Match Reports vs Sing's Friends

Dogs United Football Club 2005 - A New Era Begins ...

06 November 2005

Venue: St. Dogs Park

Dogs Unied FC celebrated their first competitive game in the new 2005/20xx jersey against local rivals "Sing's Friends". To make this special occasion, a camera-man was invited to take a team photo.

Only 8 official players made the journey to St. Dogs Park. That's 8 from 17 registered players (excluding 2 declared unfit). 47% player attendance.

As the game required 9-a-side, the guest camera-man Joe Sim - who did not bring his camera - was immediately drafted into the Team! No-one (not even me) had ever seem him kick a ball before. Luckily though, he did remember to bring a blue jersey.

However, we forgot that "Sing's Friends" also play in BLUE and so a minor incident involved deciding who were the "home" team. This was resloved (only after half time) when "Sing's Friends" were gracious enough to play in orange, i.e. "skin".

The game started well. But quickly fell into trouble when we lost the opening goal within minutes. 0-1. It seems that nobody knows what position they are playing in. I am sure some Dogs had not touched the ball yet. Camera-man Joe was assigned the entire right hand side, i.e. Right-Back, Right-Midfield and Ring-Wing. So that is technically "Right Wing-Back ... plus Right Midfield". It was also known only during the game that CM Joe had not played football (or moved his body) for 5 years. It was not surprising to find him quickly disappear out of the game ...

Luck did smile on Dogs United as soon as guest player Kenneth appeared ("I though you had a lot of players") and CM Joe was immediately subsituted ...

However, Dogs United were thrown further into peril when a supposedly harmless cross resulted in confusion. Guest player Kenneth and goalkeeper-for-the-half Sam #23 both went for the same ball and collided into each other, gifting an open goal to "Sing's Friends". 0-2.

The Fighting Spirit of Dogs United never lie down and some relentless attack (since everyone plays forward) resulted in handball by the opponents. Penalty! Up stepped Jackie #11 to take the first penalty for the new-look Dogs United. We do not know why he was assigned to take the penalty. May be because he will get married the coming week, and that his bride-to-be Carmen was in the stands.

Although Jackie is the strongest player in the Team, without skill it is useless. This was demonstrated as he blasted the ball straight at the goalkeeper (wanna take down the goalie as well, Jackie?), who parried it safely for a corner.

Nevertheless, the Dogs kept attacking and attacking, throwing more and more players up front. Our efforts were rewarded when the opponent handled again in the area. Penalty No.2! This time Alex Ko #8 decided to take it ... and made no mistake ... 1-2!

Half time.

The second half was more of the same, with Dogs United pressing forward in search of the equalizer. They reverted to the classic attacking formation: 1-0-7.

Time began to tick away. Up front we still couldn't find the elusive goal to avoid defeat in the new jersey. At the back, Sam emplyed a "1-man-defence" against the "Sing's Friends" attacks, at times defending up to 4 opponents. Sam would defend against the winger's cross AND run back to cover the center-forward receiving the pass. He produced more sliding tackles than the whole team combined. It was quite amazing to witness (which is what the remaining players did - in the opponent's half).

Sadly, even if Beckenbauer came out of retirement to defend for our Team, he could not do it single-handedly for an entire half. An adventurous play by "Sing's Friends" found arces of space on the right, a cross to the far post, an unmarked center-forward, resulted in a volley to the top of the net. An excellent goal. 1-3.

With time (and our breaths) running out, the sight of the Team preparing for the next session came as a sign of relief. The game was about to end - and players were playing wherever they felt was best. The referee, in the form of the pitch administrator, blew the final whistle.

For Dogs United, this game is over. But not the adventure. Tune in next time.

Report by Jason

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