We have played the 'Seven Guys' twice before, a 2-1 victory two years ago in the summer competition followed by a comprehensive defeat in this years summer competition. Comfortably placed in fourth position, and with about twenty years age advantage per man against the 'experienced' Alltraders team, they were always going to be clear favourites tonight...
Knowing that the curse of the camera girl was now proved to be a reality, Tim ensured he left the house alone with Kirsty still eating her tea blisfully unaware of the kickoff time as she watched 'Home and Away' quietly in the kitchen.
As the teams gathered before the kickoff, it was just like someone had decided to turn the 'winter switch' on. Although the temperature was a moderate five degrees, the brisk easterly wind blowing across the pitches from the field cut like a knife. I'd be buggered if I was taking my sweat top off tonight.
Alltraders fielded their now usual five, Sal and Paul at the back with Kevin supporting Tim up front. Warren was reminded several times that his 'goals conceded' target was now at it's limit and any slip-up tonight would see him out of the team for good.
Being the 'home' team, Alltraders started the game.
The 'Seven Guys' looked pretty keyed up for tonight's encounter, with lots of shouting and chants of "Let's finish this lot off in the first half" eminating from their stocky but athletic central defender. It looked like he may have actually been right as one or two early moves found opposition attackers in good striking positions only to be snuffed out by the solid defending of Sal and Paul at the back, backed up by some athleticism from Warren in goal obviously aware of his targets.
As the game progressed, Tim and Kevin became more influentual in it's proceedings with some good penetrating moves and excellent running off the ball causing the opposition defence more and more problems. Indeed, it was Alltraders that came the closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Tim met a pefectly paced Kevin Burton pass to round the last defender and hit a peach of a shot that skimmed past the 'keeper slamming against the inside of the far post and back out for a throw, in the process taking yet more skin off his left knee as he spun off the ball after the shot.
Surprisingly it didn't stop there. With just a couple of minutes of the half left, the oppostion defence found themselves stretched yet again allowing Kevin the freedom to advance on goal. Sadly his shot missed the target (completely). Another let-off for the 'Seven Guys' (although there were about twelve of them on the steps limbering up for the second half).
With the first half goalless, the signs were there that a shock could be in store tonight if Alltraders could continue to press on the opposition goal in the second half.
The second half saw the oppostion pushing further forward on the Alltraders goal. The normal tactic by Alltraders would be to defend in numbers, but this week it was decided to leave Tim as the lone striker up front taking one of the opposition players out of the game with him. With Paul and Sal continuing to thwart any opposition attacks, time and again the ball was threaded through the Tim with his back to the goal playing a holding role as Kevin overlapped.
This tactic continued to frustrate the young opposition, and a bit of inexperience by the last defender led to a suicidal lunge for the ball as Tim turned allowing him the freedom to gently side-foot the ball into the path of the sprinting Kevin Burton. In true Burton style, he casually knocked the ball past the 'keeper in his stride to open the scoring for Alltraders.
With Alltraders now one goal ahead, the 'Seven guys' became inceasingly frustrated and kept pushing forward hoping to break the Alltraders defence. Tonight was not going to be their night, as yet again Alltraders broke with Tim and Kevin against only one defender between them and the goal. This time it was Kevin's turn to lay off the the pass to Tim Leader to score, leaving the 'keeper stranded with yet another of his cool lobs into the top of the net to increase the lead to two. Tim is fast becoming the undisputed 'king of the lob' in this league!
The oppostion really didn't look to be the threat they first appeared. Passing went astray, and the finishing (or lack of) was second rate for a team pressing for qualification.
The salt was finally rubbed into the wounds as Kevin used all of his strength to battle past three strong tackles from the opposition defence as he smashed home number three with one minute left of game left.
The opposition completely crumbled as twice more Tim and Kevin broke free to get into one-on-one scoring chances only to miss the target wasting valuable chances to increase their goal difference.
The game finished with Alltraders three-nil victors. A very satisfying result proving that there is still life left in the Alltraders team. In all honesty, it should have been at least six.
This was a real team effort with every member of Alltraders playing an important part in the victory. The real test is to see if this can continue the run into qualification with just four games left. Should we ever have the camera's back?
The man of the match has to go to Kevin who gave 100%, especially the effort put into his second goal.
Final Score: Alltraders 3 (0) - (0) 0 The Seven Guys called Elvis
Tim Leader
Kevin Burton (2)