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 May 22, 09: Championship Group
Simon Hutchinson 2 v Kevin Nieman 0 (HT
1-0)
Goals
First half
4:43 1-0 Simon.
Second half
10:23 2-0 Simon.
Pitch : Drey, Maricopa, Simi Valley
Comments:
Kevin: I was laughed out of the stadium, and I am in the process of breaking every figure and replacing them with new recruits.
Seriously, I felt I was flicking well but my offensive chances were not of much quality. The fact that I went a goal down rather early was a liability. And I was trying too hard.
Simon: The first goal came from a shot from the right that went in by the far post of Kevin's goal. The second was a weak shot that went under the keeper, fooling Kevin.
The game was a lot closed than the score suggests. I came out offensively and pinned Kevin back. I felt I had the lion's share of the shots. I managed to either block or force Kevin wide when he got close to my shooting zone.
This result partly makes up for the disappointment of losing last week to Kevin [report here].
Tue May 26, 09: Championship Group
Wayne Smith 6 v Kevin Nieman 1 (HT 2-0)
Goals
First half
4:14 1-0 Wayne
5:16 2-0 Wayne.
Second half
0:27 3-0 Wayne
1:57 4-0 Wayne
3:16 4-1 Kevin
4:02 5-1 Wayne
9:48 6-1 Wayne.
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Wayne: For the first one and half minutes Kevin looked like he was going to hold onto the ball for the whole game. He made some terrific flicks. I managed to gain possession with some excellent defensive flicks. I scored fairly early to take the pressure off. After than I just could not miss the goal.
Kevin: In true Juventus [the team Kevin uses] fashion I gave him the win after our financial transaction to throw the match. My only disappointment was I did not give up the agreed ten goals.
Seriously, my intention was to hold the ball for the whole match, as Wayne described. Hard to do when Wayne makes it impossible to pass. I am very happy for the single goal I scored. This was one of those times where the score does reflect the level of play. My defense was Swiss cheese. Now I will go and practice.
Tue May 26, 09: League Cup final first leg
Simon Hutchinson 0 v Wayne Smith 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
None.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Wayne: Really tight defense on Simon's part. I only remember getting one shot on goal. I found it nearly impossible to get a shot. Fortunately he was not hot on offense or I could have found myself going to the home leg a goal down. I would venture to say that of 15 offensive flicks targeted at a ball 12 inches way I missed everyone. Normally I hit 70%.
Simon: Despite the score line both of us tried our hardest to get shooting opportunities. I did have a period of offense and hard several shots on goal, forcing Wayne to make two saves.
While I am wee bit disappointed I will not be taking a goal to the second leg, at least Wayne does not have an away goal. All to play for in the second leg.
Tue May 26, 09: Championship Group
Kevin Nieman 1 v Wayne Smith 4 (HT 0-3)
Goals
First half
3:05 0-1 Wayne
12:50 0-2 Wayne
14:23 0-3 Wayne.
Second half
0:38 1-3 Kevin
10:22 1-4 Wayne, scored on a stranded spare goalkeeper.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Wayne: Kevin just did not have the tight defense Simon did. I actually flicked figures a lot straighter than I did against Simon.
The pressure is on Steve [Tucker] to beat Kevin and Simon, it is all to play for.
Kevin: My only highlight was a goal. I mean I was playing poorly...
Wayne: I have seen Kevin at his best, and this was not it. Kevin at his best beat me and deserved it earlier on in the season [report here].
Kevin: Not what I expected and I am disappointed.
Fri May 29, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Munir Merchant 1 v Jason Mitchell 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
First half
13:10 1-0 Munir.
Pitch : Black pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Munir: A really kind of defensive game I would say. Lots of possession had by the offense, but not in an offensive manner.
Jason: A very even game. I had two chances I missed. The pitch was very, very slow and sticky. The players would not move. [The stickiness was caused by the humidity]
Fri May 29, 09: Championship Group
Simon Hutchinson 1 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
Second half
12:58 1-0 Simon
Pitch : White pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Simon: Steve was clearly off his game. While he could keep possession, he could not shoot to save his life. My goal was from a quick break. A long flick up the left-side, and a shot passed his small goalkeeper. This was the result I really needed to challenge Kevin [Nieman] for third place.
Steve: Once again, Simon's defense is the best in the league. He frustrates you to the point where you push more and more men forward, but still can't score. He then counter's with your defense thin and nicks a goal. I hit the upright, cross bar and shot wide more times than I can count. I had possession and shots in my favor. But at the end of the day, goals get you point's. Simon is becoming a force to be reckoned with, excellent defense and strategy.
Fri May 29, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Munir Merchant 2 v Dominic Hutchinson 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
First half
0:33 1-0 Munir.
Second half
3:30 2-0 Munir.
Pitch : Black pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Munir: It was an up and down game. Lots of long passes from one end to the other. Not a lot of build up. I had a couple of pretty good attacks that led to my goals.
Dominic: I felt I played horribly. I couldn't defend, I couldn't save, I couldn't shoot. The only redeeming thing was near the end. I was holding my goalkeeper right up against the post and I was distracted. Jason shouted "Save!", the ball had struck my goalkeeper and bounced up the field.
Munir: The shot was from a weird angle. I don't think he thought I could shoot it on target.
Fri May 29, 09: Championship Group
Steve Tucker 2 v Simon Hutchinson 1 (HT 1-0)
Goals
First half
4:28 1-0 Steve.
Second half
7:35 1-1 Simon
12:34 2-1 Steve.
Pitch : White pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Simon: Disappointed to have been beaten. I felt 1-1 would have been the fairest result. Now I need to Kevin [Nieman] to lose his last game if I am to stay in third.
