Xmas Challenge 07

Xmas Challenge 07
The Masters versus The Pupils
The Date: Sunday December 23rd
The Venue: The Pavilion, Piper's Way, Swindon
The Teams: The Masters versus The Pupils
Referee and MotM and Numpty judge : Matthew 'Extra Time' Hodey

The Masters (2) 8, The Pupils (4) 8
(The Pupils win the 'beer-frame' shoot-out 5-4)
Timeline:
The Pupils morale and team leader Graeme Little nets a rebound and it's 1-0. Two more quick fire goals one
by Danny Clayton and the the other Phillip Corcoran put The Pupils in a commanding 3-0 lead. A goal direct from a
corner and an goalie error put The Masters right back in the game at 3-2. A period of dominance sees The Masters
miss chance after chance along with hitting the post and bar then a last minute break-away is finished by
James Sutton to put The Pupils 4-2 in front at the break.
The second half begins with a crazy ten minute spell where The Masters can't deal with the Sun and big
drop kicks by the goalkeeper and in a matter of moments it is 6-2. Danny Clayton fires in a rebound after
a poor save by David Strover and it is surely game over at 7-2. Not to be outdone The Masters smash one home for 7-3
only for Dave 'Double D' Devine to clip a shot in from the edge of the area for 8-3. A great Chris Little goal
soon makes it 8-4 and then the game seems to settle, particularly with the introduction of Barry Shedden back
into The Masters defence. With time ticking away Chris Sumner heads home for 8-5 and Inglis Cole then misses
what everyone thought was a vital penalty, After missing chance after chance, including a header that was virtually on
the line by Lee Mason, 'Sid' Sutton crashes one home for 8-6. Chris Sumner lashed another close range volley in from
a corner for 8-7 and then with five minutes to go a close in header seals the comeback of the century and an 8-8 draw.
There's just time for Strover to make a weird feet first, dive before the shot was made, save from James Sutton and
it's onto the 'Beer Frame' penalty shoot-out that no one cares about anyway......

Player, fan, spectator, what's your thoughts on the game? Send them by clicking

The Masters	vs	The Pupils	Historic (Facts):
	0-1	Graeme Little (5.00)	2005/06	Irreplacebales 7, Replaceables 4
	0-2	Phillip Corcoran (11.00)	2006/07	Veterans 2, Klowns 2
	0-3	Danny Clayton (13.00)	2007/08	The Masters 8, The Pupils 8
Chris Little (16.00)	1-3
Jay King (23.00)	2-3
	2-4	James Sutton (44.00)
	2-5	David Devine (47.00)
	2-6	Phillip Corcoran (50.00)
	2-7	David Devine (53.00)
Chris Little (55.00)	3-7
	3-8	Danny Clayton (61.00)
Chris Little (72.00)	4-8
Chris Sumner (77.00)	5-8
Lee Mason (81.00)	6-8
Chris Sumner (85.00)	7-8
Who Was It? (88.00)	8-8

Comments:
David Strover: If your father was the only reason you didn't win last season Graeme how come your goalie was a shoe-in for man of the match?
Making save after save he kept my team-mates at bay, whilst I, the worst goalie ever to play football, according to my former 'team-mates' only
conceded two goals against the deadliest strike-force this side of Barcelona, so I was told. I'd say The Klowns lived up to their nickname. Numpty shirts all round!

Phillip Corcoran: This is my first year involved with the club and I can only describe the upcoming fixture as possibly the biggest game of my career if not life!
After studying the two sides at great length I must admit that if the old timers are not on the receiving end of a hammering from the young guns then we
(young guns) seriously need to take a look at ourselves and reconsider our places in the DOB starting eleven.
Providing the ref runs a fair and honest game (as we all know Hodey Ho will do) I can’t see any other outcome than a good win for the young guns!

Ian Wilmer: Different story this year, I’m not gonna say easy, but it won’t be half as close! You boys are another year older, the pitch is way bigger,
just as long as we’re not all too ill to play after Saturday night we’ll take the glory by a good three goals!

Lee Mason: The teams have slightly changed this Sunday according to Hodey-Ho, I'm not saying it will make much difference to the result but I’ve been poached
by THE MASTERS, I believe this is to make way for other talented individuals, although I'm pretty sure The PUPILS have missed out there!

Graeme Little: We will win by AT LEAST 4 goals. End of. My team is full of match winners and I am using this game as an exercise
to demonstrate that "battling" and "running lots" are all well and good but won't cut it if you play a decent team...

Matt 'the Gaffer' Hodey: The Christmas challenge is always a special match for me, welcoming back old captain Chris Little from the land of Uncle Sam to play a proper game!
Obviously its all about Christmas cheer and abusing little Little for wearing tights but I will ref the game dress as Mr Fantastic safe in the knowledge that
the old stagers will play fantastically well and the youngsters will get fantastically stitched up with shots from the gaffer the night before. We've seen Mssrs Sutton,
Little and Devine show their boyish roots rather than manly ways playing after the night before. With Santa Strover having an early night the nets will be safe
and my money is on Chris Little sticking his daft little woman hating younger brother in his place.
Either way, see you all down the WHite Hart fro present giving and all round merryment and abuse.
Rest assured, the best looking will be Mr Fantastic!!