Cup jinx returns to give Reds the blues

Sporting Falcons 3 PFFC 1 (Millennium Cup)

Kadeem Simmonds, 10 November 2013

 

After defeating Sporting Falcons 5-0 at the end of last season, the Philosophers went into Sunday’s clash full of confidence. The Falcons, however, turned up looking to exact revenge and brought a strong squad, very different to the one we beat the last time the two sides met. The Philosophers also turned up expecting a strong squad, but with a few players pulling out last minute (welcome to Sunday League), they lined up with the bare 11.

This didn’t stop them from starting the game the better team, and even took the lead when a corner from Will was diverted in from Adam. The passing was slick on a very muddy pitch and Falcons struggled to get into the game. The Reds (playing in Monty Python blue) had chances to add to their lead but were pegged back midway through the first-half when a long ball troubled the Philosophy defence and, when the ball bounced up perfectly for him, the Falcons striker dispatched it past Kadeem who was left standing. We went in to half time at 1-1. with the win there for the taking.

Where Falcons were able to make changes, the blues couldn’t. As the second half wore on, this lack of subs began to tell. The chances still fell Philosophy’s way, with Clarkey denied by the keeper and Michael aka Blanks spurned a header wide from just outside the six-yard box. The Italian back three of Andrea, Michele and Mario were playing like Baresi, Maldini and Costacurta in their prime, and if any team was going to score it was going to be Philosophy.

The turning point for the blues, however, was when the referee rewarded Falcons with a very soft penalty, blowing up for handball against Andrea, despite Andrea being two yards away from the player, with his hands down by his side. The penalty sent Kadeem the wrong way and despite the valiant efforts of the team to draw level, Falcons soon extended their lead when a corner was delivered and their striker rose unchallenged to put the game beyond reach.

Philosophy never gave up but the legs grew more and more tired as they pushed for a way back into the game. When Will picked up an injury towards the end of the game and there was no one on the bench to replace him, everyone knew that the game was up.

 

PFFC (3-4-2-1): Kadeem; Andrea, Michele, Mario; Clarkey, Adam (1), Simon, Michael; Matt, Will; James
Subs: none