ma2 04/05/2008
V’s MA2
Venue – The Fortress
A win in today’s final game of the season would see FC Excelsior take a credible fifth place finish in the league and complete a great run of winning games.
With an almost full strength squad to choose from we lined up 4-4-2. Goal – Ross. Defence – Clarkey, Steve Mac, Andy Mac and Neil. Midfield – Mercer, Fiss, George and Scholes. Up front – Sean and Wozzer.
After a brief warm up with a flat size four football and a ten minute delay we got going, defending our usual posts and kicking in to slight wind.
We got right in to them from the off, pinning them back to 18 yards of football pitch. Some nice passing moves and some quality through balls were undoing the MA2 back line. However the goal was not for coming and eventually MA2 began to develop some momentum, creating a few chances and forcing a great save out of Ross.
It was 50/50 in first half. A chance at one end would be followed up by a chance at the other and round and round we went until George found the back of the net to take us into the lead. A lovely one two with Merce on the edge of the MA2 box and George was allowed enough time to pull the trigger, smashing the ball pass the keeper into the top right corner.
The goal was vital, it took the wind out of a few MA2 sails and allowed us to move around the pitch a little more, without the fear of going one down. The pressure was on our visitors, they took risks and at times left there defence like the Mary Celeste, throwing players forward hoping they could get back into the game. It cost them dearly. Sean picked the ball up near the right touch line and began to cut inside, after taking on a couple of players he delivered an inch perfect ball across the goal mouth to an unmarked Wozzer who gratefully tapped in our second of the day.
MA2 had a good go at us and did manage to pull one back from a corner which seemed to puff out their chests. They were soon deflated as we replied almost instantly. A Mercer corner to the far post found Sean Lonsdale, who had been threatening with the header all morning. Sean was the filling in a player sandwich and by every right should not have won the header at the back post. He rose gracefully and nailed the ball in the net like a bullet.
3-1 up and in for half time. Great first half. Sean, Scholes and Mercer played out of their skins. Rehydrated and with a new formation we took to the pitch for the final time of the 07/08 season.
We reverted to 4-5-1 for the second half just to bolster the midfield and give us more security at the back. This only invited MA2 on and they gave us a few tough moments. We struggled to find our forward with anything and eventually the inevitable happened. MA2 got their second. A ball moving out of our box was simply smashed down the throat and in the net for 3-2.
4-4-2 was back on the cards and we played out the final minutes of the game as the better team. Today’s subs were rolled out with around 15 to go. Mercer , the gentleman he is, generously made way for Hunty who was making his 1st appearance after an awful injury back in November. He is well and truly over his injury as he made an instant impact on the game. Wez came on for Scholes and Daz Worral came on for Daz Clarke. All subs did well with what little time they had, Daz even knocked on short and sideways!
Final score 3-2
Man of the Match – Scholesy. Best game I’ve seen him play. Played in just the two different positions this week. Looked good going forward and was good at the back. There were a lot of good performances on the pitch and MotM could have gone to any 1 of 11.
Moment of the match - Mercer’s hissy fit when he got subbed off. The outburst of “Why am I always the fall guy” was pretty comical but his contorted look and top teeth biting the bottom lip ready to release a couple of F words as he made his walk of shame off the pitch was hilarious for me. Anymore Mercer and I’ll be stopping your pocket money.
Well done fellas, great way to finish the season. Another well fought victory. We showed some great character in the last two games. Good to see Hunty in Excelsior colours, a great addition to the squad.
Fiss
Match ratings anyone?
hissy fit
I must admit I found it quite amusing about 5 minutes later too. It was a factualy incorrect statement anyway as we all know Daz Worrall is usually the "fall guy"! Quality article again.
Ratings
Ross - 7
Clarkey - 7
Neli - 7
Steve - 7
Fall Guy - 7
Fiss - 7
George - 7
Scholsey - 7
Sean - 7
Wazza - 7
Wes - 6
Hunty - 6
Dezzy W - 6
Top article again Fizzle. More of the same next season man, we'll have to get a book on euphemisms for you so you can continue writing these match reports - a new Harry Harris in the making!
What is this, you trying not
What is this, you trying not to upset anyone? Or are the rest of the number keys on your keyboard broke?
Lucky number 7
As I have repeatedly said, 6 is an average score for a player who did nothing exceptional throughout a match and had a steady eddie performance. The fact that I rated the team as 7s is because everyone played well. No outstanding performances there and no particularly weak performances, just well. Is that okay for you!?
I beg to differ
I'm apparently usually hard to please but I think 7's didn't do us justice, especially our first half performance.
Ross - 9
Clarkey - 8
Neli - 8
Steve - 9
Andy Mc 9
Fiss - 8
George - 8
Scholsey - 8
Sean - 9
Wazza - 8
Wes - 7
Hunty - 7
Dezzy W - 7
Subs only 7's cos they didn't have long on the pitch.
Superb, thats a much more
Superb, thats a much more exciting set of ratings!
What A Day !!!
First Of all, want to say a big thankyou to fiss and carey and all the guys for my gift it ment a lot to me thank you very much.
