Yo, interested parties and party-goers,
The day was fine and it happened to the best and worst of us down there at the park. The last game of the first leg saw sticky pitches yielding some slippery play and sloppy passing from some of our number this week.
Game pitch 25: GCA v SELC. One would think this would be the game to use as a marketing tool for the comp. However, how does 4 nil sound? Some said it was going to be a tight one. They were wrong. GCA, minus 'the tank engine' at the back and 'Logie' in midfield should have been susceptible, but not so. Less appears to mean more to the GCA unflappables. Bert's boys, playing the offside trap a few too many times were easily caught out by the fleet o' foot forwards in orange and paid heavily. Bert, back from being away and having to play keeper since Omani Shabib's departure to his homeland, was put directly in the firing line with not a lot of protective armour. Bang! bang! bang! bang! SELC subsequently lose equal second spot and GCA breathe and breeze clear at the top, now six points ahead of their nearest rival with a whopping +29 goaldifference.
Game pitch 26: ACE v APC. This was touted a close one too, and by jingoes it was. ACE were looking good on stats with 14 goals for and only 2 against in their last 3 games and were no doubt feeling pretty confident going into their match against APC who had only managed to bag 6 while conceding 11 in their last 3 outings. However, a rude awakening came when they went 2 zip down early in the match making them think again. Desperately clawing back, they drew level at 3 apiece before nabbing a goalmouth scrambler to take all the points 4-3. 'Phew!' from the ACE and a few unpleasantries from a pipped APC. So, ACE go clear second place from that and APC finish the first leg with only one 3 from 7 and work to do.
Game pitch 27: Kaplan Aspect v LETS. Possibilities for LETS?? Nah! Aspect put on a sublime display to completely rout an enthusiastic and tough but unco-ordinated LETS. 3 nil at half time told the tale. LETS got one back after the break due to a penalty, but from there it was all one-way traffic; the Aspect midfield in total control just laying it left, right or straight through to take the game 6-1. Whoever opposes them next should give them a great deal of respect or they may face the same fate. Kaplan on the flood tide - LETS waving but still all at sea.
Game pitch 28: GEOS v Ability. GEOS haven't been the same since they lost two of there best players early in the season. Struggling in defence and in attack, they did it hard against Ability, who, in turn, have had a pivotal player injured since the start of the season. He was back for this one though and helped to make it plain to all that Ability were ready to take on allcomers no matter what their pedigree. From the first blow of the whistle it was evident that Ability wanted to win not just the game but every 50/50 contest as well. GEOS, lying second on the table obviously felt like winners way before the said whistle and played their pretty tippee-toe style with ultimate aplomb, dribbling their way into tackle after tackle and losing the ball just about every time. 'Thankyou very much' said Ablity, who gratefully took the ball at every opportunity and played it straight and simple in neat triangles making a complete mockery of the 'stars' of GEOS. The constellation crashed to 5-0 before Ability took pity by swapping a few players around for a bit of fun in the last 15. This allowed GEOS to save some face by scoring a couple of consolation goals and finish the match at a respectable 5-2. Ability had all the hunger and the 3 points; GEOS, nothing but problems to solve.
Those were the games that were, and afterwards we all headed up the hill to the Circa Bar for a few beers to loosen the tongues in the mid-season chinwag. Some awards were on offer:
Most Improved Team - Ability (salt in the wound here too for GEOS, who lost their best attack record to GCA thanks to their loss to Ability).
Wooden Spoon - (you guessed it) LETS. Daniel graciously accepting it, full in the knowledge that LETS will win every game in the second leg and stir the comp into a whirlpool with it. Yep??
Mid-Season Frontrunner - (also easily guessed) GCA. Two games in front at the halfway mark with best attack and best defence. Unstoppable, except by the resurgent LETS eh?
So that was the night, afternoon and semi season. Good so far? I reckon. The weather always looms as a factor but there are signs that a lengthy dry spell is on the cards for a while. We'll see.
That's all from me to you with bells on. Seeya.
Cheers,
Bill