The Cruncher Weekend

Mon, 18 Jan 2010

With the bad weather, several key men’s games had been postponed and so it was a weekend of two huge games for the first string side. Bottom line was - win both games and the league is won.

First game up was Bacchas A who beat the Valkyrs A team on the last outing 4-2 and looked the better side on that day. We were missing a few players that weekend and so it was for this weekend also, with Greg Miller and Mark Moyer notable absentees.

It was a tough game all round but was evident that both sides wanted the win. Perhaps Valkyrs even more so and it told. Valkyrs looked the more likely to score and stalwart defending by the makeshift back two of Craig Morris and Julian Colley gave Will Margot and the boys a confident base to move on from. Gareth Morris in midfield had a notable game and had the better of the midfield battle against Gareth Craig on the Bacchas side and confidence through the team began to flow. Second half saw Bacchas push more and Will Margot made two stunning saves to break the hearts of the Bacchas boys. Up front there was good work by Ollie Webster and Neill Jacobs with great support from Chris Caldwell and Valkyrs scored two goals. A few minor handbag moments from Caldwell and Cherry saw Valkyrs reduced to 10 men for two spells of the match but the pressure was soaked up and the score remained 2-0 by full time. Step one was complete.

Sunday - Vikings A. This was the big match. Win this and the league was ours. At warm-up it was obvious that the three week layoff and a hard match the day before had taken its toll with some very tired and stiff fellows. Vikings had played the previous day also but against a much weaker side so would be fresher. It was going to be a tough match. Greg Miller had returned though to add some guns to the match although the defense was still shy with no Mark Moyer. Colley filling in again!

The match can be summed up quickly in that no side looked like breaking the deadlock. Both were pretty evenly matched with the best chance going to Valkyrs but the Vikings keeper pulling off a stunning save with his helmet. It was all square into mid second half when a short corner was deftly put away by Viking’s Conor Byrne. This was disheartening for the boys but not a single head dropped. Five minutes later we answered back with a well passed move ending with Neill Jacobs lifting the ball over the flailing Vikings keeper. The match ended all square at 1-1. It was a good performance by the A team and the effort put in by all was tremendous. It is all in our hands now to go and get a result at Castletown next week and boost the goal difference. If Vikings lose or draw the Premiership should be Valkyrs. If they win it’s down to goal difference. It’s all in our hands to take the trophy. Well done to all involved. Proud of you all. But get that Colley lad out of defence!  Report by Jules Colley