Match Report SiHKFC v ArsenalHK

Corrections welcome.

MATCH REPORT SiHKFC v ArsenalHK 27th May 2008

3-1 is a scoreline that continues to resonate in the minds of even the youngest Tottenham fans today. It is by that scoreline that Spurs triumphed over Arsenal at Wembley in 1991, when the comically mustachioed Seaman was made to look a fool by some sublime schoolboy’s own stuff. And it 2008, a new chapter in the famous rivalry was etched into the history books as SiHKFC defeated the Arsenal HK Supporters’ Club by that very margin.

For a while one might have been forgiven for thinking this would be anything but another glorious chapter in our catalogue of famous victories. That sinking feeling came when a defensive mix-up led to a red-shirted raider plundering a one-on-one goal that gave Arsenal an early lead, deceiving the unfortunate Edman in goal. As the first half went on, SiHK stuttered in the midfield battlegrounds, with ArsenalHK seemingly able to pick passes at will with surgical precision. A series of corners awarded in our favour fizzled out. Edman plunged low to tip away a long range effort. At the other end, a flowing move we put together which seared through the Arsenal defence ended up troubling only the side netting. It was beginning to look like one of those unfortunate Tottenham occasions where even the best of intentions and effort leads to only disappointment and desolation.

But the football fates had other things in store for us. Slowly, we began to reassert ourselves. Matches of this magnitude often turn on a moment of luck or skill. In Craig’s penalty on the stroke of half time, we got what seemed like both. The flailing Almunia-styled flapper in the Arse goal lunged at Craig’s mazy dribble, bringing him down at the second attempt. The Man in Black’s whistle shrieked, to the amazement and delight of the Spurs faithful who had thus far seen every decision go against them. Up stepped Craig, the ice of an Edman makeshift beer cooler running through his veins, to smack home – as confident and unTerry-like a penalty as you’ve ever seen.

The second half turned on Number 10’s tactical reshuffle. James was brought on in a forward role, and the consequent impact and lift on the team was electric. Turning deftly on a superb threaded pass from Paul, James slalomed through the Arsenal defence and turfed a trickler past the keeper. For a heart-stopping moment it looked as it would not cross the line, but the bumbling clearance of a retreating Arsenal defender put the matter beyond any doubt. However let us say now for the record that James goes down in the books as the scorer. Given his finesse, which tore apart a naïve Arsenal rearguard in one swift blow, it would be churlish to decree otherwise. Here at last was the lead we craved, seemingly the glorious culmination of a season’s worth of SiHK football. Fittingly, James celebrated with a slide that evoked memories of his hero Klinsmann, as Jez started to warm up his texting fingers to tell everyone in Blighty of our newly-captured lead.

It was a night where SiHK fielded many a hero. However, it would be churlish not to mention the centre-back pairing of Janek and Savio whose Gardner/Doherty-styled double-act constantly snuffed out Arsenal’s second half attacks and surely would have had a tweed-suited David Pleat in raptures. Janek in particular shone in what could be his swansong in a SiHK shirt. SiHK’s very own rock at the back repelled every aerial ball that came into our half with such ferocity that it should surprise no-one if his forehead is earmarked to feature opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the sequel to Iron Man. Or to borrow from another summer blockbuster, we will certainly miss him and his Crystal Skull the next time we face a similar aerial bombardment.

Indeed there was even time for some showboating from our Portugeezer, a trademark feint and stepover to shepherd the ball out of play, accompanied by a disparaging puff of an imaginary cigar. If there was ever a phase of play made to accompany Alan Partridge’s famous cry of “Liquid Football”, then this surely was it. Pity then that he did not snap up a glorious chance which fell to him at the opposite end – by way of celebration we might have seen the imaginary glass of champagne from one of his infamous brunches raised in salute.

In the end that miss was thankfully not to prove decisive as SiHK’s tireless Waddle9 barreled his way through the weary Arsenal ranks to ram home a headed third from Paul’s pinpoint freekick delivery to add a beautiful gloss to proceedings. The Barrel's big game reputation, which carried forward from the Chelsea match, appeared well-deserved. With Paul and Number 10 controlling the middle ground, and James continuing to show some deft touches up front, it seemed victory was within sight. The likes of Kinson, Linesmann and Tony all provided moments of sparkle in the second half, as ArsenalHK’s stamina waned. CK risked life and limb for his adopted side in helping to halt a rare ArsenalHK 2nd half foray. Daniel, with a point to prove to the manager in what could also be a farewell appearance, added a bit of extra steel to the backline and thrilled the watching masses with some sizzling back passes.

Spurs being Spurs, we could never be completely certain of anything until the final moments were played out, but as the final whistle echoed around King’s Park it was clear that we had secured our bragging rights at last. Arsenal had been beaten and battered into the #2 position of North London’s finest HK Supporters Clubs. A position which we all know is their rightful one, and not just in respect of the representative sides.

In closing we must thank everyone who gave up their time to put this match together, and those who came to play, manage and/or support. This was what we had waited for. For those of us who will sadly never grace the hallowed Wembley turf, this victory was our very own Gazza semi-final free kick – does it ever get any better than this?

- ETP

superb report! have already forwarded it to many spurs supporting friends!

Good job, ETP. Daniel's leaving?

Janek's leaving?

I'm going to the Cayman Islands in late July

daniel is going to Shanghai

Great report, much better than mine!

We have serious contenders for the match report of the season in the SIHK Awards 2008!

Great stuff. I particularly like the reference the centre-back pairing of Janek and Savio whose Gardner/Doherty-styled double-act!!

Not only do we play flowing football that delights the eye, we've also got some bloody good writers on this forum. Top stuff, ETP !

Janek wrote:

I'm going to the Cayman Islands in late July

daniel is going to Shanghai

When?

stunning work ETP.

GDG wrote:

Janek wrote:

I'm going to the Cayman Islands in late July

daniel is going to Shanghai

When?

next week

Daniel wrote:

GDG wrote:

Janek wrote:

I'm going to the Cayman Islands in late July

daniel is going to Shanghai

When?

next week

WHAT ?!?!?... PERMANENTLY ?

Well that really came out of the left field, didn't it? Surely we can squeeze a drink in one night this week? Or as I said in the other thread, in Hemingway's tonight?

great job ETP, i have to read it again & again to get the real taste of it.