forward before cracking in a great shot from outside the area, then Jed showed superb anticipation to make a speculative punt out of defence look like a measured Macca-esque through ball (copyright Marc Verrall 1999) and buried his shot into the roof of the net. Meanwhile, we had added another ringer to our ranks in the shape Of James, who played some tight, tidy football from the back of midfield.
We then underwent a stern examination from Rangers and nearly pulled of the heist of the century.
After a shaky start, one idiot (I forget who- oh yes, it was Ross) who we`d already moved into midfield in an attempt to prevent exactly this sort of occurrence, decided it would be a really good idea to track back and boot someone over in our box. The penalty was thumped toward the top corner, but Dave in goal sailed nonchalantly through the air to punch the ball away for a throw-in. Quite incredible stuff.
In the second half and still under the kosh, we got a real boost when James drilled a low, left-footed shot in from the edge of the area. Sadly, Rangers provided a prompt riposte to this by finally converting one of their long throws. 1-1 it finished, probably the most exciting match of the day.
Which brought us to our final match, against Brentford. We only needed a draw to finish second in the group, but we were badly hit by injkuries and were having to resort to all sort of positional tomfoolery. I was no longer playing sweeper and, when Jed picked up a knock about 20 seconds into the match, Ross ended up playing centre forward.
Playing against such a rag tag collection of misfits, Brentford took an early lead when the ball bobbled through our makeshift defence, affording the striker a clear run through on goal.
We battled and battled, carving out a few chances, but everyone was bloody knackered by this stage. Half-time came and went, but still we trailed. Then, finally, Marlon broke down the right and produced a brilliant deep cross, which I brought down and walloped into the roof of the net, leaving the keeper with a healthy dollop of football pie down his shirt.
We were now in pole position, er, for second place, but went all out for the win in true SBA style. Sadly, with men commited forward, a desperate clearance turned into a golden opportunity after Simon tomfoolerously kicked the ball up Tim`s arse, then both watched aghast as the striker pinched it and ran in on goal. Dave advanced, but no dice for the debutant goalie as the ball ended up in the net for the winning goal.
Well, them`s the breaks. Seeing as this signalled the end of our day`s football, the only other incident of note was that Celtic won the tourny, beating QPR 2-1 in the final. Cheers to all who pulled on the Sky Blue on the day and thanks particularly to Banjo for his hospitality.