Association Football

Hello Lads!

Knights FC had a heck of a night last Thursday. After winning two in a row to make the playoffs, the Knights were left missing four highly skilled players, including their 'keeper. Without hesitation, they took the field thinking that there is nothing to lose. Well, it turned out to be a great battle.

The game started with a cracking strike on goal by Tony, but to no avail as the shot went just high. Then it all fell apart in the counter attack which left the Knights to look at a 2-nil deficit. thankfully, better nerves prevailed and heavy attack lead to two hard fought come-back goal. After half time, the Knights took the lead a glorious strike and decided for some odd reason to sit on their laurels. Big mistake. Lapses in defence and poor not taking goal chances once again left them down on the score sheet, 4-3, with only 1:30 on the clock. This made for a mad dash to the end which saw an onslaught of strikes by the now desperate Knights forwards. And they were handsomely rewarded. On a mere :14 seconds remaining, the tying goal was shoved into the back of he net by Matt to send the game to "Golden Goal" extra time!

Given two, three minute halves of extra time , unless someone scores the Golden Goal winner, can be gut wrenching. Let me tell, it was! The Retired Athletes, the Knights formidable opponents on the night, started the first extra time half blasting away shot after shot, only to be parried away again and again by 6' - 4" Welshman, Jason. In the 2nd extra time period, the Knights turned the tables on the attack, but could not nick the winning goal, as a penalty shootout loomed.

The final whistled went and penalties were on. Up first, Retired Athletes. Their first shot sailed wide and the Knights' 'keeper was left to just watch. However, the first Knight to shoot was saved from close range. The RA's managed a goal on their next try only to be matched by usually unlucky Knights striker, Phil. RA came right back with a cracking strike, but the outstretched Welshman prove too good to be beaten. However, attacking center forward Nelson, could not find the quality to put Knights ahead as his chance was easily saved. That brought on RA again, with the shootout now at 1-1. Again the Welshman could not be beat as he was kean on every move. Then Anthony, the Knights' bulldog, who didn't hesitate to take a menacing strike after a small set-up touch, which left the game in the hands of the Welshman. Throughout history the Welsh have proved to be formidable foes, just ask the English. On this day, one should've asked Retired Athletes.

The final shot taker for RA was set. Jason looked poised, ready to pounce. As the striker put small touches on the ball Jason closed ground rapidly, then the shot cracked off the strikers foot! Diving to his left, the Welshman almost left himself out of position, for the shot was going RIGHT! Yet as fate would have it, Jason's height came through as he had enough to parry the shot with his feet sending Knights Football Club into the most unlikely final one would conceive. Here's to the Knights!

The Templar