What an entertaining start to the first game of the season for nite Spartans.

Playing on a super quick carpet astro which was nice and wet due to some showers before the game we were up against the team who knocked us out of the cup last year and newbies to the league Hogarden (strange name for a Chinese team, but after playing the likes of White Youth in the Yau Yee League, anything goes), Jason and Pat will have fond memories of that encounter, I was not there to witness it but I believe Jay still owes Pat a ball.

After sorting out the shirts where we had 4 players wearing the same number! We started with the following formation:
Sanju, Nav, Sanj, Paul, Andy B, Pat, Jens, Oli, Rory, Willie and Luke, with Rich, Chi, Jake, Jeff and Ed on the bench.

With Jay supporting from the side lines after cutting his romantic date short in Mong Kok or where ever he went giving some enthusiastic support from the side lines whilst drinking a bag of Smirnoff ice like any good under age kid or university student does.

After trying to get use to the pitch and its super quick condition a defensive error saw us go down 1 – 0 after 10 minutes. The second part of the first half was a much improved game after playing some aerial ping pong which mostly saw the midfield cut out completely. Jens was really getting stuck into and played a blinder in the first half, we opt for balls up in the air over the defence and we look more dangerous with the route 1 with Willie and Luke coming close on numerous occasions and looking lively like Sanjoy on Saturday night in rayne or like Jake and Terry (who looks like a mad professor, according to 2 fat South African birds) in the Yorkshire pudding dancing to some Korean horse dance tune.

A much improved second part to the first half saw us playing a lot better, first half stand outs were Willie, Luke, Jens and Paul who were all playing a blinder.

Half time saw us ring the changes with Chi and Jeff at left and right back respectively, Jake in centre mid, Ed on the left and Cowley up front

The second half is much improved and after a shove in the back we win a free kick which Jens steps up and slots sweetly into the bottom corner of l around the keeper, the keeper didn’t see it coming a bit like Jens with any girl he can find at 2am in Solas. 1-1.

We are back in the game but its not long until they score to make it 2 – 1 but after picking up a yellow card for shooting 5 seconds after the whistle had gone, Luke redeemed himself by scoring a cracker from 30 years out, lobbing there midget goalkeeper in the process to make it 2 – 2, 2 great goals for us so far.

More drama was to follow as Jens hit a shot that deflected in to make it 3 – 2 with only 1 min to go, how sweet it was to see that goal go in after we have been on the receiving end of it some many times.

A great come back and good performance in difficult conditions some stand out performances from Jens, Willie, Paul and Luke.

Back to the Yorkshire pudding after the game and with Jay providing the crud entertainment after drinking his bag of Smirnoff ice on the way back causing havoc with his umbrella and abusing anyone within ear shot all to everyone’s entertainment. Upon arrival we are greeted to the sight of Luke chatting up 2 fat and not attractive South African birds and 1 Aussie bloke, he was trying to go for the hat trick after earlier scoring in the night.

Man of the match went to Luke who just pipped Paul who both had excellent games.

 

Mug of the day went to Pat for his 35 yard daisy cutter.
A great win in our first league game, well played everyone.