After counting the days down, the decider match was here. 2 teams, 15 players, 2 Tom’s, 3 Josh’s, 1 pitch, 1 game. In what promised to be an amazing game after 2 very close encounters, the players were keen and raring to go. Teams were as follows…
United Offices – Alex Lewis, Josh Robinson, Henry Lee, Dan Scaife, Joshua Chadwick, Tom Canner, Edward (Ned) Dry and Julian Bajaziti (second half, GK).
Warehouse Wanderers – Luke Ford, Jamie Thomas, Kyle Dutson, Sam Betton, Thomas Kendall, Josh Hopps, Carl Handley and Julian Bajaziti (first half, GK).
The sideline support had a decent capacity with 2 dogs, 3 Cromwell employees and some local kids cheering on the footballers.
5:30 had arrived and the game kicked off with both teams playing at an outstanding pace with high intensity. Some excellent chances came early for United Offices, but June’s MOTM Julian had different ideas. The scores stayed level for the first 5 minutes until Ford netted from a brilliant Kendall assist. After 10 mins United Office’s managed to bag an equalizer against the resilient Julian.
A brilliant battle in the middle of the park between Ned and the silent facilitator Tom Kendall, along with some remarkable defensive efforts from Jamie and Sam. United Office’s kept the pressure on early doors with Henrys fancy footwork and Chadwick’s positioning saw him score his first goal on debut.
A couple of late first half goals one from Dutson, one from Kendall saw the warehouse team head into the break with a 5-2 lead. The half time drinks were served, options were fruit shoots or fruit shoots.
The warehouse team entered the second half with a commanding 5-2 advantage, but lost their key man, Julian as he had a 25-minute loan spell to the Offices team. Ford took an early phone call but manage to play on whilst handling the call, demonstration some amazing multi-tasking. Fatigue slowly kicked in and the warehouse took an early goal through Hopps long ball which saw Dutson and Ford link up for a 6-2 lead. The Warehouse got a little comfortable with this lead and a determined United Office applied the pressure through a good tackle by Dan which saw Alex’s goal bagged past Jamie in the sticks. The game was very much end to end after this and plenty of chances came and went for both teams. Handley causing a lot of problems on the right wing for most of the game which saw him and Robinson having a good clean battle. Henry found himself on his back (again) following a collision with the fearless Ford, and Chadwick bagged his second stonker to take the game to 7-4.
The United Offices continued to apply mounds of pressure and pushed to make the game level, but the 6”2 ‘Jaap’ Sam had other ideas. Despite the Office’s sterling defensive and offensive efforts, the Warehouse kept the goals flowing in, Dutson bagged 5 goals in all, along with Kendall and Ford bagging one a piece. For a small time in the second half, United Office’s had some amazing stints including Dan searching round for his glasses and as Starman Ned said, “Best bit of play we’ve had this season, and I’ve not even touched the ball”. Ned went on to bag a late consolation goal but it was too little, too late for the United Offices.
At the full-time whistle, hands were shaken in time honoured tradition as the Warehouse Wanderers won the decider in an 11-6 tour de force and what was a brilliant game throughout.
The night didn’t end there as the athletes headed to the Swan at Sherburn for refreshment and a detailed post-match analysis over oranges and isotonic sports drinks…We also got the chance to blow the tops off some frothy ones to mark Jamie’s leaving for pastures new. Ever the sports enthusiasts, players and spectators rubbed shoulders in a few rounds of arrows which saw Jamie hit a stonking 180 and Alex Lee nearly following suit with a nail biting 120, nerves got the better of him on his last arrow and a small replastering job was added to the bar tab as a consequence. Overall, it was a brilliant night and lots of fun.
Notable Match Mentions
Man of the Match – Sam Betton
Tackle of the game – Luke Ford
Top assister – Tom Kendall
Winners – Cromwell & the beautiful game…and The Swan#
View match reports: May & June
