Icarus Senior Squad v Somerville Old Boys

In the shadow of the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, RAF Icarus faced Somerville Old Boys in the AFA Challenge Cup Quarter Final.  Icarus line started the game quickly, carving out early chances for Flt Lt Pippard and Fg Off Somerville.  This set the tone for the match and Icarus continued to apply pressure to the opposition with their high energy.  It wasn’t long until this approach paid dividends, as some slick interplay released Flt Lt Toogood whose cross found Turner at the far post to open the scoring.  The opposition responded immediately, testing the new centre back pairing of Flt Lt’s Wilson and Pippard who stood tall to repel incoming attacks.  This solid defensive performance allowed the midfield to play with freedom as Flt Lt Steele switched the ball cross field to Somerville. Steele drove forward to receive the ball back 25 metres out from goal before unleashing a thunderbolt strike to double the Icarus lead. Somerville Old Boys had a chance before half time of their own as Flt Lt Ricketts made an impressive save from close range to keep Icarus in the lead and they went into the break 2-0 up. Despite Icarus being 2 goals to the good the tie was on a knife edge. The next goal of the game would be crucial, and so it proved to be.
 
Icarus began the 2nd half in the same fashion as they finished the 1st, pressing the opposition hard to force errors and win the ball high up the pitch. It didn’t take long for this tactic to work again, as Turner stole the ball from the full back, playing a quick 1-2 with Somerville before tearing away from the defence with blistering pace to make the score 3-0.  Now brimming with confidence, Icarus began to turn on the style as Toogood found Somerville to slot a 4th passed the goalkeeper.  On the hour mark Cpl Taylor was introduced for his debut.  Thirty seconds later (with his first touch) he made it 5-0 with a tap in at the back post, Toogood once again the provider.  Now the wave after wave of Icarus attacks peppered the Somerville Old Boys goal, only for them to stand resolutely despite the score line.  A last ditch tackle on Toogood prevented Icarus scoring a 6th, but only temporarily as Turner swung the resultant corner kick onto Pippard’s head, who on making his return to 1st team action after an absence of 2 years due to injury, made it 6-0. Toogood with a hat-trick of assists now turned his attention to goal scoring and quickly claimed a hat trick of goals with Somerville (2) and Fg Off Fleming providing the assists.  With the score at 9-0 the referee blew the full time whistle.  An emphatic performance from the RAF Officer’s as they recaptured their early season form, and progress to the semi-final of the prestigious AFA Challenge Cup, where they will face Putney SG at RAF Halton on Sat 18 Feb 17.