Well, well, well who’d have thought it?
A large squad of young, fit, talented athletes versus a small bunch of guys who are either unfit, more senior or of questionable talent (some more than one). The outcome shouldn’t even be in question…..
Or should it?
In the build-up to the big match, I jokingly made reference to Phil Neville, Ian Walker and Antoine Sibierski, and the mood was very much one of well we’ll probably lose but let’s just have fun whilst we doing it. I very tongue-in-cheekily predicted a victory of 7-4, knowing full well that if anything the score would be the other way round. The talk in the final day or two preceding KO was over the large number of players HK Spurs would have, and who would be substituted first for SIHK if we’d even have enough players for substitutes, and if we could get away poaching the other teams players!
The big day came around, both Paul and DannyBoy had sensibly taken GDG’s advice and taken on board many liquids preceding the game, it was explained to them afterwards that this wasn’t quite what he meant. The pre-match talk was held by Player-Manager GDG, who re-emphasized the necessity of keeping possession, playing simple passes and keeping the tempo slow. The conditions made any other style suicidal. Whilst it wasn’t too hot the humid levels were high enough to make a fish sweat.
Similar to the preview, SIHK set out in a 3-1-3-2 formation, Hairy in goal, a back three of Ezza, Daniel and DannyBoy, GDG playing the anchorman, Edmond, Chris, James and James N17 upfront. Ozspur was on the bench to be joined belatedly by Paul and Spur’don. (It’s conceivable I may have those startin XI details slightly mixed up).
The game kicked off, and SIHK began stroking the ball around nicely, feeling the pitch out and getting used to playing on the same team as one another (it’s worth adding at this point that they’d not even had a training session prior to this). Straight away it was clear that chasing after the ball terrier like was a sure-way to get beaten. A few early chances came to nothing early on and it was clear either a mistake or a bit of magic would lead to the first goal. Lamentably for the boys in lilywhite (SIHK) it was the former that occurred and a slip in defense allowed Aufai (sp?) for the away team to nip in and put the ball beyond the keeper. 0-1! If this early deficit might have been predicted before the game, it was very much against the flow of the game at that point.
SIHK first clearcut chance came from a corner swung in, and Ezza leapt like a salmon, only to see his header fly off his shining pate into the night’s sky and over the bar. SIHK were still making all the best moves, and already a nice understanding had been developed early between James, N17, GDG and Paul who were all fluidly interchanging passes.
Throughout the first half the rolling substitutes were used due to the oppressive conditions, it has been suggested that DannyBoy set a new record for substitutions during the game, but one of these bouts of severe unfitness on his part actually proved useful for SIHK. James N17 called to the bench for a swap, and on came DannyBoy to take his place upfront. Shortly following the change James made a darting run up the right flank, DannyBoy saw the opportunity and raced in the from the opposite side completely unmarked, with great skill James eased it passed the keeper and across the goal to DannyBoy who was fervently praying he would not miss, somehow he didn’t, and SIHK had their first ever goal! 1-1 GAME ON!
Despite SIHK being spurred on (sorry) by the equalizer, parity did not remain for long and when it came it was contentious and controversial. HK Spurs gained a dubious freekick near to the center circle, and a high, long, looping ball was sent forward, it missed everyone and somehow went in the goal! Despite the protestations of Hairy in goal, and his bitter cries of “Russian linesman” the goal stood and HK Spurs re-took the lead. 2-1!
To add injury to insult Ezza suffered a devastating groin injury and had to be replaced. Ultimately this worked to SIHK tactical advantage, as it meant Ezza took the goalie’s gloves and a formidable centerback pairing of Daniel and Hairy joined forced, this back three did not change for the rest of the 90 minutes and it is no coincidence that not only did SIHK not concede but did not even look like conceding!
With the defense secure, SIHK unleashed an absolute barrage of attacks on HK Spurs. The pick of the chances involved GDG, he released James and N17 on two separate occasions with delightful through balls but both times the HK Spurs keeper (who was magnificent all game) was equal to them. GDG even had a pop himself the ball falling to him a good ways outside the D and he fired a smart shot that arrowed towards the keeper’s bottom right hand corner, ONCE AGAIN it was saved.
Then a moment of pure magic occurred. Again it was GDG who was on the ball, he looked up and played a high ball towards James. James without looking at his marker flicked it with his head up and over the defender, then with a burst of speed, turned and left his befuddled adversary for dead and collected the ball, he looked up and tried an audacious chip over the keeper! Unfortunately it was over the bar as well.
