Churchill Scorers - Tomas 2, Ehsan, Pete

It was a dream start to for the MCR football team. Overall we were very impressive and, while 4-2 is an excellent result, we could easily have had five or six. Even before the game started, things looked good: Paulo was making a Zidanesque return from early retirement and there was some very promising new blood in the squad. Rob and Hugh controlled the midfield right from the start, putting some excellent balls through to myself and Ehsan. With Pete and Paul tormenting Queens’ on the wings, we looked good. The breakthrough came after only 3 minutes. The Persian peril put me clear inside the Queens’ defence and we went one ahead. Five minutes later, Ehsan sent in a low cross from the right wing which I hit off the keeper. The next three seconds seemed to take about a week as the ball went up into the air and before landing in the back of the net. I was the happiest man in England. As the half progressed, we continued to create good chances. Pete sent in a fine cross I should have converted and we played some excellent football, keeping play in the Queens’ half of the field. Having dominated the first half, we went into the break at 2-0, and to paraphrase from l’Oreal, we were worth it. Paul commented at half time that the game would be won or lost in the next 15 minutes and the final score proved him right. We mounted on the pressure early in the second half and, following about 5 Churchill throw-ins, Pete scored an excellent header into the bottom left-hand corner. A few minutes later, he sent an excellent ball through to Ehsan who did what Ehsan does best and we were 4-0 up on last year’s league winners. At that point, I began to feel like an ice-hockey manager and decided to bring on a several substitutes. Although the subs played well, confusion, as a result of the changes, combined with fatigue and we let Queens’ back into the game a bit. Eventually they scored twice and had a third goal discounted for off-side in the dying seconds of the game. This later phase of the game served to remind us that, while we are an excellent side, we can not afford to become complacent and that we need to work on our fitness. Nonetheless, the result was never in doubt and it was an excellent performance all-round.

Tomas Flanagan