Honours Even At 'The Torc' - 27th Dec 09
The annual festive Manager's match took place this year at Torc High School between a Manager's Representative XI and the Birmingham AFA team. A break in the frosty weather meant that the match could go ahead, albeit on a muddy pitch that was not going to be condusive to pass and move football.
The AFA team must have started the match quietly confident after observing some very strange 'warm-up' routines from the Manager's Representative XI. The Goalkeeper's warm-up consisted of watching some youngsters blast balls into the back of the net with him saying "I can't stop them unless they're straight at me!". The rest of the team formed a circle to perform what can only be described as stretching that would have your Gradmother in stitches.
The match kicked off at 2:00pm in sunny but cold conditions and the AFA team quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around nicely. They carved out a series of good chances, with the strikers missing a couple of early opportunities. It was no surprise, therefore, when AFA went into an early lead. A good strike from twenty yards low to the keepers right that a 'regular' keeper wouldn't have gotten near.
This early set back seemed to spark the Manager's into life with some neat football being played by both sides and the scores were level after twenty minutes, a sharp chance fired into the roof of the net from close range.
Then came the moment of controversy that would prove to have a large bearing on the eventual outcome of the match. After twenty five minutes the AFA striker was put clean through with a defense splitting pass. The Manager's keeper advanced to the edge of the box and was rounded easily by the striker. Although the keeper hadn't played for some fifteen years instinct took over and his right arm snaked out, bringing the striker to the ground. The Referee had an easy penalty decision to make but seemed to bottle the red card, claiming it wasn't a clear goal scoring opportunity beacuse the striker "couldn't hit a barn door sitting on the latch!". The penalty was despatched easily by the AFA keeper and they were back in front. No heads dropped on the Manager's team and once again they levelled to take the match into the break at 2-2.
After some refreshing Lucozade and several cigarettes The Manager's came out for the second half with renewed determination and stormed into a 3-2 lead early on. This time it was the turn of the AFA side to show their metal and they duly obliged, levelling quickly with a nice move down the right finished off with a slide rule cross and nice finish.
The crowd of fifteen and a dog were being warmed up with an excellent match played in the right spirit and end to end football, Once again the Manager's took the lead, this time through a penalty of their own. Once again AFA levelled with the striker showing a neat turn of speed to round the keeper and slot home from a narrow angle. AFA now upped their game a little and forced three superb saves from the Manager's keeper. Shades of Euro '92 against the Dutch here with the AFA supporters pointing out that he shouldn't have been on the pitch to make the saves!
The Manager's took the lead for the third time after despatching a penalty that even the striker looked surprised to have been awarded. Justice was done at the end, however, when the AFA team once again levelled with five minutes to go to make it 5-5.
The final whistle brought matters to a close with honours even. A quick change on the car park and a short ride to'The Winning Post' pub for a pint and Chilli & Chips rounded of the day nicely - with the Manager's keeper being presented the match trophy for his match winning performance. His acceptance speech consisted of "At the end of the day I'm over the moon at the end of the day. The lads played well in front of me and at the end of the day I was fortunate at the end of the day to get to a couple of shots. Apologies to the Torc groundsman who will have to fill in a couple of holes where I landed!"