Football is the greatest game on earth. It inspires, brings people together, motivates but also encourages fitness and health. Whether you’re a local footballer or an international superstar you can enjoy the game and receive great satisfaction from the rewards of the game. If you were a spectator of this game on Sunday 13th November you’d be forgiven for getting carried away for a Sunday league game as it had every possible emotion on display.
Bickley FC is last season’s OBDSFL league champions and currently tops this season without losing once. They boast an impressive 20+-league game-winning streak and often destroy even the best of teams. Since their inclusion in the league they have almost always competed for the top spot and for that reason Vista FC hold them in very high regard.
The game started with Bickley FC toppling Vista FC with sheer force. Bickley FC field some extremely physical players matched with a balance of technical and/or speedsters and within the first 20 minutes gave Vista FC very little time and/or opportunity to stamp their authority on the game. It was no surprise when a free kick won on the edge of the box was won by a Bickley FC player and looped back post for Bickley FC to go 1-0 up. For the next 10 minutes the onslaught continued and even though Vista FC were marginally close to creating some good opportunities couldn’t manage to execute the plan. Bickley won a corner and a misjudged header was handballed and the resulting spot kick was scored for Bickley to go 2-0 up. Once again Vista FC teased at threatening but nothing substantial was created. At this point in the game it appeared men against boys and a long ball that was misjudged by the Vista FC defense was accidently headed into the path of a Bickley forward who dispatched his chance flawlessly.
You’d be forgiven for walking away at this point in the game but surprisingly this is where the game changed. A few positional changes including Aaron Southard moving from left wing to Forward and Jordan Greaves moving from Right wing to center midfield inspired a Vista FC side 3-0 down to go to war. From this point on every single ball became a personal battle and 9 times out of 10 Vista FC won the battle. Maybe fortunate for Vista FC that Bickley’s impressive striker Beaver was injured in a clash of heads with Andrew Dalhouse and had to leave the pitch. Two Bickley midfielders also were substituted probably with Bickley having believed they had the game won. The first half ended 3-0 but Vista FC had gone close many times with great efforts from Kwabena Osei, Siao Blackwood, Aaron Southard and Andrew Thompson.
Half time is the time for inspiration and restructure and an inspired half time team talk from injured captain Danny Doyle rallied the troops. Vista FC came out at half time with their pride damaged but ready to claim back any inch of pride that could be restored. Andrew Dalhouse may have been wearing the captain’s armband but without that piece of material on his arm you wouldn’t have been able to tell who was the captain. Every player on the field fought, battled and scrapped for every ball and after 15 minutes they were rewarded when Aaron Southard chased down a ball before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home. Danny Bleach is one of the best players in the league on his day and as the game developed his inspiration increased. Some great interplay starting in defense with Andrew Dalhouse and Kwabena Osei made its way to Andrew Thompson who set Danny Bleach in the box and he side footed the ball high and into the net. At times of need it’s always important to be able to call on important players and with Vista FC chasing the game and needing that equalizing goal on stepped Ohran Stewart. With Bickley now throwing themselves equally at every ball sometimes you need someone with qualities such as first touch and awareness to break the mold. With Vista creating chances a ball in behind the Bickley defense forced their keeper into an unnatural position. With two defenders running towards the goal to defend the open goal and a keeper rushing towards him Ohran Stewart flawlessly squeezed the ball between the ongoing players and into the back of the net. Had there been 50,000 fans and a stadium come Monday the team would have had to reinforce there infrastructure as the sheer joy and impact of the goal had every single Vista FC player celebrating in a huddle some players running 50+ yards. The game ended like this and it was on to extra time.
A look at each players faces in the team talk showed some extremely fatigued characters but achieving greatness is never achieved in the comfort zone.
The first half of extra time was well fought but neither team were able to impact on two resolute defenses. The second half of extra time started the same but in a moment of quality beyond your average Sunday league game a pass by Danny Bleach into Ohran Stewart was with one touched reversed into the path of Aaron Southard who enjoys nothing more than scoring goals and powered the ball pass the diving keeper.
The next 10 minutes were a slugfest but after going 4-3 up Vista FC were in no mood to give away any more goals. With 5 minutes left on the clock Andrew Thompson decided to get in on the action and a Beckham esq. cross-made it’s way to Aaron Southard at the back post who finished with a header reminiscent of Alan Shearer.
Its not often Sunday league games display this level of quality but credit must be given to both teams who have been some of the highest level of performers for years and continue to do so.
M.O.M – Aaron Southard