“We’re your bogey team ...!”
PFFC 4 Inter Aztec 0
Temperatures were running high for the crucial PhilosophyAztec game and things were only going to get hotter as the game went on. The day started with shock and awe as Gibbo was left on the bench, his position alongside Neil occupied by the dubious and overpaid Italian utility man. Needless to say the supporter was incensed by this decision and bayed for blood …
Now for the real match report:
Philosophy kicked off with the usual 4-4-2 with Owen, Paul, Brian and Lawrence across the back, Richard, Ally, Kieran and Al in the midfield and Marco and Neil upfront. Aztec, bizarrely enough, played the entire game with a single man upfront and this was to cost them dear.
The opening quarter of the game passed without much incident, apart from Lawrence limping off with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Steve. Neither team managed to establish themselves on the wings and the game was played through a packed centre of the park with the long ball becoming more and more prevalent.
It was fairly tight until Aztec conceded a free kick on the edge of the box. Up stepped Cornish Al, his legendary right boot glistening in the sunshine. You could see the fear on the faces of the Aztec players. Al buried it and PFFC were 1-0 up. Now for the real test, holding the lead until half time.
It wasn’t long, however, until Philosophy increased their lead. A corner flashed across the six-yard box, popped up on the astro turf and was met by a powerful header from Brian that left the ’keeper with no chance. 2-0 to Philosophy and things were certainly looking good.
It’s worth mentioning now that the Philosophy defence was playing inspired football. Steve, Owen, Paul and Brian were letting very little through and were composed, concentrated and calm throughout the game and it certainly made all the difference.
There was to be another goal before the break. Ally calmly struck one from the edge of the box, making it 3-0 and looking to be a bit of a cruise. There was no sign of complacency and by the time the whistle went for half-time the Aztec players were arguing amongst themselves and giving our players a bit of a hard time as well.
The second half kicked off and it wasn’t long until Keir replaced Richard on the left wing. Aztec persisted with the single striker and they weren’t to create any notable chances in the second half.
By this stage the support had more than doubled when Filippo showed up to voice his support. Aztec grew more and more restless and by the time Gibbo was introduced in the place of Marco things were just starting to boil over a bit and came to a head when Neil and the dirty b****rd Aztec centre-half caught each other in a rugby union clinch, held each other at arms length for a few moments before things were broken up.
Both players managed to get themselves booked and the Aztec players continued to verbally abuse the prolific Kiwi striker. Big mistake. With literally the last kick of the game Neil latched onto a through pass and dispatched one past the ’keeper to round off a fantastic day out for Philosophy Football FC.
Man of the match: Kieran Alger. Won everything in the air and was ever-present in the midfield anchor role, allowing Ally to push forward. Also had a good effort fizz narrowly wide of the post in the first half.