10 December 2005 - League
Victoire 3 - Darkside 1
Team: Adrian, Andy, Alan, Ant, Chris, Craig, Dan B, Dan S, Errol, Ian, Mark, Mike, Phill, Tim
Goals: Mike / Assists: Chris / MOTM: Adrian / MM: tbc

Another Saturday afternoon and another tough task for the Darkside boys. Confidence was however high, following the cup heroics of the previous game 3 weeks earlier, despite now facing a Victoire side that had won six on the spin and defending the leagues only remaining 100% record.

The early indications didn’t look promising for Darkside, a muddy surface and a slope on the pitch more suited to a ski slope than a football match, meant this wasn’t going to be a game for the purists. Their usual brand of flowing football was to be replaced by a battle in the middle of the park.

Following his goal spree last time out, Kidwell was chosen to partner Masuku up front, with Swain returning from a 4 week absence to slot into his usual role in the centre of the park along side Kingston, with Tim and Alan providing the width on the flanks. The formidable defensive duo of Boyd and French Dan were flanked either side by the ever dependable Neill and Wright with Mayes once again between the sticks.

The tone was set from the start with several strong challenges early on and the first chance of the game wasn’t long in coming. A long Victoire throw caused confusion in the Darkside box and a lucky bounce saw their striker with a clear strike at goal, only for Mayes to block with his legs. Within a minute Victoire were made to pay and Darkside were celebrating. Kidwell's through ball was chased down by Masuku whos electric pace saw him squeeze between defender and keeper and cleverly nick the ball past into the empty net.

More strong challenges followed with many going unpunished by the more than lenient ref, with French Dan managing to see through the red mist when caught by a late desperate lunge from the Victoire striker. Darkside however weren’t phased and continued their bright start with Swain and Kingston battling well in midfield and both Gale and Fletcher providing useful outlets on the wings. Darkside almost made it two shortly after the half hour mark following some excellent individual work from the ever dangerous Masuku, who saw his superb shot turned over the bar; on another day it would surely have flown in. Kingston's snap shot from a corner also flew narrowly wide and the first of two penalty appeals was turned down late in the half following a definite trip on Masuku in the area.

At the other end the back four held firm and withstood everything that Victoire had to throw/lunge at them, with a toe poke over the bar the only real moment of danger late in the half. 1-0 to Darkside at half time who were full value for their lead. Victoire’s record was in real danger and didn’t they know it.

The second half saw Darkside kicking up the slope, with no changes made following Tanna’s rousing half time talk. “If we wanted to be in the big league these were the games we had to win”.

The half began much the same as the first half ended, with Darkside on top and pushing forward. 15 minutes in saw the games critical turning point. A corner whipped in from the right evaded all and was stabbed goalwards at the backpost. The man on line stuck out his arm and the ball was kept out. A handball cry could even be heard from the pensioner walking his dog across the field 200 yards away, but to the disbelief of the players and manager on the sidelines the ref waved play on. It was a decision that proved costly. 3 minutes later Mayes was picking the ball out of the Darkside net. Another blatant handball in the build up was ignored by the ref and a cross from the left was luckily flicked into the far corner of the net past the outstretched leg of Wright on the line.

Now it was Victoires turn to have the upper hand. Within two minutes of the equaliser almost came their second but Mayes managed to block the intial shot and then miraculously Boyd deflected the follow up over the top. Maybe it could still be Darksides day.

As both midfields began to tire, Tanna began to ring the changes. Neill was replaced by Harris in a like for like swap at full back, Warman replaced Gale and later Patton came on for Kidwell who’d adapted well to his new strikers role. The ref was still influencing the game punishing Pattons first contribution of a well timed tackle with another free keep to the home side.

Depsite the changes Darkside continued to struggle to make an impact at the right end with the ski-slope of a pitch not helping matters. The challenges now were coming thick and fast and several Victoire lunges went unpunished by the ref who, despite the issuing of an early yellow card, had obviously had his card pocket stitched up at half time by a Victoire ally.

Still the back four held firm, with particular credit going to the man mountain of Boyd whose towering headers and last ditch challenges, supported by French Dan, continued to defy the Victoire strikers. Mayes managed to turn a shot from a corner around the post as Victoires threat increased. Another hefty challenge saw the Victoire striker come out worse but Darkside's sporting attempts to halt play almost ended in a second goal for the home side, Mayes scrambling to keep out a long range effort when the rest of the team thought the game at stopped. However Darksides generosity didn’t stop there when Mayes kicked the ball out of play for a corner to allow treatment…maybe a case for monkey moment. Worse followed when Victoire even tried to take the corner in an attacking sense before common sense prevailed.

Alas with 7 minutes to go it wasn’t to be, a long ball down the left beat the offside trap and from 5 yards the ball was crashed high into the net via the post. Darksides resistance was broken. They were now facing a defeat that for so long had long like ending in victory, never mind a draw. The sense of disbelief and frustration could be seen on the managers face, further emphasised when 2-1 became 3 as another long punt down pitch was latched onto and an attempted cross looped over the stranded Mayes and into the far corner. Game over. Pattons late attempt to make the score more realistic was saved as he capitalised on good work down the right from substitute Warman and the tireless Kingston.

There was still time however for the stitches on the refs pocket to come undone and issue a belated second yellow for an outrageous lunge on Harris, although in reality the challenge merited a straight red. It was too little too late. Darksides championship hopes were left in tatters as Victoire celebrated an undeserved 7th win on the bounce, in a match that turned in the space of 3 second half minutes. Still another tremendous effort by all the boys, particularly Boyd who was rightly voted man of the match for his courageous display in the centre of defence. With more luck on the pitch the season could still end in glory. The battle for one of three cups still up for grabs for Darkside continues next week with at home to Dynamo Kingston…followed by a well deserved Xmas break and the conclusion of the fairytale Surrey cup run in early January.

Match report by: Andy