16 February 2008 - League
Darkside 3 v Surrey Fire 3
Team: to follow
Goals: Adrian, Ant, Paul / Assists: Ben M, Craig, Tim / MOTM: Rob / MM: -

Cupid had struck, as if by coincidence the gods had bought Surrey Fire and Darkside together to renew their love affair on the week of St.Valentine!! How romantic...

The team assembled, Paul Dixon dropped off by the men in white coats from his most recent councilling session, hoping to overcome his goal scoring demons and the fact that even Ben Saunders was giving him stick!! Craig had been delayed on his nightshift on the London underground, leaves on the line apparently, but did still turn up. And the gaffa looking more dapper than Jose Mourinhio himself, smart coat, funky scarf  and shoes so pointy there were mumours of, is that Crocodile Dundee??

There were some absentees, Cullum was away celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary and Kia was busy working on his fantasy football team, if only you could pick Barnsely players! Rob had recoved so well from his cut head from the last game, it bought some to question whether he’d faked it, or was it in fact ketchup.....................;)

The team were keen to get out and warm up, as the temperatures were sub zero. A call for double deap heat, gloves, scarfs, hats and tights……..Jim had his new training top on, by the way Jim you left it in the changing room, I put it in the kit bag to be washed. Im not sure if they use persil colour so it may come back a bit faded!!

The ref gathered the team, he seemed like a good choice for a game that had a habit of boiling over, lectured us on removing our jewellery, abusing him etc etc, their talks were shorter these days without French Dan.

The boss went for the conintental 4-5-1/4-3-3. Jim in at Right back, and the versatile Ant to left wing. Craig, Dave and Rob were the enforcing midfield. Juande Harris and Tim warmed the heated bench. We had some supporters too, highest attendance of the season was it?

The game kicked off and Surrey Fire were the more positive from the off, playin 4 up top, it took time for Darkside to find there men and they soon found ourselves on the back foot to the long ball game, one of which found the onrunning Fire striker, who found the far corner, looping past Mayes

Darkside needed that kick up the back side and started to take the game to fire, although the long balls over the top were causing Ady and Branners some difficulty, this did create a couple of openings that The Fire failed to take. Darkside though were thankful to Robs head on numerous first half occasions as Surrey’s corner count and long throws reached double figures, so did the Mitre marks on Robs forehead

Then a moment of brilliance put Darkside level, a flick of the shin and a bobble let Paul Dixon in down the right wing, and like a whippet he left the defender for dead, the goalie saved his first effort, but Dixon so hungry for that goal, followed up his own shot, Lampardesque and found the corner! 1-1 and no more than an ever improving Darkside deserved. Im sure Paul is now waiting for a punch line on this one, but I’ll let him bathe in the glory, top strike!! Was it the shin......

Darkside continued to press looking for the lead, the game started to heat up and twice the sniper in the woods behind the goal caught Ben Saunders, Platoon style! Dave tried a couple of left footed 30 yarders that nearly reached the edge of the box and Ben Moles forays down the wing were causing the little left back of the Fire some problems

The game then deservedly gave Darkside the lead, Kingston burst through, slid in Mole the linesman, who’d already looked a little suspect, flagged, the ref waved play on, Mole squared to an equally offside looking Wright, most people had stopped and as Wright tried to clear the cross bar in discust he found the roof of the net. The Ref, linesman and a few others joined in the debate but the goal was given, slightly fortunate maybe, but still deserved

This rattled The Fire into more action, and before long they were level. One of the poorer Fire corners caught Darkside asleep and the ball defelcted between Mayes and Saunders on the line to put Fire level on the stroke of half time, unsure as to who got the final touch

The half time whistle sounded, the game was in the balance

No changes were made at half time, except Harris took over running the line, and what a good job he did

The game continued in the same fashion, Fires long balls into the box were being won by Robs head and Fire were not managing to find a way through. Darkside were playing on the counter, and twice they came close, Dixon saw his effort well saved by the onrushing keeper and then Ant sort of fell over when through on the GK in a similar position.

Neil the tinkerman then played his first hand, Gale for Tagg, Ant reverted to RB and Gale was into the Ronaldinhio role on the left wing. No sooner had the switch been made, and Gales inswinging corner found Boyd at the back post, and he doubled his seasons tally to put Darkside back in front. The crowd erupted, and for miles around people stopped what they were doing, car alarms went off and windows smashed at the noise Jim made cheering and shouting from the sidelines!!! That man has Darkside in his blood

Surrey Fire piled forward looking for an equaliser, Darkside were holding firm, Branners made some vital interceptions to keep the opposition at bay. Tanna then looking to seal the game, bought off the collosius Rob who’d had a sterling game and replaced him with the equally giant Ian (?), to mop up in front of the back line, often likened to Stefen Freund he was there to do a job

The Fire corner count continued to mount, they headed one onto the top of the bar and came even closer as they headed against the underside of the bar, the rebound scambled clear, it was becoming a backs to the walls finish for the mighty DSFC

Just 5 more minutes to survive, another corner, and this time a bullet header emerged amounsgt a crowd, Fire drew level, much to Darksides disappointment

Harris got involved in some hand bags in the box late on, and Saunders was again snipered, although maybe this one was a bit of a chop, resulting in a yellow card for Surrey Fire centre half

The game fizzled out, little more action, no more chances or goals.

The lads trudged in feeling more like a loss than a draw, now attention turned to the semi the following Saturday, both managers had a week to assess what they’d seen and where the strengths and weaknesses lie..........bring it on!!

Match report by: Tim G