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2007 |
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24.09.07 DIVISION 1/2 CUP FINAL RESULT 09.09.07 – O’Carrolls 3 - 0 Chinese Star
Sports
It
was that horrible time of the year again, when the footy season comes
to a close - but what a way to close it! Having bagged the 2nd division
title unbeaten, we now had a chance to end the season unbeaten by taking the
Premier/2nd Division Cup from the Premier division favourites Chinese
Star. Whilst we all expected to wake up to a typical warm, sunny, pacific
spring day, the gods gave us a day more akin to a January afternoon in Hackney
Marshes i.e. cold, wet and windy.
Fortunately we were playing on the main pitch, which had good views from the
bar and kept the extremities of our supporters dry. The Chinese came
well prepared with a marquee and chairs, which kept their fans and the film
crew nice and cosy. The Gaffer had named the team during the week so the boys
had a few days to mentally prepare for the challenge ahead. Matt was in
goal, Biddy leftback, Paddy rightback, Tancey and Hirdy in central defence.
Gussy and Dan B were in charge in the middle of midfield with James on the
right wing and Gibbo on the left. The boys to entertain upfront were Wannabe
Dye and Tommy Tow Truck. It was a strong team backed up by Jobba (whose
disappointment at being on the bench was forgotten when he was named Nelly Of
The Year), Walshy and Olly waiting in the wings.
The Star had been warming up for a good hour when the Gaffer decided we should
leave the bar and get changed. Because the weather was so crap the planned warm
up was changed to a fifteen-minute session. The focus was to win which would
make the following week's trip to Fiji all the sweeter. The mood
was excellent and it was obvious, no matter the outcome, that the
boys were ready to fight tooth and nail for each other. We knew that the Star
liked to play a fast game and had a few individuals who liked to run with the
ball. The plan was to limit their space and to hit them hard from the flanks
when we had possession.
The game started at a decent pace with the Star keeping the majority
of possession (one oddity of note was the substitution of their goalkeeper
after two minutes… a decision they might later rue). They were well
organised and supported each other well on the ball, all of which
meant that OC's were penned back in their own half. When the ball was
cleared if usually fell to a Star player. This was the format for the first
fifteen minutes but apart from a few blasts over the top, Matt was rarely
troubled for all their possession. Biddy, Tancey, Hirdy, and Paddy got stronger
and stronger and seemed to be enjoying the challenge with some good
old English slide tackling. OC's were coming more into the game and knew
possession was key. Stu was dropping back to help maintain that possession
and with the pace of James and Gibbo, Bradders tackling and Gussy's
guile, a few cracks started appearing on the
flanks together with a couple of balls played over the top for Stu and Tow-Truck.
On twenty six minutes the ball was played wide to James who played such a
delightful, accurate ball that it hit Stu on the head dropped and bounced
off his foot into the net to make it 1-0 to the underdogs. Stu's version of the
goal was, that in one move, he controlled the ball with his head then swivelled
with his right foot to bury it past the despairing keeper into the bottom left
hand corner. You may believe either version, but remember Stuart is a
journalist. The goal appeared to relax the OC's boys but brought an edgy side
to the Stars play. With no further clear-cut chances the half came to
an end with OC's in the ascendancy.
The second half started as the first finished. OC's were now the superior
team possession wise and the Star's tackles were more adventurous, let's
say. There were a lot of stoppages and free kicks and it was from one of these
free kicks that the Star were punished eighteen minutes into the half.
With Gussy lining up the free kick and the Star building a slow wall, Gibbo
gave the skipper the nod to take a quick one. Gussy asked the ref who had
no problem, and before the Star new it Gussy had flighted a delightful free
kick into the top corner to put the OC's 2 up.
There was a lot of moaning and groaning but the Star would have been better off
playing the football they did in the first fifteen minutes than having a
go at the ref. A few minutes later and Tow-Truck challenged the Star keeper in
a 50-50. The keeper fell on his wrist and was unlucky to have to leave the
field in some pain. With the sub keeper already deployed the Star had to
put an outfield player in goal. This seemed to unsettle the Star and the game
fell into a stop start affair with a couple of bookings eventually ending
in a sending off for a Star lad. That was it as a contest. The gaffer
brought on Olly for Tow Truck who had run himself into the ground again.
Walshy came on for Dan B who had battled like a Trojan in midfield. Walshy was
making his last ever appearance in an OC's shirt (a wonderful man that will be
missed by one and all).
The gaffer’s substitution
almost paid immediate dividends when Olly's diving header in the box was
superbly saved by the stand in keeper. With 4 minutes left in the game the
same keepers tendency to play in the centre half position led to a perfect
climax to a well-earned victory. Chinese star were looking to pump balls long
for their forwards to run onto. One such ball came straight to Tancey and from
fully ten yards inside his own half he sent the ball from where it came. The
boy certainly got hold of it, as it flew over the stranded keepers head,
straight into the goal hitting the base bar and flying straight out.
