Christ Church v.
Nuffield @ Christ Church (Iffley Road). Saturday 23/10/04
After a
bruising 4-0 defeat the week before, Nuffield went to Christ Church still
searching for their first league victory of the season. The Lions dominated the
game from the off, and could have gone in 5-0 up at halftime. However, they
were only 2-1 up at the break as they were unable to capitalise on the amount
of possession and number of chances they created. Spyros opened the scoring
when he latched onto a free kick deftly chipped into the box by Al after the
Greek "pocket rocket" had been fouled. He then repaid the favour by firing in a
corner that Al easily turned into net, much to the delight of the assembled
family McMillan. Just as it looked like Nuffield were going to run away with
the game, the defence failed to effectively clear their lines and they found
themselves leading by only a single goal at halftime.
Halftime: Christ
Church 1-2 Nuffield
The second half saw the Lions do something they
have often failed to do in the past. Not only did they go on to win the match
after being narrowly in front at halftime, they also never let the opposition
back into the game and indeed continued to assert their authority. Adrian
scored a hat trick by confidently converting two penalties, both resulting from
the clumsy Christ Church defence's complete inability to deal with Spyros, and
scoring a brilliant solo goal in between. Picking the ball up on the left
flank, he left two men for dead on his way to the box, cut inside and found the
top left corner of the goal with apparent ease. It wasn't all good news for
Nuffield though, as the captain, unable to emulate Heiko on the pitch in any
other way and always a couple of weeks behind him, followed in the German's
footsteps by twisting his knee and having to leave the pitch. He watched the
rest of the game, including Adrian's outstanding goal, in a solvent-fuelled
state of bliss. At least he now knows why the "magic" spray is so called. Eirik
rounded things off by scoring his first goal for the Lions, who once and for
all debunked the myth that "the House always wins".
Fulltime: Christ
Church 1-6 Nuffield
Man of the Match:
Spyros
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Nuffield
v. Worcester @ Worcester Saturday 16/10/04
This match was at times
so one-sided that it seemed the kind of caricature of a sporting encounter
worthy of P.G.Wodehouse's pen. Nuffield quickly assumed the role of the
well-meaning but blunder-prone upper crust dunderhead, while Worcester were the
effortlessly efficient gentleman's gentleman. The Lions were beaten 4-0 by a
superior team stuffed with JCR players, but not before some of their players
had landed themselves in the soup in true Wooster style. Anyone who knows the
Nuffield keeper Andrea will tell you that he has calves the size of prize
marrows, but that didn't stop the referee temporarily sending him from the
pitch, while play continued, for not wearing adequate protection on his lower
legs. Then Emre got in on the act by brilliantly intercepting a dangerous
through-ball. "What's wrong with that?", I hear you cry. Well nothing, except
that Emre momentarily forgot he was playing football rather than basketball and
so found himself in the official's notebook for deliberately handling the ball.
It would be possible for such a heavy defeat to be demoralising, but there were
positives to take from the game; the return of midfield dynamo Spyros and
former golden boot winner Daniel, the way Matthias continued to tirelessly plug
away up front despite being completely isolated, and, of course, the fact that
we don't have to play Worcester again this year.
Fulltime: Nuffield 0-4
Worcester
Man of the match:
Matthias
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Balliol v. Nuffield @ Jowett Walk. Saturday 09/10/04
Football matches in the MCR League Supplementary Division rarely come
with more baggage than this one. Nuffield recorded a narrow 3-2 win over
Balliol in a preseason friendly two weeks ago, but that is of minor
significance compared to last season's league encounter between these two
teams. On that occasion Balliol won 3-0, with all three goals coming from the
penalty spot. The first two decisions were incomprehensible and the referee,
whom both teams agreed had a terrible game, added insult to injury by sending
Heiko off. Florian, then Nuffield captain, initially refused to pay the
official's match fee and the Lions were deducted a point in the league
standings. With the same referee in charge for this match, the current captain
decided that the best place for him to be was on the touchline, barking
instructions. The two teams looked evenly matched from the off, with neither
midfield able to wrestle control of the game from the other. Nuffield's
seasoned back line of Tom, Al, Eric and Stef used their combined experience of
120 years to coolly deal with any Balliol through balls, while dual midfield
anchors Colin and Emre broke down play in the middle. Wide men Chris and Taane
found themselves with more defensive responsibilities than usual, and while
Heiko and Adrian were constantly probing the Balliol defence, clear cut chances
were few and far between. The breakthrough came in predictable fashion though,
as the ref's itchy finger eventually got the better of him and he pointed at
the Balliol penalty spot. Both teams were still scratching their heads as
Heiko's kick hit the back of the net.
