Papakura Army Camps, every time you turn up there you can’t help but wondering who in the AFF you have peeved off again to be asked to strut your stuff in the arguably most dreadful surroundings you could possibly imagine for a decent game of footie.
The only consolation the Devilz could use to squeeze a bit of enthusiasm into this particular chapter of their 2008 first division Championship campaign was found in the fact that the opposition was last year's 9th Grade division 01 winner, The McAttacks. A team the Devilz have tussled with on four previous occasions over the years and whilst the 2005/06 games were lessons for the ‘Reds’, the two 2007 encounters were classic beauts; tight, fast, furious and with plenty of feelings and emotions, yes, we are talking about the pre-match barking between the coaches, the games too weren’t all that bad either.
The McAttacks had a credible stint in the 2008 premier division grading round, proving on numerous occasion that they can foot it with the best in the AFF and their inclusion in the 01st division championship round came as a surprise, not only to them.
The Devilz came to the Gulag, pardon, Camp, with respect but no fear, the game started off with good speed and the McAttacks looked like they had taken a rather thick leaf out of Otto, Kind der Bundesliga, Rehagel’s coaching manual of the famous kontrollierte Offensive.
Robust in central defence, giving the Devilz space on the outside, the ‘Mac’ absorbed the Devilz’s whipping attacks over the left and the right wing time and again. In return the skilful midfield of the ‘Mac’ managed to play their two pronged attack into space on many occasions.
The game was entertaining and played competitively but fair on a notably narrower and slightly shorter pitch than the Bledisloe 03. It was quite obvious that the tighter dimensions of the park were much more conducive to a free-flowing passing game one would expect to see from 10th grade players than the wide open spaces unfortunately dominating in the wider AFF membership base.
Turnovers, tackles, surging runs down the wings, great goalie saves and some midfield bamboozling, it was all there and then… the bloody winds got hold of a speculator from the outside of the ‘box’ and, blow me away, the ball squeezed in over the head of the goalie and under the crossbar, the score was 1-nil to the ‘Mac’ and one was inclined to look over the shoulder, searching for the Kalashnikov clutching guard to give one the dirty eye… sorry, you just don’t see the PD-boys doing the weeding at the Army camps… too scary for some.
Anyway, the first half was played out at good speed and good football, the half-time talk didn’t require anything dramatic, the Devilz looked good and the score was incidental only.
The Devilz and the ‘Mac’ went into the 2nd half like they finished the 1st the crowds on both sides were treated to some good structured and enterprising football, if anything the ‘Mac’ looked a bit more threatening since the Devilz were deprived of their usual ‘Sting’ in attack. The said one was nursing a pulled muscle in his right leg and not being able to contribute his usual stinging runs and searching/surging finish in front of the goal for most of the 2nd half.
A classic release from the midfield down the right side found the Devilz off-guard, the defence was turned and the finish was quality; midway through the 2nd half the ‘Mac’ had taken a 2-nil lead with possibly the most decisive move of the game. From here on the Devilz started to throw caution to the wind.
In search of a goal they gave away some of their structured play and bar the occasional heart-stopper in their own half they took a good old fashioned street-fight to the ‘Mac’, no ball, pass or play went uncontested, yet throughout, under the watchful eye of a very competent CBR, the game never went ‘below the belt’ or outside the rule-book.
No fairies or divine intervention, over-excited coaches or overzealous officials could squeeze a stamp or put a damp on this game, it was a fair ding-dong battle with a result well and truly overshadowed by our perception; great game, shame for the score but we move on with our heads high and a spring in our step.
–Cheers-, W
On another note;
We wish to thank Caltex and Lynda for supporting our team on match-days again this year with plenty of goodies for the player of the day –Thanks Caltex-.
The Devilz’ motto “… the Sky’s the limited!”