27.10.06           6-A-SIDE RESULT 26.10.06 – O’Carrolls 11 - 0 The Remomorables

 

Word of last weeks 10-0 romp over the FAcups had clearly made its way to this weeks opponents, The Remomorables. At 0-0 one of their lads remarked to me “I suppose this will be a cricket score!?”. Ever polite I replied “I don’t know about that.”  - I should have just said “Yes, yes it will be!” We’ve now bettered our biggest ever winning margin (last week) by one goal.

 

Dave Walsh returned from his 6-A-Side sojourn to smack four past the unfortunate Remomorables keeper. Neville & Gus put their differences aside after Tuesdays clash to net four between them, three coming from the boot of the Scouser. Marc got himself on the scoresheet again while Tancell (along with Neville) maintained his record of scoring in every game thus far, two last night for the Manchester man, his last coming in the dying seconds to keep the race for top scorer alive. It’s now six each for Paul & Nev, with Gus & Dave close behind on four each. Tom remains the only outfield member of the team not to score this round, but is that really a surprise. Richie reckons he’d put one away if he were given the chance, so next week against Shaolin could be the opportunity he wants, depending on how the scoreline looks at half-time.

The Editor

 

        24.10.06           Tauranga City AFC Mens Labour Weekend Tournament 21st & 22nd October

 

Another weekend and another tournament for the lads of OC’s. This time we headed to Tauranga for the Annual Tauranga City AFC Mens Labour Weekend Tournament, where we were joined by ASFA allies and the biggest p*ssheads in Sunday League football – Sociables (and their blow-up lady friend). A few foggy heads turned out on Saturday at 10.30 for the first day of football – here’s how it panned out:

 

Day 1

 

O’Carrolls 1 – 0 Relics

Gibbo

Can’t remember a whole lot about this game, but nor can anybody else probably. A good start, considering. Would the good form continue?

 

O’Carrolls 0 – 1 Sheep Shaggers

No, it wouldn’t. Second game, first defeat. A disjointed performance that left everybody a little frustrated.

 

O’Carrolls 2 – 1 Japandal United

James

Tancy

This was a better performance, despite going down 1-0 after Woody had conceded a penalty for handball. Japandal were fortunate to get it if you ask me. This spurred on OC’s and a comeback was on the cards. New lad James leveled after some great work from Gibbo and Tancell repeated his feat of 2005 against Lane Xang with a late header to seal the victory. Great comeback and an encouraging performance - what would we do next?

 

O’Carrolls 1 – 3 TKU Elk Hider

Joey

Lose – that’s what we’d do! An awful performance, losing a 1-0 lead and going down like a Chelsea keeper. Poor marking from a corner led to their second and Chris capped a dismal display by all with his first goal for OC’s by turning the ball past Matt into his own goal. Heads had well & truly dropped!

 

O’Carrolls 0 – 0 Ayresome Rovers

Tom2 & Hirdy lined up against fellow Bay Olympic representatives for the last game of the day and it turned into a bit of a grudge match (well, for Tom1 anyway). A vicious late challenge from Rovers slaphead midfielder ignited a few tempers (OK, one temper) and plenty of tough tackling followed as a 0-0 draw was battled out. A much better performance from OC’s that set up a tie for the final Cup place.

 

The organizers recorded a bogus 1-1 score line for the other group game, a result which would have sent us into the Plate competition. Having watched the game, we knew the score was 2-0, so after Tim argued the case, we were granted a penalty shootout against Japandal for the final Cup place… first thing on Sunday morning!

 

Day 2

 

Penalty Shootout! v Japandal United

 

OC’s                      Japandal

Gus    P    P

Ash    P    P

Hirdy  O    P

Tancy P    P

Tom2  O

 

A good start from Gus & Ash before Hirdy struck the upright (but at least he hit the post). Tancy restored hope for the final crucial penalty, but Tom2 sent it high and wide and all the way back to Auckland. Richie got his hands to three of the four Japandal pens but couldn’t keep them out and their fifth wasn’t necessary. Into the Plate! Three groups of three teams, top of each group after two games goes into the final group of three; winner of that group takes the plate.

 

O’Carrolls 2 – 0 Papakura Crossbars

Tom2

Ash

Back to winning ways, a terrific finish from Ash sealed the victory after Tom2 had put us ahead. Better football from everybody, could we build on it?

 

O’Carrolls 2 – 0 Team Awesome

Tom2

Gibbo

A comfortable win to see us through to the final group where a match against Ayresome Rovers awaited us. We were determined to beat the Bay boys, something we felt should have happened on Saturday.

