Swalings Intertops Cup 3: Week 1

Match Report from November 13, 2009

The new season for the Swalings Cup has started.  With rain delaying the opening games last week, we were set for a double header as both teams need to catch up on the games missed.

For these two teams, it was like a warm up game for the next game, but before we get onto their next game lets talk about this one.

Superstars’ vs Strikers

It started with the Strikers winning the toss and allowing the Superstars to take the centre kick.  Nadeem Doumith passed the ball to Sean Janosek who passed the ball back to Cup debutant Shemire Samuel, who was chased down by another Cup debutant Nick Fuller who looked eager to impress, but luckily the ball was cleared.

The game was being played at a slow pace, but you could understand why, as 9 of the 13 players were Cup debutants.  As soon as they were reminded of what was at stake at the end of the season the players picked the game speed up.  There was some good linkage play between Nadeem Doumith and Sean Janosek of the Superstars but it kept breaking down on the final ball by Julian Laville, who would go on to make a string of fine last minute tackles.

The goal finally came through some hard work by Nick Fuller who pushed the ball through to the on rushing Michael Josiah, who vowed to his coach to be top goal scorer this season.  He took the ball cleverly around the last defender and squeezed it past Richard Coghlan.

1-0  To the Strikers.

Nadeem Doumith, last seasons player of the season didn’t let this affect him, he got the ball out of the back of the net and said “we are still in this, come on,” which would go to prove vital in the next couple of minutes of play. After taking the lead the Strikers sat back, which proved to be a costly mistake. Sean Janosek picked up a lose ball in his half and sprinted up towards the Strikers goal he could of gone all the way, but unselfishly decided to pass the ball across to Nadeem, but had the ball taken of his feet by Julian.  Later on Kofi Newton, the second youngest player on the pitch took the ball right out from Eric Yang, the tallest player on the pitch.  The tackle proved to be important, it didn’t only stop Eric in his tracks but it broke free to Kofis fellow Superstars team mate Kenford James.  Kenford went for a little run before passing it to the on rushing Nadeem, who took the ball into his stride and fired goal wards. The ball went in.  Xavier Spencer, the Strikers goalkeeper, was rooted to the spot and couldn’t do anything to help.

1-1.

The game went into a slump again with both teams struggling to find rhythm in their passing.  Michael Josiah looked dangerous when he got the ball, cuting and pulling the ball back and forth but was unlucky not to break the dead lock, but that was due to some fine saves from Richie Coghlan the young Superstars keeper, one particular save when Donte Trimingham, the youngest player on the pitch had a rare shot, Richie came out to save it, fumbled and was outside the goal keeping box, managed to take it around Eric Yang went another 3 metres and then remembered he was the goal keeper so kicked it clear. The game was drawing to half time when Nick Fuller burst through the Superstars defence and sent a rocket of a shot into the bottom of the Superstars next.

Half time came and the score was 2-1 to the Swalings Superstars.

The second half wouldn’t be as eventful as the first, as both sides were still getting used to playing with their new team mates.  Nadeem and Sean were linking up well for the Superstars with Kenford James making some fine tackles on Michael Josiah and Eric Yang to win the ball back whenever the Superstars lost it.

Xavier Spencer would come to the rescue for the Strikers, although he wouldn’t know much about it. The ball was crossed in by Shemire Samuel to Nadeem Doumith, who pulled the trigger on a half volley and sent the ball whistling into Xavier Spencer’s chest, the ball bounced down and was kicked clear.

Half way through the second half, Nadeem got an opening just outside the Swalings Strikers box and pushed the ball passed the goalie.

2-2.

The game drew out with both sides having some half chances. The whistle blew and the game finished as a draw.  Strikers 2 Superstars 2.

Titans vs. Panthers.

The game kicks off with Cup debutants Kara Walwyn and Brent Edwards of the Swalings Panthers.  The ball is knocked about back and forth when Brent passes it wide to another Cup debutant Gary Davis who slips and the ball is snatched away by yet another debutant Nolan Bird, of the Swalings Titans, who capitalizes on the mistake and skips gleefully around Ronde Davis and sends a blistering shot into the bottom left corner of the net with only 3 minutes 21 seconds on the clock.

Gary Davis starts to make amends for the mistakes and gets the ball from a goal kick, he puts the ball through Justin Hadeeds legs and keeps going, without breaking his stride sends the ball across to Kara Walwyn, whose shot bounced of the Titans keepers chest, Michael Santos, who the pounced onto it before Kara could get another shot in.

The Titans maybe in the lead but the Panthers are playing the better football with crisp sharp passing around the Titans, with good play between the two Panthers defenders Timmy Gillespie and Ronde Davis.

With one minute left of the first half, Gary Davis, who has been up and down, running around like a Duracell bunny, collects the ball and gives an instant snap shot towards the Titans goal but is denied by Michael Santos, Michael hurls the ball up field to Justin Hadeed, who knocks it passed Ronde and shots, the ball is deflected of Destinee Doumith and into the Panthers goal.

The whistle blows and its 2-0 to the Swalings Titans at half time.  Titans lucky to be in the lead, even luckier to be 2 goals up with the way the Panthers are playing.

Titans start the second half and are up for taking their lead further, Tony Hourani, chips the ball up field to Nolan Bird, Nolan gets a bit carried away with wanting to get the ball sticks out his hand to stop it.  The referee has no other option but to book him.  From the resulting free kick, the Panthers punt the ball up field, where for some bizarre reason Kiante Anthony, who just saw his fellow Swalings Titan team mate get booked for hand ball, sticks out his hand to stop the ball.  The referee again has no choice but to book him.  This time though the ball is in a much more dangerous position.  Destinee Doumith, now an outfield player, passes the ball to Gary, who shots but is denied by a fantastic save from Michael Santos to put it wide for a corner.

The ball is passed back and forth between both teams with the Titans set on staying in front and with the Swalings Panthers looking to find that last killer ball.  But it is the Panthers who come closest to scoring next with as Ronde Davis decides that passing the ball isn’t going to work, so shoots goal wards but is denied again by fine saves from Michael Santos.  With minutes on the clock Justin Hadeed makes a break down the left.  He shimmies the ball past Kara and shoots, but is denied by Brent Edwards who is know between the Panthers sticks.  He throws the ball up field to Timmy who sends a looping head over Michaels head, but is denied by the cross bar.

The referee blows the final whistle.  The Swalings Panthers are unlucky not to take anything from this game, but the Swalings Titans erupt into a frenzy with the first win of the season.