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| The ref checks the yellow card | The crowd are buzzing | Tim is ready to go |
17/03/2000 - 19:00 - Attendance : 4
This has been one of the closest finishes to a league season ever. Any of the top seven teams could make it to the last four to qualify for the knockout stage. Having found themselves in fifth place before last weeks game, the last thing Alltraders wanted was to lose and all the other teams below them to win. As well as that, it would be disastrous if Cowboys and Indians were to lose to Horley. Well, you've guessed it - that's exactly what happened...
This meant that Alltraders started tonight's game in seventh place three points away from a qualifying place. Horley's win against Cowboys and Indians elevated them to second position and assured them of a qualifying place. This meant that Alltraders had to win tonight. As well as that, the fifth and sixth teams had to draw or lose. In fact, the permutations have become so complicated I can't actually be bothered to write them all down.
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| The ref checks the yellow card | The crowd are buzzing | Tim is ready to go |
At least this week we were in a position to field a reasonably strong side. Jamie had returned from injury (groin strain from new girlfriend) and Warren had no previous engagements to attend. The only niggling worry was Paul Burton's strained back.
So, the scene was now set for this 'do or die' attempt at qualification.
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| Jamie turns up for the game | Paul knows what we have to do |
The game started at an alarming pace. Horley knew that they stood an excellent chance of finishing this competition as champions if they could brush Alltraders to one side. With Kevin's stomach still full from a large lunch, and Tim Leader suffering from lack of nutrition following an all-day meeting, the pace was having a seriously negative effect on Alltraders energy levels.
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| Tim is closed form all angles | but manages to release the ball |
Just when it looked like Horley were going to take the initiative, Kevin Burton intercepted a week pass from a defender and advanced on the opposition goal unchallenged. The finish was of the Kevin Burton of old - short back lift, maximum power and hard against the back of the net.
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| Kevin is through ... | ...he shoots ... | ... he scores! |
Horley seemed a little rattled by this sudden goal, and started openly arguing amongst themselves. This seemed to spur Alltraders on even more as they pushed further forward. Jamie was unlucky not to extend the Alltraders lead when his short run and shot was parried against the Horley crossbar and out for a corner.
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| A Horley attacker | Paul defends solidly |
Horley continued to push forward playing some excellent pass-and-move play that was forcing Alltraders to allow attackers to overlap into unmarked positions. Despite Warren Fiveash's best efforts at keeping a clean sheet, a swift one-touch move was finished clinically by a Horley attacker so swiftly the the camera girl hadn't enough time to pan around to catch the fine 'deft-touch' under the body of the Alltraders goalkeeper.
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| Too quick for the cameras | A Horley attacker equalises! |
With Horley now getting a foothold on the game, it looked like it was going to be another one of those nights. However, Kevin managed to keep his dinner down long enough to pull of another one of those special moments from the Alltraders of old by cutting between two defenders and launching a shot of such power the goalkeeper had no chance of keeping it out.
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| Kevin is through again | Another shot - another goal! | The 'peel away' |
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| Tim demonstrates
a bit of close ball control |
... shadowed by the defender | .. but still manages a shot on goal |
With the first half now at a close, Alltraders restarted the game knowing that they were now in a much better position to get into the next round. All that was needed was discipline and to raise their game to ensure that Horley were not allowed to to bring the contest level again.
Having already been assured of qualification, Horley started to take more and more risks to try and finish the league stage as champions. This left huge gaps in their defence as they pushed further forward.
With Paul and Jamie in excellent form tonight, each attempt at a Horley attack was met by solid defending and instant distribution of the ball to the now unmarked Tim Leader. In fact, Tim had three one-on-one chances against the Horley goalkeeper in the second half that he failed to capitilise on.
As it turned out, it did't really matter. The referee finally blew his whistle to close the proceedings.
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| The Horley goalkeper | .. saves from close range from Tim | The final handshake |
A well-deserved two-one win for Alltraders against a tough opposition. Now all we have to do is wait for the final results to be posted before we know who is going further in the competition. This is very likely to be Alltraders last game of the current season, with my estimate of another fifth place finish. Still, this was a very tough league, and to beat the higher teams is always a bonus!
Be sure to return before 24th of March to see how we finished!
Final
result: Alltraders 2 (2) - (1) 1 Horley Town casuals.
Kevin Burton.
Pictures: Kirsty