FCFC 5-2 Athletico

LEAGUE MATCH – 2nd December 2007Top of the table clash against Athletico (in third position and a game in hand). Winning this game would keep us top of the table over the winter. Which we did, WAAHAY, although at times it looked like we could’ve slipped up. We started off well dominating their half and Nick was quick off the mark to chase up their keeper after he fumbled the ball to give the City an early goal, within 5 minutes as Stefan predicted! The rest of the half was goalless, but that’s not to say either side weren’t trying, although to be fair the City had more of the chances, Nick coming close again as their keeper yet again fumbled the catch but it wasn’t to be. At the other end, Jason made a great save from a free kick after Alex had douched someone right on the edge of the box. Half time oranges and Jim made a few changes, bringing on the Pikey for Alex, Stefan in defence to push Simon up and Phil down the right wing instead of Johny. Pikey walked on to the field after tea with starched whites and a kookaburra but soon bailed out? He didn’t even make it to the first ball as the umpire with ‘hawkeyes’ spotted Pikey walking up to the wicket with unregulation Cricket spikes. What damage could he cause with them eh! Just a minute, what game are we playing. With opposition camaraderie Pikey had ‘voleyed’ a pair of chaussures from le French so he could get on the pitch. Half way through the second half Athletico bowled through the central defence and scored their first goal and ten minutes later they scored their second goal to go ahead for the first time in the match. But the Athletico celebrations didn’t last long. As the City crew do only too well, we stepped up the pressure and perform well when we go down first [as the girls tell us]. While Athletico still had their heads in the clouds the play was back in the attacking end. Only two minutes after the opposition goal City were awarded a free-kick – Luca guided home a truly memorable shot with his right foot from outside the box. This was the kind of stuff we needed and apart from returning the smiles to the sideline, the City players started talking again and passing the ball with conviction. So, while Athletico were still in shock, our attack down the right flank motored into action and Macia put away our third goal, in a matter of minutes. Athletico now wished they could curl back into the safety of their maternal womb and this gave space for the City defence and midfield to swing the ball from one side to the other. Within moments of playing down the right, Jim switched the play to the left where Pikey opened things up down the wing and laid the ball off to Louis who supplied a great through ball to allow Macia to slot yet another superb shot into the back of the net. And all three goals within ten minutes of each other. The City where really on top of things now and Athletico were stunned at the back, like the proverbial rabbit in the headlights, as the City floodgates opened. It would be sometime however before the Lido floodlights would be turned on, this being a Sunday afternoon match on a bright sunshiny December day. Johny was bought back onto the pitch but his game was all over quicker than an oily handjob as he got his second yellow card, this time for falling over in the box! Being reduced to ten men hardly made a difference to our dominance all over the pitch. The “Two Phil’s” teamed up well down the right and the rotund German one crossed a ball deep into the box from the touchline which ‘Minneapolis Otto’, acting as the meat to this Philadelphia sandwich, chipped back into the six-yard box – the Corsican one made no mistake with a textbook right footed finish from close range. Five-Two at the final whistle and excellent commitment from the City boys to turn the game round and finish Athletico off in style. [TABLE=22] [TABLE=23] As usual, you can see more details of the match and goals on our webteams page.