Notes
The first player is the "home" player, the second player was the "away" player and had to use the small Subbuteo or Zeugo style goalkeeper.
Fri Mar 27, 09: Munir Merchant 0 v Simon Hutchinson 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
None.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Munir: There was not a save [by either goalkeeper] in the game. Simon definitely had the better of the play. A lot of midfield play and turn-overs in crucial positions. That was about it.
Simon: Another draw. I agree I had the majority of the offense. I had a few shots and only one that was a good shot that struck Munir's [goal] post and went out.
Fri Mar 27, 09: Wayne Smith 7 v Dominic Hutchinson 0 (HT 4-0)
Goals
First half
1-0 6:40 Wayne
2-0 7:24 Wayne
3-0 10:37 Wayne
4-0 13:45 Wayne.
Second half
5-0 1:55 Wayne
6-0 3:15 Wayne
7-0 9:21 Wayne.
Pitch : Mawra pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Dominic: Everything that could go wrong went wrong. I got four shots on goal and all missed, within a couple of millimeters. I almost scored a couple [goals] on myself.
I am not satisfied with the result.
Wayne: I think that was the luckiest game I have ever played.
My second goal came from a throw-in on the right side in my [shooting] zone. I took the throw-in and the ball stopped inch from one of my figures, in line with the goal. I shot it into the far side netting.
My goalkeeper made four saves all in the first half.
I could use luck like that more often.
Fri Mar 27, 09: Simon Hutchinson 1 v Munir Merchant 0 (HT 1-0)
Goals
First half
1-0 10:23 Simon.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Munir: It was a pretty frustrating game, not very eventful. One shot and that was the difference. I thought it was a pretty defensive game, more than the first game.
Simon: I kicked off the first half and played with four or five [figures] upfront until I scored my goal. From then on I switched to a more defensive formation to preserve the one goal lead.
Fri Mar 27, 09: League Cup semi final first leg
Kevin Nieman 2 v Wayne Smith 3 (HT 1-1)
Goals
First half
0-1 0:29 Wayne
1-1 14:55 Kevin.
Second half
1-2 0:39 Wayne
2-2 6:24 Kevin
2-3 14:04 Wayne.
Pitch : Mawra pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Kevin: With Wayne you have to take your play and analyze it because more often than not you are going to lose.
In this case eventhough it was a loss for me I thought I played very well and gave Wayne a challenge. Which is all I want. I don't want to be a push over.
Wayne: When I scored after 30 seconds I though this was going to be a walk over. Immediately Kevin got four shots at my goal, three of which I have to save, and then followed a fifth shot that I blocked with my goalkeeper out of the area ["six yard" box]. There was only none seconds left in the half, but I felt that 20 seconds should be added for the set up of the free kick [indirect free kick from the penalty spot]. Despite my very effective defensive flick Kevin managed to deflect [the ball] off my defender, over my goalkeeper, and into the goal. Earlier I had to make three saves with my skinny goalkeeper or I could have been run out of the park early.
The only real turning point, if you can call it that, was with two minutes left I scored a goal from a ten inch flick from a fairly angle, chipped into the upper near corner by my figure that has an ankle injury.
Kevin: I label that shot as WOW, Worthy of Wayne.
Wayne: Both of us spent a lot of time laughing.
Fri Mar 27, 09: Simon Hutchinson 1 v Kevin Nieman 3 (HT 0-1)
Goals
First half
0-1 14:10 Kevin.
Second half
1-1 0:20 Simon
1-2 3:04 Kevin
1-3 10:32 Kevin.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Kevin: I am shocked at how well I was playing. I was also impressed at the level of play of Simon. This was one of the most intense matches I have had, ever. It is not an overstatement.
I really had to be on my defensive game considering Simon pushed so much forward. I feel lucky Simon did not score more.
Simon: Bitterly disappointed to have had so much possession, but so few shots on goal.
Fri Apr 4, 09: Steve Tucker 3 v Simon Hutchinson 0 (HT 3-0)
Goals
First half
1-0 7:08 Steve
2-0 9:06 Steve
3-0 11:53 Steve.
Pitch : Highbury, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Steve: After a long lay off my objective was to come out fast and furious. And I felt for the first twelve minutes I completely had Simon pinned in this half and scored three goals.
For the rest of the game I basically took my foot off the pedal and luckily I defended well as Simon had most of the possession.
Simon: All I can say is I was poor.
Fri Apr 4, 09: Munir Merchant 0 v Jason Mitchell 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
None.
Pitch : White pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Jason: I should have won this game.
Munir: I had opportunities in the shooting zone, but my last flick would leave me short of the figure. Maybe by an inch or so.
He stranded his goalkeeper but blocked me with one nice flick with a defensive figure to stop me from shooting.
Fri Apr 4, 09: Steve Tucker 3 v Dominic Hutchinson 0 (HT 2-0)
Goals
First half
1-0 1:52 Steve
2-0 3:00 Steve.
Second half
3-0 10:00 Steve.
Pitch : Highbury, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Dominic: I felt that I played decent. My defense was better than normal, but my offense was lacking.
Steve: I felt that my team came out at home fast and furious to score two goals. As the game wore on Dominic's excellent defensive flicks started to make it very hard. At which point the game evened out, but I got a goal at the end.
I am very happy to have my four clean sheets in a row.
Fri Apr 4, 09: Munir Merchant 0 v Steve Tucker 1 (HT 0-0)
Goals
Second half
0-1 12:31 Steve, penalty
Pitch : Highbury, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Munir: It was a very even game I thought. It was an up and down, not many chances, and open.
The build up to the goal was a defensive flick, free kick following the defensive flick, and then a penalty.
Steve: Munir summed it up well. Primarily a midfield battle. Munir's defense stopped my flow. I felt I set up a few good chances that he blocked. He had a couple of shots himself. It was going to be a "bang-bang" goal or a penalty.
End of the day I am happy with my fifth win and clean sheet.
Wed Apr 8, 09: Steve Tucker 2 v Wayne Smith 2 (HT 2-2)
Goals
First half
0-1 2:59 Wayne
0-2 6:08 Wayne
1-2 9:13 Steve
2-2 13:04 Steve
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Steve: Sloppy, but there were goals. I was surprised but happy to come back for a point.
Wayne: Fun game. I thought - wrongly- that once I was up by two goals in about six minutes I was invincible. After I took the 2-0 lead it was all Steve. My missing about four or five 12-18" flicks didn't help my cause, but Steve really picked up after that. I felt like I was hanging on for the tie at the end. The small keeper was no help.
Wed Apr 8, 09: Wayne Smith 4 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 3-0)
Goals
First half
1-0 6:28 Wayne
2-0 11:07 Wayne
3-0 11:58 Wayne.
Second half
4-0 11:30 Wayne
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Steve: My flicking wasn't a whole lot better [that last game] for either of us. It seemed like with that [small] keeper every time Wayne was going to shoot he was going to get a goal. I had three decent chances but didn't make much of any of them.
Wayne: It's much easier to shoot when you know that the keeper probably won't make the save. My last goal hit the keeper in the side of the knee, but the ball just pushed the keeper aside and the ball continued into the goal. That's why it's a home field advantage.