Whilst those of us on the line knew it had gone in, the ref, and even
Tancey himself, weren't too sure. Luckily an alert linesman confirmed to the
ref the extraordinary trajectory of the missile. Game over 3-0. The final
whistle blew and in the rain and the mud O'Carrolls had made a little
piece of history in being the first 2nd division team to win the Prem Cup in
such a long time that the committee could not remember the last team to do it.
The celebrations started with the presentation of the League and Cup double and
continued on to OC's where the cup was filled with a multitude of alcoholic
delights. A big plus was when the City Fringe double winning boys joined in the
party till the early hours. Top guys and thanks for making it a top night. The
last stragglers were seen leaving the Fiddlers at 5.30am Monday.
But that wasn't the end... oh no. The end of season trip to Beachcombers in
Fiji was the following week. It was a great way to celebrate the season in
style. A fantastic holiday was had by all, the evidence of which is now
appearing on Facebook and You Tube. Well done lads for a brilliant season...
can't wait for the next one and another Fiji holiday feeling.
A big thanks to Craig and Tracey at OC's for your sponsorship over the
year. A huge thanks to all the staff at OC's for your support and
understanding of the need to drink copious amounts of alcohol by club
members. So huge thanks... Jobba, Craig, best barmaid Edel, Kim, Simon, Shelley
and Gavin… much appreciated.
Richie O’Neill
13.09.07 A few words from the gaffer…
Thanks
to everyone that followed us all season, your support has been appreciated by
everyone!!! To the lads - another fantastic season - EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU
HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC. Unbeaten in 42 league games and this year the FIRST time
(that the ASFA can remember) that a 2nd Division side has one the 1st/2nd
division cup... My goal for next season is to win the premiership and remain
UNBEATEN... Big thanks to Tom O’Sullivan for keeping the website updated and
also to Dave Walsh who is hanging his boots up... Both you guys will be missed
immensely. Lets enjoy our well-earned holiday in FIJI. COME ON
OCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim
Eddison
10.09.07 ASFA Division 1/2 Cup Winners 2007
Well done boys – brilliant! What another terrific season,
securing promotion (undefeated) to the Prems next season and proving to all the
doubters that OC’s can cut it with the ‘big boys’! I’m sad I couldn’t be there
to join in the celebrations and sorry I missed a few of your messages/calls
(I’d gone down the fields with Kerri and made her pretend we were playing in a
cup final. I lost!). Seriously, it was nice to know you boys were thinking of
me on the big day. The club has just gone from strength to strength over the
past few seasons, and no doubt that will continue next year. Look forward to
the match report and hearing all about Tancell’s goal! All the best, come on
OC’s!
The Editor
07.09.07 6-A-SIDE RESULT 06.09.07 – O’Carrolls 3 – 3 Skillz That Killz
Well... the big
question was… could we be any worse than the last two weeks? The answer? No
worries. The boys to entertain tonight were Richie, Dave Waterford, Gustav,
Tancey, Hirdy, (or Mercedes as he is now known... ask Tancey), and Mr Christmas
himself.
The Skillz boys
kicked off and were up for it. OC's managed to win balls back and kept good
possession for the first 4 minutes, but too often shots were direct at the
keeper or wide of the mark. Even a clear pen (to all but the ref) was denied.
Then the big sleep... within 2 minutes we allowed a Skillz lad waltz into a
position where he could pick his spot (which he did) to make it 1-0 Skillz.
Like all good teams we learnt nowt from our errors and allowed the Skillz lad
to repeat his previous waltz to make it 2-0 Skillz. We were giving as good as
we got as far as chances but we couldn't find the net (...could we Nev?). So
with a minute left we gave the ball away just outside the area. The lad flicked
the ball to his right foot and smacked it home to make it 3-0 to the Skillz at
half time.
The OC's kicked
off the second half and although the first couple of minutes were a tad
erratic, the boys soon took a grip of the game. Again there were a couple of
good saves and posts hit before Mercedes placed a delightful ball in the left
hand corner to get OC's back in it. Richie had a couple of long distancers to
deal with but overall the boys were back in control. With 6 minutes left Gussy
got the ball on the right and smacked a decent ball into the left hand corner
from an acute angle. Skillz started to play deeper, relying on breaks from the
back, but at last we were blocking their way through. With four minutes left,
and good pressure from Gus, a Skillz lad entered the box... penalty. Up stepped
Mercedes to plant it home and make it 3-3. A few more chances were had by both
teams, but a draw was the end result.
Again... a dismal
performance, but a good mental fight back.
Richie O’Neill
04.09.07 LEAGUE RESULT 02.09.07 – Roving Stars 0 - 6 O’Carrolls
Post last weeks script - Tancey reminded me that I
omitted the MOTM from my report on the cup-semi last week. It was Tancey. I
also omitted Nelly Of The Week, but that was deliberate as I knew everyone
would know it was Jobba... again.
