Turkeys vs Cocks

Breaking from tradition I have decided to type this report up, keeping in line with improvements in modern technology.

Matchday 13 and back to Chu van anh Pitch in the football heartlands of Binh Thanh district. Good buzz around the pitch and plenty of Raiders support on the sidelines. Be good to have this every game. The team lined out as follows… Mirko between the sticks,a back four comprising of Ohashi…Jerry…Jamie…Danny Vo. Midfield was a sparkling diamond consisting of Craig…Mick…Scott…Nico and up top new recruit Rick alongside Hoggy.

After some passing,shooting,tackling and heading from both sides fighting cocks broke the deadlock… if I can remember correctly it was from a through ball… pure guess.

“Heads up lads,loads of time,lets go,” all words mentioned on resumption. They worked. Ohashi who had arrived on a powerful Honda and had eaten his Ramen,Sushi, and tongatsu was well up for this game. A chip forward from the Samurai and some excellent awareness from our flying Dutchman Rick levelled the game. Rick nicked in just before the keeper to head home. 1-1.

Sensing blood Coach Colin brought on Sean and Ben too if I am not mistaken. Sean didn’t waste much time getting involved and latched on to a through ball turning back onto his right before supplying a great cross for Rick who scored with a really clinical finish. Two very well taken goals from the spritely Dutchman who also worked very hard and won back possession on a number of occasions too… a very well deserved MOTM.

Half time and a relaxed sit down chat… Coach Colin reminding us to do the simple things and keep our discipline.

The second half and Raiders started brightly and tried to keep possession well. Nico, Craig, Scott working well to press some pretty good technical FCFC players… Sean giving them plenty to think about in the attacking third. Fighting Cocks were probing too and a back pass from yours truly was unfortunately handled just outside the box… an unlucky one but at least we know Jamie is reading Coach Colin,s pre match e-mail and would make a fine full back.

The resulting free kick was really well taken. 2-2. About ten minutes to go with fighting cocks pressing and Raiders breaking sporadically there was chances at both ends. Lots of encouragement from the sidelines to press forward and try and get three points,we have to be careful here… we have to try win the game but by keeping our positions and probing not by bombing forward. All in all a decent point against quite a good technical team. Props to the referee too,it was one of the better refereeing performances I have seen here,this has to be positively reinforced too; by us the players. I (Mick) got to be Turkey as I got megged and belted the ball in the air on about three occasions.

The end