Steve: Much of the same as the last game. I actually had less chances in this game than the first, but my shooting was on, more clinical when it counted and scored two, go figure? Still have possession and shots in my favor. But, defense again, Simon is mastering it and made life difficult. If I learn to defend better and he learns to attack better, these games could become even more interesting.
End of the day, two games, even points, and fair results.
Fri May 29, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Jason Mitchell 1 v Munir Merchant 0 (HT 0-0)
Goals
First half
3:41 1-0 Jason.
Pitch : Black pitch, San Jacinto, Simi Valley
Comments:
Jason: Another good even game. Munir won one, and I won one.
Munir: I was totally robbed. I hit the crossbar and hit the post a few times. There was not one shot he saved.
Fri Jun 5, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Dominic Hutchinson 0 v Munir Merchant 3 (HT 0-2)
Goals
First half
3:40 0-1 Munir
13:55 0-2 Munir.
Second half
2:05 0-3 Munir.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Munir: I just has more shots. Other than that it was fairly even.
Dominic: I felt I played decent.
Fri Jun 5, 09: Championship Group
Wayne Smith 3 v Steve Tucker 0 (HT 1-0)
Goals
First half
11:50 1-0 Wayne, stranded goalkeeper and scored into an undefended
goal.
Second half
4:05 2-0 Wayne
7:03 3-0 Wayne.
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Wayne: I was really nervous at first, because I definitely had to win the "home" leg. My offense was a bit sloppy, but my defensive flicks were really good. I started getting more and more pressure on myself as the first half wore on. When Steve stranded his goalkeeper [first goal] that was the break I needed. After that I felt I had the game in hand. I still have a big game against Steve on the road. I can't lose that one.
Steve: It was a difficult game. I think I had a few opportunities, and Wayne had more. The small goalkeeper did not help my cause. Thinking that Wayne would not get the long flick [that lead to the second goal] was not the wisest of moves. He had the balance of chances as usual.
Fri Jun 5, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Jason Mitchell 0 v Munir Merchant 0 (HT 0-0)
"Neutral" game, both players could use the goalkeeper of their choice.
Goals
None.
Pitch : Middle pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Jason: I had two good chances in the first half, in fact I dominated the first half. I didn't have a shot in the second half. In the last five minutes of the second half I was under attack. That game proves how even we are.
Munir: I pretty much concur. Jason did have the better play in the first half. It took me a bit to adjust to the pitch. While I did he had the better shots. The second half was the other way around as I had most of the possession. It was an even game. Id did play a bit more defensive as I would take the tie over the loss.
Fri Jun 5, 09: Championship Group
Steve Tucker 4 v Kevin Nieman 0 (HT 2-0)
Goals
First half
6:30 1-0 Steve
14:26 2-0 Steve.
Second half
1:38 3-0 Steve
3:49 4-0 Steve.
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Kevin: Nuts. [Echoing the 101st Airborne's Brigadier General McAuliffe's response when asked to surrender during the siege of Bastogne by the German General Luttwitz in 1944.]
Steve: Happy to get a result after the thrashing I took in my last game. Which means that the very last game of the season has some meaning [it will decide the league championship between Steve and Wayne].
Fri Jun 5, 09: Wooden Spoon Group
Munir Merchant 4 v Dominic Hutchinson 0 (HT
2-0)
"Neutral" game, both players could use the goalkeeper of their choice.
Goals
First half
7:56 1-0 Munir
14:06 2-0 Munir.
Second half
8:53 3-0 Munir
12:11 4-0 Munir.
Pitch : Fast pitch, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Dominic: I thought I played horribly. I couldn't shoot, and couldn't defend. Munir deserved the victory.
Munir: After being frustrated by Jason I took out my frustration on Dominic. There wasn't many shots, but I capitalized on what I had.
Fri Jun 5, 09: Championship Group
Steve Tucker 2 v Wayne Smith 2 (HT
2-1)
Goals
First half
7:33 1-0 Steve
9:46 2-0 Steve
14:23 2-1 Wayne.
Second half
3:06 2-2 Wayne, own goal.
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Steve: It was a good game. I had chances and that is all I can ask for is a chance to win. I had a good start [going two goals up]. On balance a very even game. Congratulations to Wayne [on winning the championship].
Wayne: What a game. Very difficult. Steve's confidence when shooting at a small keeper is much better than his confidence shooting on a big keeper. He really scored two nice goals, whereas when he was "on the road" he did not have the confidence to hit the ball right. I was lucky as anything to tie the game on an own goal. It wasn't that I was not putting pressure on him, that was the idea. That was an extremely lucky result to get that own goal.
Fri Jun 5, 09: League Cup final second leg
Wayne Smith 6 v Simon
Hutchinson 1 (HT 4-0) aggregate
6-1
Goals
First half
0:46 1-0 Wayne
1:43 2-0 Wayne
3:39 3-0 Wayne
5:16 4-0 Wayne.
Second half
6:24 5-0 Wayne
7:15 6-0 Wayne
8:05 6-1 Simon.
Pitch : Mawra, Porter Ranch
Comments:
Wayne: [No comments given]
Simon: I am very disappointed to have gone down to this big a defeat. My plan was to score early and then defend the lead. It all went horribly wrong. I lost possession a couple of flicks after the kick off, and Wayne charged down field to score. It was all so quick I did not have time to grab my keeper. I pressed forward in numbers from the restart, lost possession, Wayne repeated what he did for the first goal, and again I did not have hold of the keeper. From then on I only played with four in defense, and four upfront in a desperate attempt to get some goals back. On the wider Mawra pitch this gave Wayne ample opportunities to come down the wings, spread out my defense, and push through the gaps to score. I am not saying he did not deserve the win, as he did. It was an clinical display of how deadly he can be. I am very disappointed in my own play. Congratulations to Wayne on achieving the double [league champion and league cup winner].