| v. The Fowlers, 3-5 Sunday 22 April, the London Marathon - a day for grit, determination and strong hearts. As the last of the weary runners made their painful way along London's embankment, all three of these characteristics were in evidence as the Leopard's kicked off against The Folwers. The sun was low and the temperature cooling in Battersea, as Captain Inglis gathered his troops in preparation for the forthcoming battle. Despite the presence of a full team plus substitute, one could not be blamed for brief recollections of the last time these two teams met. The Leopards on this occasion were reduced to 10 men for almost the entire game following a series of catastrophic injuries to 3 key players (including a nasty head injury that surely required hospital treatment that was never sought on the advice of the doctor in our ranks, claiming that a trip to A&E would be "a waste of time"). The pre-match talk was therefore of revenge. Temperatures on the pitch were soon raised, and the style and finesse of the Leopard's football lit up the park, as they tore into the opposition with speed and skill. From the moment the referee signalled the start of the game, the Leopard's dominated possession, using the width of the pitch to carve out some superb openings, and playing what has to be some of the best football of the season. Marauding runs down either flank by Sheath and Will, ensured that the Fowlers were on the defensive, as Ricky B and Sam bossed the midfield with authority. As time progressed, families that had been enjoying a day in the park, started to congregate around the pitch, surprised and enthralled to witness the level to which the game was being played by the boys in the leopard-print shirts. Soon, what must have been a league record attendance were enjoying a fine game, and talk was of when the Leopards would make their dominance count and take a well deserved lead. Questions continued to be asked of the Fowlers' defence, with their 2 big center backs apparently unable to cope with the surges of white and leopard-skin besieging the goal that they were desperately attempting to defend. One can only imagine the admiring comments of Messrs Tyler and Gray, had they chosen to bring the Sky cameras to Battersea, rather than watch the Anfield boys struggle against a weak Spurs team - a game that was dull and lifeless in comparison to the fantasy football dished up by the Leopards. It was therefore a surprise to everyone to see the Leopards staring a 3-nil deficit in the face after half an hour. But when a team are playing this well, never say never. Ethan continued his rich scoring form as he drilled a powerful shot low and hard past the dispairing keeper from the edge of the box, and there was never any doubt who was going to take the penalty awarded for a callous fowl on Will as he turned beautifully in the box and was advancing menacingly on goal. If truth be told, a penalty should have been awarded to the Leopards when there was no score on the board, as Mark Larkin was upended by a clumsy challenge under the nose of the referee. The referee adjudged Mark to have gone down far too easily and on this thinking, Mark was lucky to avoid a caution. The Leopards wayward accuracy from the spot this season was put to rights by the teams top scorer, as Ethan fired his attempt from 12 yards neatly into the corner of the net, sending the 'keeper the wrong way and bringing some parity to the score-line. The half finished with the Leopards trailing 3-2, but truly back in the game. A straight switch at half-time saw the tired legs of Hodgson (who had cycled for almost 60 minutes to get to the game after getting lost near Victoria) being replaced by Ben Crewe. The Leopards carried on where they had left off and were level within 5 minutes of the restart, despite kicking up hill and into the sun, from a smart finish by the young Will, tearing in from the rank flank that he had marshalled all game, to slot neatly. The game then developed into a stalemate as both sides struggled to make any clear chances, although the Leopards were clearly the better of the two teams. With the game still tied, Larkin made one of the robust challenges for which he has become famous taking man and ball in a single, committed strike. The ball ricocheted safely into the arms of Paddy in nets, who had thus far, been enjoying an incident free second half. As the defence turned to the half way line in preparation of Paddy's monster clearance, the referee momentarily lost his marbles, and made a decision that was to prove to change the game. He ruled a back pass and therefore an indirect free-kick 10 yards from the line. As every Leopard crammed into the goalmouth, there appeared no way through for the Fowlers. Unfortunately, there was a way through and the Fowlers found it, taking the lead completely against the run of play. As the Leopards chased the game in the dying moments, the Fowlers scored a lucky break away goal to finish the game 5-3 victors. As some of the Marathon's strugglers were still crawling over the finish line in front of the Palace, so the Leopards were left to reflect on another story of what might have beens. At least there was not one bleeding nipple amongst them.......... |