Colombians 5 Vs OV Convicts 4, November 2003, Les Quennvais, Jersey
Author:
Hunny Bunny
Both
teams were confident going into the final after heading their respective groups.
Colombians easily defeated Guernsey rivals Tigers and OV’s beat Jersey rivals
Gobis on penalty flicks in the semi final.
This
was a repeat match from the previous seasons Upton final so both teams knew the
other’s strengths. Player for player OVs had the more skilful team, but
Colombians had the superior work rate and team work. All this added up to create
a very exciting final.
The
first half turned into a seven-goal thriller.
Both
teams were creating great chances down their right flank. With the ginger topped
whippet Adam Kitching causing a threat with his pace and change of direction.
The right-sided midfielder for OVs had good skills and created numerous two on
ones against Colombians’ Chris Colmer.
The
Colombians started the brighter of the two and kept the ball well, but every
time Richard Finch from OVs received the ball his pace, skills and direct
running caused problems at the back for Colombians.
Eventually
the deadlock was broken after 10 mins, Jersey right side play created a good
attacking chance which resulted in confusion in the Colombian D. Jerseys Chris
Peacock slotted the ball past Kees Jager in the Colombians goal after Jamie
Chambers misjudged a pass and Chris Peacock was left free on the far post for a
tap in. This was against the run of play, but OVs always looked dangerous when
they attacked.
Colombians
hit back within 5 minutes Adam Kitching used his pace to get onto a through
ball, took the ball past the last defender, pushing himself wide, before
unleashing a viscous undercut past Jerseys No 1 keeper.
Five
minutes later Jersey went 2-1 up after further relentless pressure down the
right. They created a short corner, up stepped Jerseys Mark Dicker, whose drag
flick went high to Kees Jager’s right. Colombians keeper got a hand to the
ball, but deflected it into the corner of the net.
Tackles
continued to fly in and Jerseys Richard Finch was sin binned for 10 minutes for
persistent moaning
Again
Colombians kept the ball well and TJ Ozanne waltzed past two defenders before
drawing a foul to produce a short corner. TJ’s turn for a drag flick, as he
fired the ball 10 inches off the floor down to the keepers left. 2 – 2, could
either team now take control?
The
game seemed to miss out the midfield four of both teams for a large spell
towards the later part of the first half, with hard defending and quick
attacking being foremost on both teams minds.
Again
good work down OVs right and pace from Finch produced a further short corner. Up
stepped Dicker who fired another drag flick into the top left hand corner, this
one leaving Jager with little chance. Giving away short corners seemed more
dangerous than letting the OVs shoot.
Tim
Creasey, Colombians new signing, was filling in at right back for the missing
Matt Elston. Tim spent the entire game producing last ditch tackles and turning
defence into attack linking up well with Adam Kitching and Tristan Cairns
who’s ability to keep and distribute the ball was well demonstrated.
Colombians
again released Kitching down the right side who drove the line skipping over
various attempts to tackle him from the OVs. He started running towards the goal
and reversed flicked at pace to beat the keeper at his near post. 3-3 and there
was still 5/10 minutes of the first half to go.
Colombians
had their first golden chance to take the lead with Jamie Chambers realising
Damian Wallen down the right whose pace created a two on one. He drew the
defender and slipped the ball to Adam Kitching who unfortunately missed the ball
and ended up on the floor. Shortly after this unfortunate miss Adam admitted he
probably should have taken a touch.
Then
Finch again drove at the back line again and fired a ball across the D to a
teammate who swept the ball towards the goal. Tim Creasey made up good ground,
to cover the mountain of OV attackers in the box, the ball fired against his
feet and the umpire gave a penalty flick against the Colombians for deliberate
back of stick. This caused some confusion for the Colombians, but the decision
was final.
Finch
stepped up a fired the ball past Jager into the roof of the net, 4 – 3 and
halftime.
Colombians
started the second half by forcing the ball for a sixteen for OVs to create
pressure, two swift passes later OVs were attacking the Colombians goal. It
looked as though the game was going to continue in the same manner.
With
Jamie Chambers winning personal battles against the powerful centre forward
Finch, he started to dominate the Colombians defence. With the tireless Richard
Radford chasing down the Jersey attackers and his brother and Colombian captain
Philip Radford making crucial interceptions all game, the Colombians started to
dominate possession of the ball again.
TJ
Ozanne and Adam Kitching worked well down the right on a Colombian break drawing
defenders and Kitching slipped the ball square to Chris Gill who calmly slammed
the ball against the backboard. 4 – 4
The
Colombians were rampant for the next five minutes keeping strong possession in
the opponents half. A short corner was awarded to the Colombians. Chambers
dragged out with his normal precision, Wallen stopped and TJ slipped the ball
left to Cairns who fired a drag flick into the goal. The midfield maestro
deserved this goal after all his ball possession and creative forward play.
There
was 23 minutes remaining and if the Colombians kept the ball by the corner flag
for 23 minutes it would have been an easy and well deserved win. But this was
not the case.
The
game continued in the same manner end-to-end action, with OVs pressing for an
equaliser, giving Colombian forwards greater space to attack. It made an
interesting finally for the neutral.
The back four held a solid back line, trying to cope with the pace a
skills of the Jersey attacking options. Matt Butterfield was brought on as a
super sub to strengthen the tiring legs. The midfielder were running everywhere
with Chris Colmer becoming a defensive left side. Leaving the tireless Adam
Kitching charging up and down the right, with Cairns and Wallen trying to get
possession of the ball and take the ball up field.
With 2 minutes to go TJ Ozanne, under strict
barked instructions from Wallen, kept the ball in the opposition’s corner. TJ
played with the OV defenders as the remaining seconds ticked away causing great
amusement for all.
The Final Whistle was blown and the Colombians had
only gone and fucking done it!