Saturday 16th September 2006 - Kiwi FC v Los Boca Gunners FC - Away (4-5)

Buoyant after a successful pre-season, Los Boca started their first match of the season brightly, putting away an early goal from a great long throw in by the big centre forward Andrew, headed in by Mufta at the far post.

After that, things started to go pear shaped. Some awful defending in the middle of the park and by the whole defence, saw the Kiwis get back into the game by beating the offside trap and drawing the game level. They then proceeded to ping the ball about with skills not naturally attributed to antipodeans and subsequently went in front.

Two more goals ensued, one a mistake by the keeper and the fourth, confusion from the stand in left back and his keeper saw the Kiwi number 10 score a great header over the keeper.

At 4-1 down, heads were begining to drop, the forwards couldn't hold the ball up and the midfielders just weren't playing the right balls in. Then, the breakthrough. Just before half time, a freekick was awarded after some great work by the left back (yours truly, although up to this point I was having a mare at the back - who the hell suggested I play there?). Up stepped Nicky Twinkle Toes Hunt. A dummy by Big Dane and a beautifully executed right foot curler, saw the ball whistle in to the top corner of the Kiwis net. 4-2. The half time whistle is blown.

The half time team talk from managers, captain and team mates did something to us. With the confidence of Lions we strolled back onto the pitch for the second half and within minutes brought the game to 4-3 through a great goal by Twinkle Toes Nicky again. The forwards had begun to switch on. In fact it started to work all over the pitch. The keeper was commanding at the back, the defenders were resolute and strong in the challenge. Midfielders were linking well and pinging the ball about majestically. Mark and Mufta on the wings were running rings around the Kiwis as if they weren't there. The big forward Andrew then weighed in with two vital goals. The first, penetrating the penalty box with defenders hanging from him in a vein attempt to stop the inevitable. The second, a great run from the left back (who me again?) a pass into midfield, who then forced a corner, leading to the forwards second.

After the 5th goal we then seemed to fall asleep a bit and almost let them back in the game. Two last ditch challenges from the left back kept us in the game, along with some commanding headers from the two centre backs to keep the Kiwis at bay. Our veteran right back Miller, cleared off the line with a great defensive header and in all had a sound game, rarely making a mistake. A perfectly good goal was also dissallowed for no good reason which would have seen us go 4-6 up. The same result would have ensued had we not hit the post and the bar, but in the end we had done enough.

Man of the Match

A brilliant comeback from Los Boca Gunners and a great performance from every player, eventually. Man of the Match was a hard choice in the end, a toss up between Nicky and Mark with Mark just shading it, given his dogged battling throughout. Well done.

This weeks entry written by: Dexter Roberto Carlos (usually Samuel Eto) Valentine