24 November 2007 - Surrey Lower Junior Cup Round 2
Caterham O.B 1 v Darkside 3
Team: Adrian, Andy, Ben M, Berti, Cullum, Dave, Ian, Kia, Mike, Phil B, Phill N, Rob, Steve C
Goals: Ben M, Berti, Kia / Assists: Cullum, Dave, Phill N / MOTM: Phil B / MM: -

Once Upon A Time in deepest darkest Caterham..home of the sports car and several of Phill's love children... Darkside were ready to continue their assault on the Surrey Junior Cup. The bitterly cold afternoon featured an impressive away-crowd turn out, consisting of the ever-injured Ben Saunders, and the ever-hungover Steve Loren. The away side were looking to continue their impressive cup displays of the 2007-08 season with another victory today in Caterham’s very own ‘Bowl’ arena, with its steep imposing banks either side of the very wide pitch. Darkside were warming up on the pitch, and Neil and Steve were warming up on the sidelines with their coffee and hot chocolate courtesy of Ben S’s hot drinks service (in association with Costa Coffee: Discover a host of festive delights in store now – nearest store 27 Victoria Road, Surbiton)!

Tanna had the luxury of being able to name 2 substitutes for this weeks team and was boosted even more with the welcome return of striker Mike Masuku to the squad. However there was only a place on the bench, alongside Rob, available for the returning hotshot. The team was as follows: Goal – Andy, Defence – Ian, Ade, Phil B & Phill N, Midfield – Bertie, Dave, Minty & Cullum, Forwards – Ben M & Kia.

The game started at a good pace with both teams exchanging decent blows and attempts at goal. The so-wide-it-was-nearly-square-pitch was cause for a good game, with lots of space on either flank primed for free-flowing attacking football. On the half hour mark the deadlock was broken, a sweeping move down the left hand side was switched inside to Dave who in-turn found Bertie in space, the new - overseas recruit took a deft touch and hammered the ball into the roof of the net from 25 yards out! Welcome to the Darkside Bertie!

However, less than 5 minutes later, the score was leveled. A sweeping move from Caterham down the left hand side resulted in a low cross being whipped in from the winger which found Phill Neil… no deft touch was needed and the Darkside veteran hammered the ball into the roof of his own net from 2 yards out! Welcome to the Darkside Phill!

Half-time came, with Darkside feeling they probably deserved more for their first half efforts. Cries of “this better not go to extra time you lot, its f***ing freezing!” rang through the crowd, which is all DFC needed to get themselves pumped up for the second half.

The second 45 minutes kicked-off, and Darkside flew out of the traps. Attacking play down either flank was causing Caterham some real problems. Again the deadlock was broken by some good work down the left hand side. An inventive, intellectual throw-in by Phill Neil found Ben Mole who turned the full back inside out and managed to whip in a low fizzing cross towards Cullum, but the DFC forward wasn’t needed as Ben Mole’s cross evaded everyone and nestled into the bottom corner of the Caterham net. 2-1. 

Soon after, the youthful pairing of Minty and Phill Neil were replaced by the decidedly older pairing of Masuku and Rob!! A quick re-shuffle by Tanna the tinker, and DFC were ready to roll. For the rest of the half Darkside looked very comfortable, and never really looked like conceding. The more Caterham pressed, the more dangerous DFC looked on the break – with some lovely link up play between the front four of Mole, Kia, Mike and Cullum.

In the final minutes of the match Caterham were going all out for that all important equalizer, and pushing everyone forward. Deep into injury time, a wonderful sweeping counter-attack saw Kia slot home Darksides 3rd  goal of the game following some fantastic link up play with the returning Masuku, although the assist must be credited to Cullum. 3-1. Final Score.
 
An excellent victory for the Darkside, and a job well done. It was time for a well earned beer. 6 of us crammed into Andy’s Micra (sorry, Almera), and Ben Mole went home with Phill and Celine Dion (sorry Radio 1). YEAH HE LOVED IT!!

Match report by: Ian