Fives Canter to First Victory of 2014 Sunday, January 12, 11:30 am YC&AC Over 35s 6 (Six) v Verdrero Kohoku 3 Carrying more weight than the conditions of the race required and further Andycapped by the absence of Messrs. Barrett and Chambers, the overindulged and undergoalkeepered Over 35s were not heavily backed to win our maiden outing of 2014, the Year of course of the Horse. The bookmakers had Verdrero Kohoku as clear pre-race favourites for the 11:30 at Yaguchidai, even with the going good to firm and the weather bordering on the warm—conditions close to those preferred by the temperamental Fives. The diagonal-striped ones from Ikea Country had beaten us as usual in the 2013/14 Masters League and, the bookies reasoned, had probably not consumed pounds of bacon-wrapped chipolatas and chocolates or unimaginable gallons of real ale over the winter break. The Fives however are of thoroughbred stock and even while we lacked a specialist keeper we oozed a quiet confidence in the seasonably short and gentle warm-up. Eased into the starting gate in a tweaked 4-5-1 formation, the old stallion flared its nostrils, bared its teeth and, on the whistle, emerged insouciantly from the stalls. Has the hill ever witnessed a start such as this? From the kick-off, the Fives exchanged passes in all directions in the relaxed but deliberate manner of a farmer sowing seeds. One mixed metaphor, thirty or forty touches and a couple of minutes later we were 1-0 up, Phil Denham bringing to fruition an incredible move that had our fans in the Water Barrel Enclosure literally on their feet in applause. No hoof-ball here. The opposition had yet to even touch the ball! The Fives’ controlled possession game would continue apace, and we trotted off at the end of the first quarter tossing our mane in self-congratulation for twenty minutes of thoroughly enjoyable and well played football. Kohoku adjusted their bridle in the second quarter and the going for the Fives did get heavier, but this race could only have one winner. We were out of sight and with some players riding side-saddle long before we reached the final stretch. Will Brady was the team’s star turn. Ploughing a lone furrow up front, Brady was tireless and inventive in his running while his movement was often beautifully picked out by the central midfield trio of Brown, Denham and Hannah. Twice Brady was sent charging through by the influential Denham and twice he ran on forcefully to the edge of the box before dispatching two glorious dipping shots past the Kohoku keeper. Sandwiching these strikes in open play was an equally impressive free kick from the Irishman, swished in over the wall from twenty yards. Hiroshi “Naka” Nozawa was a lively threat down the right throughout and deservedly added to his tally (ho) for the season, racing on to an underhit backpass before rounding the keeper with his first touch and slotting away with his left. Russ Hannah polished off the feedbag near the end with a coltish piece of wizardry that capped a fine all-round performance from the fit-again schemer. The three goals for Kohoku came against the run of play and were a minor annoyance for our otherwise dominant defense, dismissed on each occasion with a flick of the stud’s tail. All in all this was an excellent run out, and the odds on us beating the excellent Kawasaki Over 40s this Sunday have narrowed considerably. Fortune Cookie A quick reminder here to the squad that prior to next Sunday’s match we’ll be holding the first rehearsal for our performance at the Tsukuba reception on February 2 of AKB48‘s brilliant “Fortune Cookie.” Meet in the Multi-purpose Room 10:00-11:00 am. Get the basics first here: AKB48 promotion video video.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=%E6%81%8B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%81%E3%83%A5%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AF%E3%83%83%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC&tid=f6c3779067c9ddf5e7de5627e13c9d9d&ei=UTF-8&rkf=2 Kanagawa Prefectural Government Version (everyone’s doing it!) youtube/watch?v=RBBbuspVyyU Practice version (full tilt) youtube/watch?v=kQbX5EctxA4 Practice version (slow) youtube/watch?v=mzPMKTIQxtI No. 17 Squad: Brady, Brown, Cardiff, Coach Hiro, Denham, Hannah, Hendy, Hosogai, Ishibashi, Iwasaki, Lackner, Nozawa, Philo Scorers: Denham, Brady (3), Nozawa, Hannah Man of the Match: Will Brady Attendance: Double figures if you count the occasional mochi-pounding festival observer FULL RESULTS AND GOLDEN SLIPPER STANDINGS Meat & Potato Results Sept. 22 YC&AC 1 v Yamate Orient 10 Barrett Oct. 27 YC&AC 5 v Kanagawa Club Papas 1 Chambers (2), Barrett (2), Hendy Nov. 10 YC&AC 3 v Socio 3 Brady (2), OG Nov. 16 YC&AC 1 v Swiss Kickers 10 Denham Nov. 24 YC&AC 3 v Johnson and Johnson 2 Brady (2), OG Dec. 8 YC&AC 6 v Shonan Pegasus 1 Nozawa (2), Cardiff (2), Chambers, Hendy Dec. 15 YC&AC 1 v Marinos Papas 1 Brown Jan. 12 YC&AC 6 v Verdrero Kohoku 3 Denham, Brady (3), Nozawa, Hannah Golden Slipper Standings Brady 7 Barrett 3 Chambers 3 Nozawa 3 Hendy 2 Cardiff 2 Denham 2 Brown 1 Hannah 1 OG 2
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 03:26:47 +0000
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