COWHC Mens 3s v NPL Bulldogs - 19th March 2016

I was very tempted to write just a four word match report, based on one of two Queen songs, however I thought that wouldn't be enough to describe a kind of magic which has been performed not only in this game, but over the season.

As in previous weeks we were somewhat left wondering who would actually turn out for us. So imagine the surprise when, upon arriving at the NPL pitch, we looked up and... fuckin' ell, it's Fred Titmus! As we got closer it turned out to actually be Dave Colley, but more on him later...

We could have felt under pressure, knowing that just a point from the game would secure the title, but we decided to just play the game the way we normally do and hope the fact that Cleashy umpiring wasn't going to be too much of an issue! And the start of the match was heaven for everyone in a white shirt. Corny played the ball from the pushback straight to Hoops, who lifted an aerial high and on target into the NPL 23. Their defence stopped and watched, maybe with a touch of jealousy, and that enabled Corny and Jack to combine to make the breakthru in 15 seconds!

To be fair to NPL, many other teams would have crumpled after such a start, but their body language said otherwise and so it proved as they gave us some problems with their movement through the midfield and up front. One slightly worrying moment saw their main striker get free and run headling into the D, forcing Phil to close him down and divert the shot wide.

It's a hard life at the top of the league as every team wants to beat you, but this COW squad has serious staying power and with Corny (our good old fashioned lover boy) up front, minus the back chat of previous years, we've got the perfect centre forward. He and Jack combined twice more in that first half to send us to half time 3 - 0 up.

As usual the team talk was of keeping calm and not allowing the hammer to fall, letting the opposition back into the game. We started the second half therefore with one vision - to make sure the miracle came true.

NPL clearly didn't want it to be a scandal for themselves though, and they won a couple of short corners in the early stages of the second half. As one of these broke down into a free hit for us, I looked up and saw Dav in acres of space on the right wing. Quick as a flash I played it to him, he drove forward and then played a great ball through to Jack who rounded the keeper.

A similar quickly taken hit, this time by Martin from the sideline led to another goal.

At 6 - 0 we perhaps switched off a little, although when a free hit was given with both umpires pointing in opposite directions I did wonder if I'm going slightly mad. Unfortunately NPL were quicker in deciding the show must go on and caught us out at our own game with a quickly taken free hit leading to one of their players driving through into the D and finishing with a very good shot from the edge.

But we didn't go all radio ga ga, we held our nerve and kept creating the opportunities. When we won a long corner late in the game, I decided I want to break free from defensive reponsibilities and pushed forward. Adam played the ball square to me and I played it in to JP. He managed to turn and shoot, but the NPL keeper stopped it and cleared. That clearance fell straight to me and, with time, space and a clear path to goal I cracked in a shot... only for Dave to appear like the invisible man and, with a flick of the wrist, divert the ball into the roof of the net to STEAL MY GOAL!

I admit, at the time it was a case of I want it all, but with hindsight, I'm just happy the defence got in on the scoring act!

And so that was it, another one bites the dust, one more game done and dusted for the princes of the universe who can now, quite rightly claim WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

POM was Martin for constantly nicking the ball from under the nose of the opposition forward. DOD was Dave for stealing something, I can't recall what...