TWFC

Teams were picked by Coach Hagenius and VIIGeorgeVII. Coach explained that this week would be a tactical training session. The match was billed as Defence v Attack. This was a chance for the club's in form attackers to work together to break down a resolute defensive unit, with the corollary being that our best defenders of current times would see if they could shut out a constant attack and hit them on the break.

First VAR Check 11:40 on the clock

Did the whole of the ball cross the goal line after it rebounded off of the underside of the crossbar?

Slow motion and freeze frame shows that the whole of the ball did not cross the line

VAR Decision: On field referee's decision is upheld. No goal.

The opening goal of the night came when a fierce VIIGeorgeVII shot from the halfway line deflected off of Leon94 past the keeper and into the net.

Attack 0 - 1 Defence

The Defence team outplayed the Attack for much of the first half of the match by simply playing training ground triangles. They kept moving the ball from player to player never allowing it to be static. By the end of the first half hour only a wonderful flying save from Tai kept the score at 0 - 1 when he tipped away a goal bound shot by Naz.

The second Defence goal came when VIIGeorgeVII in goal played a route one ball to Andyhibbert who simply slotted it home. The goal is all of the more interesting because Andyhibbert was just outside of his own penalty area when his keeper gained control of the ball, then he was able to jog the length of the pitch uncontested to receive the ball.

Attack 0 - 2 Defence

Seemingly seeing that the Attack were not having much luck with attempting to work the ball into the net, Leon94 simply took the law into his own hands and moved the ball on to his right wing from the center spot then shot from a few strides into his opponents' half. This break from protocol flummoxed everyone and nestled straight into the back of the net.

Attack 1 - 2 Defence

When Kenanaliriza scored next for the Defence he seemed to take a moment to think how can I slot this in without it looking like four of my opponents were all attacking the same ball. Then he thought I know what I will wait so that someone can get back in position, then it won't look so bad on the Attack.

Attack 1 - 3 Defence

Triangles failed the Defence when Eddie117 showed his disdain for the geometry and intercepted a long ball played along the hypotenuse then fed it to Jimmy9 to score.

Attack 2 - 3 Defence

Eventually, fed up of triangles, polygons and fancy shapes in general, Israel90 took a leaf out of Leon94's book, he simply re-wrote the rules. Well actually he reminded us all of an existing rule namely attack is a good means of defence. He took the ball off of an Attack player and from his own half on his right, bossed the opponent out of his space, ran through on to their goal and beat their keeper with a low shot rather than squaring it to his colleague who was free.

Attack 2 - 4 Defence

Also fed up of trying to beat an obdurate defence Eddie117 went back to striking basics. Mash10 won the ball after reading a wayward back heel (a back heel at almost the end of normal time?). Eddie117 received the pass from Mash10 he eased it to the middle where it was least congested and simply leathered the ball past an unexpecting keeper.

Attack 3 - 4 Defence

It might be said that the pressing from the Attack pressurised the Defence out of the calm place that they had for virtually all of the match. Alternatively it might be said that tiredness caused some ill advised flicks to creep in a couple of times. But what can definitely be said is that for most of the match the Defence gave a master class in shutting out a talented attacking team. Jose your style still dwells in North London.

In the final seconds the ball was played to Kenanaliriza who was through one on one against JonF to put the match beyond the Attack. Despite being branded an attacking player it is important to see how JonF fearlessly came out to narrow the angle and condensed himself into the space that the shot would likely have to go. This move actually forced the eventual miss. These are the unsung things that keepers do that are not often appreciated.

Final Score

Attack 3 - 4 Defence

Match awarded to the Defence

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC