The teams pause for a post-match photocall
Lørdag 10. August 2002
The teams pause for a post-match photocall
Tension!
The English camp knew the meaning of the word as they quietly munched their cornflakes and jam over the breakfast table. Each member of the team starting to focus in their own way on the vital soccer match looming later that day against the much-feared "Norway All-Stars" led by Ben Davies - Joycey fishing and eating doorstop cheese sarnies; Rob sawing off straight(!) slices from the Kneipbrød; Andy & Gav in quiet discussion over tactics and hitting each other; Matt in solemn contemplation of his Gortex soccer-substitute-shorts, book of soccer rules in his hat; Rich Holland eating his way through his third triple jam & peanut butter & cheese & alpen sandwich ( "... anymore tea going ...").
Yes- it was all very TENSE.
The England team bus rolled up at the Bruvoll Stadium of Light & Midges and the England team, resplendent in their blue tops, clambered down and started their warm-up session. The Norway All Stars team, playing a cunning psychological pre-match game of nerves, were late declaring their side but it soon became clear that they were up for it as the young Pablo peeled off his tracksuit and went through a skillful and sparkling individual series of tricks with the ball, the not-so-young PB & PDL (much derided among their companions and erstwhile squad mates) lined up for the All Stars and man-mountain Rich Holland revealed where all those marmalade sandwiches went as he too placed his size 14 footies at the disposal of the All Stars defence.
So the scene was set; rugby referee Mr Ernst Davies called the two captains, tossed the kroner high into the air and the All Stars captain called true : first victory.
All Stars maintain pressure on the Engelske Rabble FC goal
The game was fast and furious - Norway All Stars secure in defence and swift to pass the ball forward. It wasn't long before the Engelske Rabble FC were retrieving the ball from the back of the net. It took some dynamic foot work and good passing to break down the All Stars defence to get a shot at goal - Rich Holland was superlative as the last line of outfield defence : his 14's stopping the Engelske attack in its tracks on many-an occasion.
However a slick move put Dan "Daler" Dales away and his clever low shot slipped passed the All Stars goalie to level the score at 1-1. Dales was soon scoring his second but this time at the other end. Oops! Beklage, lads!! (Twit!)
Super Dan Dales scores his second - in his own goal!
So ended the first half. A game fast moving with so far the Norske All Stars showing the better structure and controlled passing game, in spite of only having 9 players against the 11 of their opponents. The work of Bjørnson down the right especially effective; Pablo so far having a quiet game; Joycey (in goal for the Engelske Rabble FC) was not (as usual); some dubious/careless clogging by the Engelske Rabble FC earned them a serious warning by the referee, who sin-binned 2 players (adopting the practice quite effectively from the Rugby Union code of football); and Dales nearly won an Oscar for his dramatic portrayal of "modern footballer whimp/cheat"!!
The second half pattern of play was quickly established : Norwegian control and quick passing, good cover in defence, stout and courageous keeping of their goal; on the other hand the English play degenerated somewhat as the early morning fishing and late night forest visits began to take their toll. One or two personal scores were being settled but the Engelske Rabble FC forwards soon realised that bouncing off the big guy in the Norwegian goal was "not recommended"!
As the Norwegian captain Ben Davies and ever-covering hard working Peter "Bite Ya Legs Off" Lloyd gained mastery of the midfield, the Engelske Rable FC were forced into long ball tactics and packing the Norwegian goal area with goal-hangers.
The All Stars added three more quality goals and squandered dozens of further chances, late transfer Adam "Vinney Jones" Griffiths slotting one and missing several more!
Final whistle brought deserved victory by a margin that really flattered the Engelske Rabble FC. "It should have been at least 10" observed one of the excited crowd as she left the game.
Final Score : Norske All Stars - Fem (5), Engelske Rabble FC - To (2)
Teams:
| Norske All Stars |
Engelske Rabble FC |
|
| Big Phil | Goalkeeper | Stubby "F@t Gluvs" Joyce |
| Rich "Size 14 Cloggers" Holland | Defence | Ellie Sheepy Rob "Shaver" Hayes Adam "Viney Jones" Griffiths (1st half only) |
| Ben Davies (Captain) Pete "Chopper Harris" Lloyd Jørn |
Midfield | Super Dan "Dazza" Dales Andy "Hatchet" Hitchcock Chris "Ably" Gallant |
| Ola Per-Erik Runar Pablo Adam "Viney Jones" Griffiths (2nd half only) |
Forwards | Gav "Gav" Hardy Matt "Peeeedo" Key Sam "Lycra-Boy" Coe Alasdair "Siiiko" Burchill |
Final Quote from PB - "We stuffed 'em good and proper!"
Match Photographs
A brief pause in the Engelske Rabble FC warm up
Stubby "F@t Gluvs" Joyce and the rest of his team get acquainted with the ball
Matt Peeeedo Key gets a stern warning and dressing down from Match Referee Mr E Davies
Dan Dales slots home Engelske Rabble FC's first goal
Stubby "F@t Gluvs" Joyce stoops to retrieve the ball from the back of the Engelske net once more
Gav "Gav" Hardy (who replaced F@t Gluvs Joyce in the Engelske goal) thwarts All Stars striker Runar
Down - Adam "Vinney Jones" Griffiths takes a tumble
Gav "Gav" Goalie Hardy has more success than Stubby in keeping Runar's sharp shooting at bay
Big Phil stops yet another Rabble assault on his goal and quickly launches another Norske All Stars attack
Throw-in signals the ref as Rich Holland picks himself up from another crunching challenge
"I didn't touch 'im Ref!" Shaver Hayes innocently shouts
Adam & Joycey in a goal mouth tussle
Spot The Ball Competition!