There was an air of excitement surrounding the lead up to the final game of the season for the Red Hot Tunas, during the practise session on Thursday it quickly became clear that the supporters’ team wouldn’t quietly lie down and let the Tunas bully them around. Still smarting from last year’s 2:0 loss you could sense that this time round the supporters were to bring a more physical approach to the game, hoping to find an advantage in ‘size’…..
On match day you were looking in vein for father’s day socks, silly ties or handkerchiefs; the supporters’ team was dressed up for business, royal blue tight fitting jerseys made them look like Chelsea gone AWOL; an air of confidence oozing from their ranks as they went through their pre-match routines. The Tunas remained unfazed and gathered around their latest addition to the team; Grant, keen as, Keen in a surprise comeback from the vast lands of soccer oblivion, who issued some last minute tactical instructions.
When the whistle finally signalled the kick-off, both teams made their intentions clear immediately;
The Tunas took the kick-off and played the ball out to the right where it was collected by Grant, who immediately drew two defenders from the ‘Hard to beat’ Taylor-clan. Predictably, the Taylors shut the play down and forced Grant to take the ball over the side-line.
The Chelsea look-alikes launched their first of many attacks toward the Tunas’ goal and this forced the Tunas to lay bare their defensive tactics from the on-set:
Numbers, numbers and more numbers were called in to deal with the surging runs from the supporters team’s menacing forwards. Lead in uncompromising fashion by ‘GIVE ME THE BALL’ Cath & Glen R., both of whom are more known for being around the netball hotspots of Paparimu (yep that’s where they settle the score with fisticuffs, if they have to). The inevitable was only delayed; the supporters’ team took a deserved lead when Cath (TACKLE HIM!) bullied her way through the Tunas’ defence and pushed ball and keeper over the line.
If the Tunas were shocked they certainly didn’t show it, with the aid of some lucky bounces of the ball straight into the referee’s legs, which saw the ball time after time ricocheting deep into the supporters team’s half, allowing the Tunas to exert pressure and reveal their power play.
The supporters’ team was in desperate trouble and they resorted to some border-line physicality which saw the Tunas having to seek medical attention on various occasions. It speaks for the commendable impartiality expertly displayed by the team of referees that the game did not end up in an all out altercation; cool calm and collected was the demeanour of the refereeing staff, reigning the players in and reminding them that it was a game of football, not netball, to be played on the day. The Tunas showed great character and maturity beyond their years at this stage; they did not get sucked into the niggle but continued to play their game of football.
It came as a shock, out of nowhere, a clearance by the supporters team’s goalie was taken up in midfield and a lightening fast pass:
set Cath up on her way to a one-on-one with the goalie, desperate Tunas coming back into defence could only watch in horror as Cath ruthlessly tapped the ball into the left hand corner. The score was 2:0 to the supporters’ team and they looked hungry for more.
Some desperate defending kept the Tunas in the game:
and at this stage no-one was offering a wager on a Tunas’ comeback.
The Tunas have been in this situation once or twice before this year and at times you get the impression they revel in it; unperturbed they went about their game, playing it wide in midfield with quick darting passes up front to set their attackers free. Eventually the staunch supporters’ defence cracked, Jack collected a ball just inside the box and drove toward the goal mouth, shoulders tucked in, and shielding the ball from anyone and everything the supporters could throw at him, literally. Jack made no mistake; with a thumping kick from approximately 30 centimetres out from the goal he made the ball thunder into the back of the net, the Tunas had clawed one back.
Cometh the hour of Grant, keen and mean, Keen; as if awoken out of a deep freeze/sleep, the Tunas now took total control of the last minutes of the first half; the ball continued to ricochet off the referee’s legs - lucky bounces - deep into the supporters’ half, the pressure was mounting on the supporters’ defence and it seemed only a matter of time for the Tunas to yield the equaliser. And then it happened; turning back the years with a gallop and determination not seen since Roy Keane had that memorable 20 seconds in the Champions league limelight against Bayern München, Grant, with the ball at his feet set off for a 36.5 metre solo effort, leaving a good five supporters gasping for air, and culminating in a fulminate right foot drive into the right hand corner which left the goalie, luckily for him, motionless.
2:2 was the score and the Tunas had roared into action, the fans made a racket and the supporters’ team showed some nerves….
During the half-time break the Tunas had another surprise in store for the now obviously flustered supporters’ team; Der Kaiser was about to make a comeback to the stage that means so much to so many, replacing the good keen man, Mr. Keen, in the conductor’s role/ central midfield for the Tunas.
The supporters’ team started the second half shakily, there seemed to be some problems with the positional play, too much ball was given up in midfield and the Tunas were taking control early on. The pressure paid off for the Tunas, the supporters couldn’t clear a ball in the box and the ensuing melee resulting in a penalty for the Tunas. Carlon – Cool’s a Cucumber – made no mistake, sending the goalie in the wrong corner, the Tunas were up 3:2 and the supporters were puffing.
The goal was like taking shackles off the Tunas, their play became fluent, assertive; the occasional counter attacks of the supporters were generally quelled in midfield. Superior fitness started to show, the supporters team showed the effects of a long SEASON ON THE SIDE-LINE, the extra padding, whilst keeping you warm during the cold winter mornings, now, with spring firmly engaged on its unstoppable march toward summer, proved to be a hindrance rather than a comfort out in the middle of the park. Some dramatic and controversial scenes developed during the latter stage of the second half, the low-light, undoubtedly the infamous PHANTOM FOUL, claimed by the equally “phantomic Bruce” - de Montsta - Montgomery;
As photographic evidence would have it: utterly unsubstantiated claims threatened to put a blemish on a tough but mostly fair encounter. The referee remained calm and consistent under pressure, not giving in to the hasty and sooo wrong claims for reparation. The supporters team’s reaction was regrettably predictable; harsh, brute and confrontational tackles followed and the target was easily identified; Der Kaiser was under the gun….. The Tunas reacted as only a class team can; whilst one man was targeted others were neglected. Rooney and Rooney senior pounced on the opportunities given and with some neat combinations they started to run the supporters’ defence (or what was left of it), rugged. Two goals to Rooney (or was it Rooney?) settled the score and, whilst the supporters pulled one back via the constant menace, CR, the result was never really in doubt through the second half. If ever there was proof needed concerning the stealth of the Red Hot Tunas, any doubters were firmly put on the strait and narrow after this display of, yet again, grit, determination, skill and unreserved fighting spirit.
In the end the good little guy took it from the, well, big guy, and the power of many did it again: the supporters team proved themselves to be gracious in defeat and duly lined up for the customary ‘after game’ shot.
The remainder of the day is easily wrapped up:
There was the gathering at Keegan, Linda and Brian’s place, which presented itself as the perfect venue for an end of season BBQ, and then there was the BBQ, which took your breath away, literally.
There was the Beast and the Ham:
… and the feast:
….and then, of course there was the Iron Maiden who took the ball:
Keely Taylor, voted by players, supporters, families and friends of the Red Hot Tunas 2006 as the Players’ Player of the Year 2006. Keely, under rousing applause from fellow team members, friends and families, was presented with the 2006 match ball.
That’s it folks; what remains is the price giving and that will then truly bring to an end what has been a most enjoyable season of junior football, we got a taste of 1st division and we can say we are hungry for more!
Cheers,
`;o)
W