Sala FC 6   Shane FC 5
Fukuda Denshi, Sunday January 22nd.

Sala and Shane served up an 11 goal thrills n spills cup tie bonanza in this topsy turvy David vs Goldilocks  battle in deepest darkest Chiba.

3-0 at halftime to Sala the game seemed over before a characteristic Sala collapse saw Shane storm back into the match, and with the scores tied at 5 each, the headline writers were ready to pen another dramatic upset when Jeff Jordan aka Goldilocks scored Sala’s winner with 5 mins left!!  Great stuff all round and congrats to both teams for a good ol’ ding donger of a match.

The game started with Sala flexing their pecs and peppering the Shane goal with shots.   Ex-Sala keeper, Taylor ( the tension was positively fruity) demonstrated safe hands though and the game remained goalless.

It was then left for Masa to embark on a slaloming solo run to get this goal fest under way.  He picked the ball up deep, skipped past 2 defenders, then called on the Japanese rain gods to hold the ball up just enough, so that he could beat Taylor to the ball and dink it under him.  1-0 Sala.

Following the ancient Chiban proverb that ‘defence is the best form of attack’, Sala next dealt firmly with a Shane corner, setting up a quick break and an early through ball from Jeff to his American compatriot, Ben.  Showing great vision and a lovely touch Ben lofted a sweet finish over the on rushing Taylor from a good 30 yards.  ”Get some!” was the cry.  2-0 Sala.

The third was a fine team goal culminating with Ben slipping a nice pass in behind the overworked Shane defence and straight into the path of Toby.  A good run from him and a nice low finish across the keeper saw the ball bounce in off the post.  3-0 Sala.

Shane’s danger man, Aki almost pulled a goal back before halftime after a nice move but Sala’s stalwart keeper of yesteryear, AJ Price blocked his goalbound effort with a fine dive.  3-0 halftime.

The second half was a dramatically different affair and strengthened everyone’s faith in the everlasting drama and unpredictability of the cup.  ”It was a game of two halves”, “It’s not over til’ the fat lady sings (and your mum’s puckering up)” and other such cliches were all raising their lovely wee heads as a 30 minute spell suddenly saw the game tied at 5-5!!  Admittedly a lack of intensity from Sala, some hopeless defending, an orgy of goalmouth scrambles and one peachy finish from Shane’s aforementioned danger man were as much to thank/blame for such a glut of goals as were the footballing gods of fate, but in the end it all made for a cracking cup tie.  And, at this point I have to hold my hands up to everyone for the omission of goal details but crikey! I was actually playing during the time that all this madness was cracking off.  So, yes it suddenly ended up 5-5 with 5 to go and not a Subaru rally car or a box of crap American fags in sight!  That’s a joke based around 555 you see.  Apologies, it has been a while since I penned a report.   And, give me some credit. I resisted the urge to slag Toby, Ben and Jeff with “the crap American fags” bit.  Ahem.

Anyhoo, just as your mother was puckering up and Shane were sniffing a cup upset in the air Jeff ‘Feed The Beast’ Jordan stepped up to finish another goalmouth scramble and win the tie 6-5 for Sala.  Jings! What a cracking game.

Special mention must go to Lenny for his part in Sala’s winning goal.  The veteran of TML and umpteen Phuket 7′s tournaments and the staunchest believer in the phrase “What goes on your stays on tour.” played, and I shit you not, no less than 3 one-twos in the build up to Sala’s winner.  And, special praise also to Shane for a comeback worthy of a mention in any eikaiwa classroom.

So, 6-5 Sala.  Hurrah for the cup!

Man Of The Match – someone has to feed him, Jeff Jordan.

Sinner Of The Match – all those teams who won in the first round of ‘the real cup’ making this actually ‘a plate match’.  It just doesn’t sound as good and it undermines the whole report.  Your nothing but glory hunters ; )

Scott ‘semi-retired’ Thomson