Match Report
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New Life United | 3 | 2 | Stanley Lions (Snr Div) |  |
| Mohammed Bello, Wilson Brown, Jacques Francisco | Callum Claxton Lee Wilson |
16th September 2012
Its our second game of the season, a cup match, with an emotion spelt out loudly in the minds of our players, it’s a do or die, based on the notion that it’s a knockout competition. This mentality geared us towards a no flimsy mistake zone. Accuracy was highly important, no room for ball wastage, no nonsense clearance from the back four, man to man tracking from the midfielders and goal conversions from the forward players.
A game with so much anticipation, highlighted with an early start, 10.00am kick off, you could imagine it takes utmost dedication to get out of bed as early on a Sunday morning, when others are still snoring, tenderly grabbing on to their pillows, New life players are on the home pitch Charlton park 8.40am, stretching and setting up for the glorious moment.
Stanley FC is the team we were patiently waiting for, a premier team with the credibility of two leagues above us, and it can’t stress enough how much of a competition we had in our hands. But hey we had our red jersey on which by now you should know means we are on fire, believe it or not we are.
The whistle was blown and the games begun to a usual gushy and rusty start, with the players engines still kicking in like a newly bought car, but by the time we got in full throttle it was an acceleration of world class football display, passes were distributed across beautifully well with a touch of football artistry, the spectators can assure you they were in for a full blast entertainment.
Tackles were flying like daggers, players falling and getting back up like race horses, no stopping it’s a game that meant a lot, early mistakes were committed and it’s a journey to the first goal of the game, passes were tossed around the defenders, quickly releasing under enormous pressure, a back pass was made to the keeper, unfortunately not knowing for him, instead of clearing it out with an opponent running towards him, he caught the ball causing an inbox free kick which was immediately taken by the opponents within a split second the ball was in the net. It’s a goal! 0-1.
NewLife now trailing the away team, Mistakes are inevitable but repeated mistakes are unforgivable, putting that in mind our heads up and we were ready to go on, there is more time for us to rectify our blunder and yes its time for us to make it even, the game went on with a newer fighting spirit where every touches counted and meant more this time around, with couple runs made, corner kicks taken, direct shot at the keeper, all proved unsuccessful in opening a goal account for the day.
Finally, it’s a chance for something to happen in one way or the other, but may I say this happened in an amazing way, a pass released by Ayo to sol on the right side, while the opposite’s defense miscalculated their structure of approach, it was our turn to take an advantage of the unstable moment, with sol running towards the goal but barely reached the 18 yard box, Stanley FC’s keeper came dashing out like a farm sheep, forgetting the law of unpredictability, yes sol hit the ball right across the keepers left hand side with a perfect balance in the air which made it unreachable for any means of deflection, off it went into the net like a cannon, Its!!!! A goal!! Come on!! 1-1.
We are back in the game, but if you know us by now it’s the “nil nil” mentality, its time to work harder than ever, the tempo of the game increased more and more, it’s a cup game, a game with great preparation, a win is needed to proceed unto the next phase, so we are not taking it lightly, the passes kept maneuvering around, couple more attempts were made to set a lead in the first half, but it kept proving unsuccessful, considering we were in the endurance mode, its time to unleash the beast, a beautiful pass made to Mohammed on the right side by Ayo, while he dazzled his way around with the ball, brown was ready on his toes around the box area waiting for a piece of cross through, Mohammed struck the ball like he was aiming for a goal, but brown was there to collide the thunder ball with a bolting smash in the net. It’s a goal!!! 2-1.
Shortly after the goal, the referee deemed it fit to blow the whistle, first half was over, its time to recoup and replenish by hydrating ourselves in a match were sleeping or lack of energy could mean a steep downfall. Second Half, coming off the sidelines after talks and criticism from the coach and captain it was time to amend some mistakes we committed during the first half, it was time for us to seal the game and more so, put the Stanley’s to rest.
The half begun with another whistle from the ref, game on, now we are in a better mood to play, every player were pumped with positive reactions, conveying our intentions with our style of play and more so tracking down every ball, Stanley FC isn’t just an ordinary team, they came prepared, they were fit and also had great speed but we were able to match their requirement and surpass their target.
10 minutes into the second half, the game was settled and fluid like water in a beach, moving forth and back, it was time to get ahead, It was a long pass from the midfielders, wonderfully brought down by Mohammed, within a split second he already made up his mind on what he was going to do with this, he finely displayed a dribble that got him through the opponents defenders on the left hand side, meanwhile Jack was also ready, patiently waiting for the ball to come through, having gone past the defenders, Mohammed creatively chipped the ball with great intention towards Jack’s position while he nodded the ball dropping it in the net like an Hiroshima atomic bomb. It’s a blast of a goal!!! 3-1.
Another whistle blown let the games begin, Stanley FC came rushing, powering with more aggression, they displayed fine football, which we wouldn’t take away from them, our tired key areas of the game needed more spark and substitution was required to create a firmer grip on the game.
Akin came on for Tim but was deployed to the right midfield, which means Mohammed took a center midfield position, Harry came on for Jack, covering the left midfield and Luke came on for injured Michael to tighten up our defense. The game went on with the adjustments and adapted quickly to the tune of the play, but while the opponents continued to play well, their player was brought down in front of the 18- yard box inviting a free kick.
New life got into position for the free kick, whistle was set off, with a ball beautifully taken by the opponent’s striker, the ball flew past our defenders into the net. It’s a goal!!! 3-2.
However, this game couldn’t get more tense, it was getting towards the final hour, once the ball went in for Stanley’s goal, you could see their forward player dashing into the net to pick up the ball for a quick continuity, the pressure built higher we adrenaline gushing in the better than ever, the atmosphere became electrified with more enthusiasm and passion for this game of football, any further goal in the net would mean an extra time play, while they attacked we defended with more aggression clinging onto that last gasp of victory breath. Come on!! The chants hauled from the sidelines, get that ball!!, slide him down!!, clear out!!, unlucky!!, get up son!!, come on!!. You could imagine the atmosphere I am painting with lush words, this was it, no sign of breaking down, a victory was needed, players asking referee, how many more minutes!! Under 2 minutes!!!, the game went on with the same relentless determination while we waited for the referee to blow his verdict. Yes it’s the whistle!! Games over we are through to the next round.
Great victory, whose life!! New Life!!
| Match Day Squads | |
| New life United | Stanley Lions |
| Atmomide Ajose | Daniel Avery |
| Solomon Amos | John Baker |
| Innocent Annaba | Callum Claxton |
| Mohammed Bello | Chris Devall |
| Wilson Brown | Matt Hewitt |
| Akin Cain | Harry Draper |
| Perry Cochrane | Calvin Evans |
| Luke Faith | Kirk Jones |
| Jacques Francisco | Jack King |
| Michael Gaszcz | Perry King |
| Harry Hill-Farnham | Robert Lyne |
| Joseph Howe | Darren Moorcroft |
| Moussa Ndaou | Sam Morris |
| Abiola Obisesan | Ryan Mullholland |
| Emeka Onyekwere | Charlie Nash |
| Joey Osborne | |
| Lee Wilson | |
Article Written by Mo