Halftime: Balliol 0-1 Nuffield
Nuffield made two changes at halftime, with Matthias replacing the
departing Adrian and debutant Eirik coming on for Taane, who had twisted his
ankle just before the break. Eirik showed some nice touches going forward and
Matthias was once again accelerating past defenders with ease, but the Lions
were still having to work hard in defence. A Balliol throw-in led to an initial
shot that Andrea was equal to, but he could do nothing about the rebound as the
ball fell to an opposition player who stroked it into an open net from six
yards. At 1-1 with most of the second half to play, Balliol now believed they
were in a position to take control of the game. Then Heiko scored the best goal
ever. Two touches; the first, when midway between halfway and the penalty area,
to deftly control a lofted forward pass, turning his man in the process and
giving himself space to shoot, and the second to curl the ball past the
hopeless Balliol keeper and into the top left corner of the goal from well
outside the box. The German ace was now rampant, and went ruthlessly in search
of another hat trick. He cracked a fearsome drive straight at the shell-shocked
keeper, before disaster struck and he twisted his knee. As new acquisition
Nathan had just replaced Emre, Nuffield had used all their subs and there was
no one to replace Heiko as he was helped from the pitch. It was always going to
be tough to hang on to a one goal advantage for twenty minutes with only ten
men, and it certainly wasn't made any easier when the referee decided this time
to point to the Nuffield penalty spot. The chance was converted and the Lions
defended like, well, Lions for the remainder of the game to earn a draw and
their first point of the season.
Fulltime: Balliol 2-2
Nuffield
Man of the match:
Colin
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Nuffield
v. Balliol @ Botley Road. Saturday 25/09/04.
Nuffield started their
first match for four months as one would like to see them start every match;
with eleven players on the pitch, a string of enthusiastic substitutes on the
bench and no one displaying the outward signs of alcohol poisoning. More than
that, the team made a confident start to the game. The five-man midfield
dominated the middle of the park, leaving the defence little to do, while
debutant Adrian looked sharp up front. Heiko was taking every opportunity to
get forward too, and it wasn't long before the Balliol keeper spilled a long
range effort from last year's player of the season to open his and Nuffield's
account. Adrian continued to cause the Balliol defence problems, ably assisted
by Taane on the left, and he went close on a number of occasions. However, the
Lion's second came again from Heiko when he made one of many surging runs from
midfield and was the victim of a somewhat agricultural challenge inside the
box. He picked himself up to take the sort of penalty you wish David Beckham
knew how to take, giving the keeper no chance by hitting the ball high to his
left. Before the half was out, Heiko had his hat trick and Nuffield's third
after Adrian impressively cut inside and unleashed a shot which the Balliol
keeper could only parry into his path. Seeing all this from the sidelines was
making Matthias eager for his share, and perhaps a little too eager, as with
seconds to go to halftime he was farcically booked for entering the field of
play without permission after swapping with Heiko.
Halftime: Nuffield
3-0 Balliol.
At halftime, the new captain showed his inexperience and
membership of the Claudio Ranieri school of football management by breaking the
sacred rule of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". The five-man midfield became
a four-man midfield, and put under real pressure for the first time, the
Nuffield defence were found to have dozed off. They conceded two soft goals at
the start of the half, neither of which the excellent Andrea in goal could do
much about, and suddenly there was everything to play for. After an extra man
dropped back into midfield, things began to look more solid again. Matthias
worked tirelessly as a lone striker and Chris, as usual, was a constant outlet
down the right. The pressure on the Balliol defence was slowly increased, and
the Lions almost extended their lead when Adrian crashed a thundering header
against the crossbar. As the match entered its final phase, Rob "Supersub"
Harris donned the famous red and black stripes for the first time and helped
ensure that an interesting and encouraging encounter ended in victory.
Fulltime: Nuffield 3-2 Balliol.
Man of the first half: Heiko.
Man of the second half: Adrian. (Unorthodox I know, but appropriate in the
circumstances I think you'll agree)
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