11 March 2006 - League
Darkside 0 v Surrey Fire 3
Team: Adrian, Alan, Andy, Ant, Ben M, Craig, Dan B, Dan S, Ian, Jim, Mark P, Mike, Steve, Tim
Goals: - / Assists: - / MOTM: Tim / MM: Alan
PICTURE GALLERY

SURREY FIRE BURN DARKSIDE DREAMS

The two sides squared up in the game of the season for Darkside, early formations were 5 in midfield and lone striker Mike up front. Surrey Fire employing the classic Liverpool four four two.

The managers pre-match talk centred around the threat posed by set pieces and their giant strike partnership and how right he proved to be.

Within a few minutes of kick off, a strong run from the Surrey Fire defence ended in a free kick being awarded just outside the Darkside area, a deep curling free kick to the far post was met by one of the larger than average stikers who nodded it in at the far post.

After such a terrible start the Darkside began to work their way into the game, some impresive football from the whole of the midfield and Mike, looked sure to pay some dividends. Early breaks were worked between Mike and Ben on the right wing, both players getting behind Surrey Fires defence on several occassions only to be met by a keeper who was on his toes and quick off his line.

The more skillful football was being played by Darkside with Tim, Dan S and Craig working the ball well through the middle of the pitch, however the compact two banks of four that Surrey Fire held, meant space was difficult to find. Ant and Alan on the left wing created some nice breaks but the ball just didnt seem to be running for the for us. And so the second bad break hit Darkside, with the midfield pushing forward for the equaliser, a hit and hope clearance from the Surrey Fire defence cut out the midfield and exposed the Darkside back four, the big striker was well shepherded along the edge of the box by Adrian only for the giant to turn on a sixpence and bury a low shot into the far corner leaving Andy no chance. 2 Nil.

It was now clear that Surrey Fires main tactic was the old big boot from defence up to the two centre forwards who looked like they should be playing in the second row of a rugby scrum. A French Dan tackle left one of the Surrey Fire stikers out of the game laying on the side line with a bag of frozen peas strapped to his swelling ankle, was this the glimmer of hope that we needed? Would Surrey Fire bring on a circus midget in his place? Hell no, instead they produced yet another giant from the dubious gene pool that they recruit their forwards from. Dan ‘exocet' Bansept and Adrian ‘Huth' Boyd battled tirelessley to stem the tide and along with Ian at right back and Ant at left back managed to hold firm until half time.

The second half saw Ant come off due to injury to be replace by Minty, formation was also changed to three at the back with Steve playing the Makelele role covering the defence. The match continued in a similar vein to the end of the first half with Darkside playing some flowing football but Surrey Fire survived the pressure with a combination of huge clearance kicks and lots of injury breaks. Time was running out but just one Darkside goal would have changed the whole feel of the match. Midway through the second half came the final nail in the Drakside coffin, a ball was crossed in from the right and aided by a pinball effect of deflections landed at the opposition strikers feet, 3 Nil.

Neil acted by bringing on Mark to replace Mike who was struggling with a combination of cramp and severe lack of sleep from toothache the night before, There was an air of resignation now and Surrey Fire began to look more comfortable. 15 minutes from the end Ian came off after an immense effort at right back to be replaced by yours truly who had been getting cold on the touchline, but the game was lost.

The disapointment of falling at the last hurdle should be measured against the fact that we were not outfought or outplayed by a team that will be playing third division football next season. The oppositions manager commented that the score line flattered them and the smile on his face was only matched by Steves as he was told that it was burger and chips for tea down at the pub.

Match report by: Jim