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 Meanwood have been on a roll as of late and seem destined to hang onto third place. Unfortunately, things are never simple and one slip up could cost them a whole season. Standing in their way this week is Grampa's 8 my Hampster, a team that Meanwood has beat on the last two occasions and holds it highest victory record against. However, Grampa's 8 my Hampster have been on a revival this season and still have a chance of finishing third themselves…although there chances are hanging by a thread and a win for Meanwood would unlimitedly end this. Would Meanwood be cruel and finish off their foes or would they carelessly let Hampster escape? All will be revealed.
Meanwood started off with their regular five players (you know the drill- Fertug in net with Woody, Mckieth and Bissitt playing at the back and Gafa up front). Success is often based on continuity and Meanwood are starting to gel at the right time. Meanwood may have fielded the same players but there was something new about them- a new kit. Meanwood were lining up in their brand spanking new kit and looked the part for a change. Grampa's 8 my Hampster also fielded their usual crop of talent. A small gathering of fans had turned up to watch this match- including the JJB 7-a-side soccer team. They were eager to learn from watching Meanwood. The match started with Grampa's 8 my Hampster trying to tire Meanwood out early on. Grampa's 8 my Hampster immediately attacked from the off and made some clever runs that caused a small amount of danger. However, Grampa's 8 my Hampster could not find a way past a robust Meanwood defence who confidently (even arrogantly?) soaked up the pressure and immediately counter attacked through Gafa down the wings. Meanwood began to create some chances and soon had their first real chance when Gafa sent the ball inches wide after a superb through-ball from Richard Bissitt.  Richard Bissitt was causing Hampster problems as they found it hard to cope with his huge presence. Similarly, Hampster were struggling to deal with Mckieth as he tricked and flicked his way past their nervous defence. This almost proved dividends when he broke through the Hampster defence to go one on one with the keeper. Unfortunately, Grampa's 8 my Hampster's keeper luckily guessed which way Mckieth was planning to shoot and saved comfortably. Grampa's 8 my Hampster almost punished Meanwood for not taking their chances when there blond defender sent a deceiving shot goal bound. However, Ayden Fertug wasn't going to let that one past him and saved comfortably. Meanwood then opened up the scoring when Woody broke down the right hand side and powered a shot past Grampa's 8 my Hampster's despairing keeper. However, Meanwood's lead was short lived when some sloppy defending left a Grampa's 8 my Hampster striker free who placed the ball past Ayden Fertug leaving him no chance. Gafa was starting to look sharper and his pace was terrifying the Hampster defence and it was no surprise when he out ran a defender to break past the defence before slotting the ball home in the bottom left hand corner to put Meanwood back in the lead.  Meanwood were now looking more dangerous by the minute and Gafa sent some more shots flying that almost crept in. As did Bissitt who sent forced some great saves from Grampa's 8 my Hampster's keeper. Meanwood seemed to be taking it in turns to shoot and Woody eventually took his turn and sent his second deadly shot of the night into the back of the net. Meanwood's JJB fans had unfortunately left to play their 7-a-side match but if they were still around they'd have been chanting "easy, easy, easy". Meanwood were making the beautiful game look...well beautiful. Mckieth then had an opportunity to add to Meanwood's tally when Bissitt sent him one on one with the keeper for the second time in the match. However, it wasn't turning out to be Mckieth's half as the keeper pulled off a stunning save to deny him yet again. Part of the blame laid in the fact that Mckieth felt uncomfortable in the new kit. Meanwood deserved to be further ahead but something seemed to be preventing them from scoring. However, this wasn't to be the case for much longer when Gafa tackled a player in the corner of the pitch and proceeded to run rings round the Hampster defence before slipping it round the keeper on the edge of the box. Wonderful? Well no…Spawny? Well in a way. It was a goal none the less and it was a reward for some skilful dribbling and some stubborn determination. Meanwood were now leading 4-1 and the team in the fresher kit seemed to be the team with the fresher ideas. Meanwood kept possession for the remainder of the second half as they tried to gather some breathing space.
The second half started with Mckieth contemplating whether to change shirts. Could the new kit be cursed for Mckieth? All was revealed within the a minute of the second half when a determined Mckieth broke free into another one on one situation and hit the post…bad luck? Not exactly because it went in off the post and Mckieth had scored a cracker of a goal. Grampa's 8 my Hampster tried to force their way back into the match and sent some efforts toward Ayden Fertug.  Unfortunately for them, they were a bit too towards Ayden Fertug who didn't have to move to save them. However, Grampa's 8 my Hampster's defender did make Ayden move with a long distance shot that was heading towards the bottom corner. However, Ayden managed to get down low and pull off another stunning save. Bissitt was beginning to feel jealous of the other players' goals and wanted a piece of the action and he proceeded to capitalise after some slack defending and cannoned the ball in. Grampa's 8 my Hampster were beginning to get nervous and began to time waste…maybe they wanted to keep the score down? However, Bissitt was in no mood to keep the score down and he sent a trademark thunderbolt into the bottom corner of the net to add insult to injury. Grampa's 8 my Hampster were being outplayed by a team that was at least a good four or five years younger than them. Woody kept venturing forward in a bid to get a hattrick and he reached his target when he sent that another trademark shot goalbound that was hit with the outside of his foot. Meanwood were beginning to look like a team that had only lost one in the last seven matches…a team they were. Meanwood were beginning to get complacent as far too many defenders were going forward in order to seek more goals and they were punished when Grampa's 8 my Hampster counter attacked and grabbed a consolation goal. However, it was Meanwood who had the last word when Mckieth christened his new shirt with a goal after he wormed himself into another one on one situation and coolly slotted home to end the rout. As the final whistle went, Meanwood knew that they were still practically guaranteed to be in the third place…little did they know the shock that awaited them.
Man Of The Match- Anthony Mckieth After a frustrating first half where he couldn't score to save his life, Mckieth went out all guns blazing for the second half and scored the goals he needed to christen his new shirt with. Throughout the match, Mckieth was lively and created chances for the rest of the team. Mckieth's recent good form has also been a vital part of Meanwood's good form of late and his contribution to the Meanwood team has now been recognised as he is in the running for Mens League Player of the Season. Well done, Mckieth. Conclusion Meanwood have now won four on the trot and are unbeaten in the last seven games. That's the kind of form that you'd expect from a promotion winning team. The best thing about this performance was the fact that Meanwood made a good team look very average and dominated this match from the off. Grampa's 8 my Hampster's movement was top notch but Meanwood's defence was able to handle it with ease, this kind of defending makes Meanwood extremely hard to beat. Mckieth has had an outstanding season but the contribution from the rest of the team is what makes Meanwood so great at the moment. Every player is working hard for the benefit of the team as a whole and with a work ethic like that, Meanwood will dominate the mens league for many seasons to come. Now onto our results roundup. As Meanwood beat Grampa's 8 my Hampster, one more team is out of the race for third. More results went Meanwood's way as Paul Redfearn failed to win, which also makes it impossible for them to overtake Meanwood. The only team that can now overtake Meanwood is Kelly's Heroes who Meanwood will go head to head with next week. A draw would guarantee Meanwood third place. Now for the exciting bit…with one game left Meanwood are now in with a shot for second place. If Omar Superstars lose and Meanwood win then Meanwood will finish second. Omar Superstars face Roque Jrns next week…so for once Meanwood will be cheering Neil Spratt and the lads on. As previously stated, Meanwood will face Kelly's Heroes next week as "Battle for Third Place" reaches it's climax. Will Meanwood finish second, third or fourth? All will be revealed next week. Exciting? You bet! |