Watch some boxers in the lead-up sparring, and shadow boxing for TV, to their fight and you think you are witnessing a world-beater in the making. Watch’ em in the ring at the actual fight and you wonder how they could actually fight their way out of a paper bag. Well, I have come to learn that this can happen in other sports too, if you don’t believe me, please check out the amateur video from yesterday’s warm-up of the Red Devilz before our tussle with the Drury Rattlers, obviously some proud dad kept the camera pretty close on the pretty boy, but hey, you get the drift, a pretty good warm-up... . 

Right, so we agree, the scene was set for a typical Weltmeisterschafts Finale, where we come from we call it ‘Endspiel-wetter’ check the record books (and weather conditions) from 1954 and you’ll understand.

The Devilz kicked –off with big promises made to each other and the coach to show some passion and commitment to the task, after being convincingly beaten the night before by the high-flying and hot-firing Gunners in a valuable practise match under lights.

From the start the Devilz put a siege at the half-way mark and Kami & Kaze were sent into the box to cause havoc. Pressure told and within 90 seconds the Devilz were awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Kaze. The tripped player took the honours himself after Da Man had second thoughts and pulled out, no real danger in missing, 1.30min on the clock, the Devilz were 1:0 up and the Southerlies slowly but surely started to pick up and the Divine Winds and all other Devilz fell into a lure...

Possibly too consumed by their own press over the last couple of outings the Devilz prevailed with some outrageously sloppy passing, tackling, defending and attacking. The Rattlers, sensing that the Devilz were on an off-day, got feistier as the first half went on and within four minutes were back on even terms. Half-hearted attempts to slow a run of a Drury defender down the left at the half-way mark drew a midfielder and two defenders out of position, the rushing cover defence and a Drury attacker caused congestion and chaos in the Devilz’s box and a speculator from the ball carrying defender went unchallenged past three Devilz and a stationary keeper, finally nestling in the bottom left corner (from the keeper’s perspective) of the net (think Ashley Young of Villa vs Bolton last week and you get the drift, pun intended). The first competition goal against the Devilz in 2009; it was not a memorable one.

In patches the Devilz flashed some brilliance and every time they did; they scored. When the body was positioned well to the ball, when passes stuck because heads were lifted before the ball was sent on, the Devilz actually looked like a decent football team, smart lines were run, ball was carried just the right distance before it was passed and chances were ruthlessly put away. 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1 with the half-time whistle didn’t exactly make the crowd go wild but it did but a little bit of respectability back into the Devilz’s performance.

Plenty of talk and Oranges during the half-time break unfortunately didn’t yield the desired effect. The Devilz let the Rattlers find some rhythm and the game turned into a non-event. Aimlessly booted away loose balls became the pre-dominant feature of the affair, competing with the southerly winds for the title of ‘most annoying’. The Devilz looked good when they remembered to play football but that was about all of 5 minutes in the second 25, not enough for a team that would like to compete against AFF’s finest.  Highlight of the second 25; Kami, the deft leftie scoring the only goal of the half with his right boot... a glimmer of hope.

So; three rounds down in the grading comp. 26:1 goals scored, and the off-day of the season dealt with, things can only look up from here on. Watch out for some redemption next week against the Waiuku Leopards.

A special mention to the 10^th grade Red Hot Tunas; 35:1 goals scored in their last two games, truly awesome, guys!  

And not to forget the 10^th grade Yellow tails, finally a 11:0, just reward for the fine football you’ve been playing (not just) this year, great going, guys!    

–Cheers-, W  ';o)

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 Lynda and thanks Caltex-.      

The Devilz’ motto “… the Sky’s the limited!”