10 March 2007, TML 4 Div II @ Oifuto I
BEFC 2 - 1 Stoneds
(goals: Eddie Peters, Thorsten Weber, bookings: Tim Letheren, sent off: Will Ryan)
BEFC knew going into this match that a win would take them that little bit closer to the Div 2 title. Surely things would be pretty straight forward for them playing against a side in the bottom three of the division... surely not. Stoneds were much the better team through 60 minutes – they passed, moved, tackled, headed and BEFC enjoyed watching them. Unfortunately (for Stoneds) none of those actions really resulted in a decent shot on goal. That was until Stoneds` gloved wonder danced forward like something out of a Michael Jackson music video and thrashed home from twenty yards – thrilling.
BEFC realized what this meant. Were all of our efforts through the season worth nothing? – were we going to let one of the other top three teams pip us to the post?…..what do you think? A fine move through midfield resulted in BEFC's Eddie finishing superbly from twenty yards. Stoneds continued to come forward but resolute tackling from defence and midfield (especially Man of the match, Tim M.) made sure Stoneds played only in middle of the park and not really near the BEFC box.
Our Irish barman, Will, then suddenly remembered that it was St. Paddys day the following week – so got himself sent off for kicking out, thus ensuring a ban for the following week`s game – how strategic the Irish are when it comes to drinking. Stoned`s advantage was soon gone though as one of their players got sent-off for leading with the elbow. Nice thing was though, to ensure he didn’t land awkwardly, the recipient of the elbow, BEFC's Gary, caught him around the neck with his hands and guided him down to the ground safely.
BEFCs captain, Tim L, took a booking for a last minute, goal saving, bone crunching tackle whilst Stoneds looked certain to score. Actually my memory escaped me for a moment – the booking was for kicking the ball away... it wouldn’t have been so bad but he toe-poked it.
BEFC continued to push and looked the more likely to score in the last twenty minutes – Stoneds keeper making a few good blocks on one-on-ones. Where the Irish had tried to stop the British Embassy’s rise, the Germans made it happen. In the last minute, up stepped “Thorson” – at the end of a fine move and broke into the Stoneds box – amongst the calmest finishes you will ever see resulted in a 2-1 win for BEFC. Stoneds (having played so well) seemed upset with the result and seemed to not know where the changing rooms were – no bother….. BEFC`s Gary again helped out by wrapping one had around a Stoneds players neck and showing him the way.
Thanks to Stoneds for a great game – we still don’t know how you are not near the top of Div 2.
And there it was – promotion and BEFC were “perennial winners” as another team in our division had predicted in one of their match reports back in February.
Oh yes – sorry I forgot, Tim L had a shot on targ... sorry have exceeded maximum no. of characters for the report.