Second what a great day some great dancing heavy drinkin, n this time i was last man standing like i promised with your skipper Fiss. We were both fucked but around 3.30 we went home, had a great day fantastic way to end the season and just want to say a big thankyou to lee for his help on sunday on the extra stuf he gave you. Remember to pick your stuf up if you left it at the club. I also want to say what a great turnout. 20 of us fantastic evan dance mat turned better late than never.
Right on to the game. N what a game end to end but through out the game i did think we were the etter side n deserved over all. GIve credit where it is due MA2 didnt look a bad side and the game was played in the right manner with a lot of banter.
Ross 8 look a bit ropey at first turning up smashed a 5 past 11 but pulled of the save of the game.
Neil 8 100% better than last week on his game this should be your bench mark for every game
Andy 8 solid hard to deal with sum big high balls did well
Steve 8 same balls just different head good job
Chopper. 8 Did what he had to do, came off with injury.
Scolsey 8.5 superb today in different positions did what he had to do n did it well
Fiss 8 came close with a free kick gave his heart aswel.
George 8.75 my mom fantastic all round topped with for me goal of the game great stuff.
Merce 8 caused troble all game WHY IS HE THE FALL GUY
Lonsdale 8.5 unselfish worked hard got the goal he deserved grea header.
Wozza 8 played well not easy when lone striker good goal should of had another.
Hunty 8 came on u cud see it straight away great asset.
Daz 8 did his job tantastic back
wes 8 did what he had to do good pace
Thanks lads for a great 2008 dont forget traing every tuesday still at 7 and your fees for next year so we can win this league. please dont make me pester you for the money, See you tomos.
Ratings
Mercer, you're getting soft in your old age. Looks like you've had your '8' key fixed, finally!!
Ross - 9 - Class. Kept us in the game
Clarkson - 8 - He makes it look easy. Got forward well
Steve M - 9 - Solid
Andy M - 8 - Great game, finally over his injury perhaps.
Neil - 8 - Came back from a bad game with a stormer
Mercer - 9 - Great 1st half, good 2nd. Played a part in all 3 goals
George - 8 - Another great game. Hard in the tackle and in the air
Scholes - 10 - MotM, without a doubt. Just gets better and better.
Sean - 9 - Worked really hard. Put a goal on a plate for a team mate. Can't ask for more.
Wozzer - 8 - Great game and well taken goal. Would like to see more work.
Hunty - 8 - Instant impact. They didn't like playing against Hunty.
Wez - 7 - Not enough time. Did well on and off the ball
Dazzle - 7 - Not enough time. Short pass, what more can I say. Well done.
Andy Mac, harsh as fuck this week on the ratings pal.
Good night out, not been that drunk since I was high school!! Monday got written off and tuesday started with a dose of sonic diareahia but well worth the night out.
Fiss
ross-8.5-getts better every
ross-8.5-getts better every game 4 me that save was nealy as good as big nevs in the 95 cup final.
chops-8-dont think he had a lot of time on the ball,but had the winger in his back pocket.
steve-8-fearless with his tackles.
andy-8.5-just finishing above autoweld drove him on,class.(motm)
scholes-8.5-sum top quality croses,played a vital role with the link between midfeield and defence.
george-8.5-that goal was fucking ace man.
fiss-8-did all the right things by keeping it on te deck.
merc-8-found the space all he time to outfox the left back.
sean-8-good goal working well with wozzer again.
wozzer-8-always went looking 4 pass when he dident have shot on.
wes-7 good tracking back.
daz-7 good passing.
hunty-7 looks a tricky player
hunty-7looks a clever player.
PS jack was more than happy 2 lend us his ball as long as it dident go in the dike.
RATINGS
"Moaner"Ross-8 (Great first half save, did everything asked)
"Special"Neil-9 (Outnumbered when scholsey moved inside and coped well)
Andy"me back"Mackenzie-7 (By his own rating system, 8 for me)
Steve"my back to"Mackenzie-8 (Solid as usual)
"Chopper"Daz-8 (Not tested as much as Neil but did everything asked)
Steve"the fall guy"Mercer-8.5 (Involved in the goals, needed bit more composure with some chances)
"Strawberry blonde"Scholsey-8.5 (Would score even higher but know he's capable of even more, good game)
"Batty"Fiss-8 (Great through balls across to Mercer and George, usual good captain display)
"Peaceful"George-8.5 (Not on the pitch though, good no nonsense performance and great goal)
"Ninja"Sean-8.5 (Great first half, tired a little in the second but never stopped)
Craig"me bro"Wozza-8 (Looked class at times, Looked lazy at times)
SUBS- Wes-life, Hunter- Not enough time to be marked!
MOM- Neil- watching from the line, which was expertly done i might add- 9, neil dealt with the fact that scholsey moved inside very well. Needed to be done but sometimes, in second half in particular, was facing two and dealt with it well.
Overall a good game to watch and chuffed to bits we climbed above Autoweld to claim 5th. Next season we should be looking at top three at least, nuff said!
Good To Be Back
Great to be back in an excelsior shirt after all this time...an amazin bunch of lads...cant wait for next season gonna go far.