Halftime soon followed, and SIHK trooped off still a goal down, despite their best efforts. Player-Manager GDG was confident however and gave a rousing halftime speech and instilled in them confidence that they could overcome the one goal disadvantage. I would liken GDG to Jol in his charisma but as we’ve often seen BMJ’s halftime speeches seem to have the opposite effect on our boys (vs Arsenal at home, particularly springs to mind) so I’ll say it was pure Churchillian instead.
Boosted by the halftime talk, SIHK looked to overcome the odds. Spur’don tackled and passed with aplomb, the new centerback pairing was impenetrable, Ozpur effective in leading the line when he entered play, harrying defenders to maintain the pressure, Ezza was bravery and sheer guts continuing to play with his injury and launching at defenders to get the ball, GDG led with simple and effective passing, Paul and Chris were having a lot of joy on the wings and N17 and James bristled with menace everytime they got near goal. DannyBoy was still re-enacting his goal over and over in his head so was daydreaming at this point, although when he got the ball he was effective enough with his distribution. Edmund injected pace and was determined, constantly giving encouragement whether on or off the pitch.
Surely the goal had to come???
But still it was impossible to beat the damn keeper, every cross that came in was held, every shot saved. James and N17 both hit the woodwork.
Then a set piece…. an excellent corner curling away from the keeper,,,,, Edmond got up and got a firm connection, the keeper was beaten….. BUT IT WENT WIDE! And STILL the goal would not come! It looked like HK Spurs would steal the win and that SIHK would walk away with heads held high at the performance but ultimately unlucky losers. That despite their endeavor individual fitness would triumph over teamwork.
GDG desperately attempted to break through, the ball spun off a defender and rolled off towards the byline for a goalkick. The only player who hadn’t given up on that ball was James. He determinedly chased it down and stopped it leaving play, stepped inside to create a better angle and shot…..
AND SCORED!!!!! 2-2! The equalizer!
Delight was on the face of the SIHK players on the pitch and the bench and it could not have been more deserved. Nor to a more deserving player, as James had been so unlucky on several occasions, denied by goalkeeper and woodwork. And if there was any justice he’s Berbatov moment would have resulted in a goal that would have been spoken of for many a year.
A 2-2 was not good enough though! With the clock ticking down, SIHK tried manfully for that extra goal that would have elevated them from Heros to Legends. The ball went out of play for a corner. Paul who’d been denied with his corners by the leaping spiderman of a goalie so many times, whipped in a beauty, the keeper was nowhere and Spur’don thrusting forward to the attack forced his panicking marker to head the wrong way…..AND INTO THE NET!!!!
3-2 SIHK!!!!!!!!
With the clock ticking down, SIHK began to hold out encouragingly led by Daniel’s chants of “This is a shambles”. As time ran out Chris somehow went on a blistering run past 3 defenders and was unfortunate that his final touch took it too close to the keeper, but it was enough to tick down the time and sure enough…..FULL TIME!!!
3-2 SIHK had triumphed against the odds. It was an excellent performance by the boys in Lilywhite. It would be unfair to pick out one player as everyone player played their part and gave their absolute all.
The full role call:
Well done to Daniel “ironman” for lasting the whole 90 minutes, to GDG for being a great manager and the engine of the team, to Hairy for volunteering to being in goal, doing a great job and then an even better one at centreback, to Ezza for overcoming injury (I salute you sir) to play in goal and being unbeatable, to Paul for classy wingplay and the most important cornertaker ever, to Edmond for determination and pace and for always encouraging the team, to James for being SIHK’s Berbatov and for setting me up
, to Spur’don if he can play this good whilst wearing glasses imagine what he can do with proper eyewear (contact etc), to Chris for burning up and down the wing and having the energy even in the dying moments to take on 3 players and beat them, to Ozspur for encouraging from the sidelines, being highly effective when on the pitch and mate next time you’ll snatch the winner I’m sure, to N17 for providing SIHK with class upfront and creating an excellent partnership with James, to me for writing this report and being lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time.
And finally to SIHK for making the night as fun, brilliant and exciting as I was hoping for weeks beforehand it would be. True Yiddos each and everyone!
COYSIHK!!
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Emmm not sure that's neccesarily a compliment there James. 
, but if he'd missed his header, the ball would have hit me smack bang on the forehead for a certain goal.
Whatever happens, we'll always be a better supported team in HK than the likes of Arsenil, Chelski and the Pikeys and that is what makes Spurs so special.
. I think he's chris' friend isn't he? He's not a neutral Daniel, he's a spurs-fan-in-waiting