The last game of the 2006/2007 Season was upon us. With the league wrapped up a
few weeks back, the final hurdle was to finish the season unbeaten. This would
also be our third season un-defeated in all league games (42 for the record)
should we avoid defeat. The Gaffer had let the players know that they were all
playing for their cup-final places, so nothing short of a win and a hard working
performance was the order of the day. The lads who delivered were Matt in goal,
centre-backs were Tancey and Walshy (captain for the day, on this his last
league game for the OCFC and another legend who has been a large presence since
the club formed) [Editors note: How come I wasn’t
made captain on my last game???], fullbacks were Paddy and Biddycoms, centre
midfield were Gussy and kickboxing Dan, on the flanks were Gibbo and James, up
front were little and large AKA Tow Truck and Ollie. On the bench were Tim,
Hirdy and Nelly.
From the first
blow of Bernie's whistle, Little and Large were stuck in with James giving a
dig out on the left. The ball was played in by James, with a Star defender
clearing to the edge of the area and Gussy was on hand to control the ball,
look up and place a peach of a ball in the top left hand corner. Bernie held up
the re-start to inform us that the goal was scored after 30 seconds. 0-1 OC's.
And so the standard for the rest of the game was set, and the boys didn't let
up. The Stars were given no time on the ball with most of their movement broken
down by good marking and tackling before they even got sight of Matt's goal. On
5 mins another challenge by Dan B saw the ball played forward and when it
reached Ollie he coolly followed Gussy's strike with a similar effort to make
it 0-2.
The Stars heads
had dropped a little already but they kept trying to play football. Eighteen
minutes in and Gussy played the ball to Gibbo and before anyone had time to
blink he had lashed the ball to the back of the net... the Brummie was back.
0-3 OC's. At times the football was sublime and it was one-way traffic for the
remainder of the half. With thirty on the clock Tomo, who was unlucky not to
score earlier with a brave one on one with the keeper, got himself the goal he
deserved with a good finish. 0-4. The diminutive striker then became provider
when he brought the ball to the side line to cross and leave a simple tap-in
for James. The half ended 0-5 to OC's.
It was one of the
best team performances of the season so although it would be hard to follow the
Gaffer asked for more of the same please. The pace didn't let up with Gibbo
making some excellent runs, resulting with a couple of excellent crosses but
unfortunately no end result. The movement and link up play was first class and
any chances Roving Stars had were dealt with admirably by the boys at the back
whilst Matt was still waiting to be tested. The Gaffer made some changes, Hirdy
came on for Captain Dave and Jobba came on for Dan B who had chased everything
down in midfield. The biggest cheer down Riversdale was when the Gaffer came on
for Tow Truck and graced the pitch for the last 25 mins. He was straight into
the action having been nominated to take a free kick 22 yards out left of goal.
Would he score? The advantage was we would be 6-0 up ... the disadvantage was
that we would have to replay it on the beach in Fiji. As it happened he hit it
well... over the wall but too close to the keeper who held on at the second attempt.
OC's maintained the pressure with some good efforts. Eventually Ollie, who
played well for the full 90 mins, found some space. The ball came to James who
smacked it home to make it 0-6 and the end of the scoring. The only other
efforts of note were a diving header from the gaffer that appeared to be
sneaking in at the near post only for the keeper to get over and smother it in
time. The other effort was the last kick of the game. A corner was floated to
the back post where Tancey was lurking. He rose like a salmon and caught the
ball and threw it in the net. Even Bernie was going to disallow that one.
Thanks to the
Roving Stars boys who played till the final whistle; best of luck next season.
A fantastic performance from the OC boys and although Gibbo got a deserved MOTM
it was hard to single out any one player as it was a true team performance.
Let's keep that mentality for the Cup Final. A big thanks to all our fab
supporters over the season, Tenille, Anna, Shelly, Fi-Fi, Lyndsey, Kerri,
Verity and Andre, especially on those wet winter days...
Ollie won Nelly
Of The Week for numerous reasons, all of which were relayed to him by text as
he didn't turn up to celebrate with his team mates.
Richie
O’Neill
04.09.07 6-A-SIDE RESULT 30.08.07 – O’Carrolls 2 – 2 Hamstrung United
After last weeks dismal efforts we were hoping to get back to
the flowing footy that we all knew and loved. A big welcome back to Nev, lining
out for his first game after his world tour. We thought it wise to have 7 this
week in case Nev hurt his toe or something serious like that. So the Scouser
was joined by James, Tancey, Gussy, Ban B, Hirdy and Richie. We started off as
badly as last week and weren't long in conceding. The ball was played off the
back wall and arrived at the unmarked Hamstrungian who put the ball between
Richies legs for 1-0. The rest of the game is now a blur thank God. So suffice
to say James equalised straight from the kick off, to make it 1-1 at half time.
Hamstrung scored first to make it 2-1 and James equalised to make it 2-2 at the
final whistle. Bad… but slightly better than last week.
Richie O’Neill