 

O’Carrolls 2 – 1 Ayresome Rovers

Gus

Tancy

No sign of slaphead as the two teams lined up in the grudge match of the weekend. Gus put us ahead early on after some good play from the midfield following a quick throw in. OC’s looked comfortable and repelled Rovers long balls all game. Alas, poor marking from a corner 5 minutes from time gifted the Bay boys an equalizer. Gutted! Cue Paul Tancell, now getting a knack of scoring crucial goals at crucial times. A scrappy clearance from a late corner fell beautifully to the Manc and he made no mistake blasting the half volley into the top corner. Unstoppable! Rovers were devastated and there wasn’t even time for a kick off. One more victory to guarantee the Plate.

 

O’Carrolls 4 – 0 Floppy Noodles

Tom2 (2)

Ash

OG

With the ever vocal Sociables cheering us on, the final game against the claret & blue Noodles was a formality. Two goals from Tom2, one from Ash and an OG secured the win and Noodles & Rovers were resigned to playing out a meaningless final game. Tom2 finished the tournament OC’s top scorer with 4 goals, could’ve been more if he hadn’t found the post so many times.

 

Terrific football on Day 2 to take the Plate; had we managed to play half as well on Day 1 we might have went all the way. Apparently Tim has nicked the Cup we were supposed to leave behind, while we added another piece of silverware to the O’Carrolls trophy shelf. Great weekend, made even more fun by the antics of the Sociables lads. Looking forward to next year.

The Editor

 

        20.10.06           6-A-SIDE RESULT 19.10.06 – O’Carrolls 10 - 0 FAcups

 

OC’s notched up our biggest winning margin last night at Grey’s Ave with a dynamic 10-0 victory over newcomers Facups. Our previous best (a 9-1 victory over Headless Chooks back in August 2005) was eclipsed as we struck double figures for the first time. Three of the scorers from that 2005 victory were on the score sheet again last night.

 

The football was breathtaking at times; fluid passing, clever one-twos and magnificent finishing. Richie called it ‘a pleasure to watch’. Incidentally, Gus described watching Nev Pablo Angel miss another penalty with exactly the same words. With five goals either half for OC’s, Facups were resigned to merely one notable effort on goal; a blistering strike that struck Richie McNeills upright, only for the rebound to be cleaned up by the defence. A hat-trick apiece for Gils Weston & Tancell, a brace for Scouser No.1, and a goal each for Scouser No.2 & Scouser No.3 – that’s Neville, Stu & Marc respectively. About the only time Richie touched the ball was when we passed it back to him.

 

I’d strongly expect us to top this group on the form displayed last night. We’ll be back mincing it with Hamstrung & Inter before you can say “Neville missed another penalty”, or “How did you miss that Marc?”, or “That was well after the buzzer Tancell”, or even “Was that another goal you set up for Nev, Stu?” (Check out this page for the story behind that last one)

The Editor

 

        13.10.06           6-A-SIDE RESULT 12.10.06 – O’Carrolls 2 –2 Genhack

 

A disappointing, but promising, return to 6-A-Side last night as OC’s twice surrendered the lead to share the spoils with a battling Genhack. It was a slow start as we tried to get back into the swing of things at Grey’s Ave, but for all of Genhacks early possesion, it was OC’s who took the lead through Paul Tancell. From then on OC’s settled down and the passing was starting to come. A glut of chances came our way but the Genhack keeper seemed to be getting in the way of everything. Was it to be their night? We maintained the 1-0 lead going into the half, thanks to a great stop from Richie McNeill just before the break after the opposition player found himself one-on-one with the Irishman.

 

Second half and OC’s began to lose our shape a bit. We were finding ourselves caught out on our substitutions; a few of us picking up the same men at times. Genhack got themselves level after OC’s failed to clear a ball on the edge of the area; it was squared to one their lads who made no mistake from just outside the D. 1-1. It wasn’t long before OC’s took the lead again though, a Neviller effort deflected past the Genhack keeper. Similar to his namesake on Wednesday, nobody expected that one to end up in the back of the net either.  2-1. OC’s were creating plenty of chances, but they just wouldn’t go in – we struck the woodwork at least 6 times! Needless to say Genhack levelled again after the ball was given away in the middle. 2-2. OC’s pressed for the winner but it wasn’t meant to be. Genhack will be happy with the point – was luck not on their side they would have lost heavily last night. Next week, the Facups at the late late time of 9.55pm.

The Editor