Icarus Vets Squad v Grantham Vets

With the game almost cancelled due to only having 50% of a Masters’ squad, Grantham Vets were approached with an ultimatum (one of the two options was to cancel!). They kindly agreed to allow younger players from the 1st/Dev Squad and/or some of the squad’s offspring to bolster the team and so a massive thanks goes out to the Grantham Vets who said post-match that they’d love to play us anytime and enjoyed the game which was played in great spirit.  A huge thank you also to those that helped swell the ranks.
 
To set the scene it was a warm August day but thankfully it was without the blistering heat witnessed the several preceding months. With the surrounding scorched grass and rock hard ground it was a blessing that we had 3G to play on, undoubtedly helping to increase the quality of passing from both sides. With only one sub on the bench, acting also as linesman, the Gaffer watched on as the game kicked off – very proud to be watching his Son Jake (CM) and two step sons Billy (CB) and Jack (CF) provide half of the spine of the team. It became apparent very early on that the quality Icarus possessed, combined with great individual composure, skill and determination, that this was going to be Icarus’ day. Like an idiot, the Gaffer told his wife and chief cheerleader that this might be a ‘cricket score’ in Icarus’ favour. He had underestimated the determination, organisation and confident passing ability of the opposition. With about half an hour gone and several half chances for Icarus going close, it was young Jack McLoughlin that found half a yard after a great passing move and from just inside the box with a thunderous low drive he beat the diving keeper to break the deadlock to give Icarus the lead, 1-0.
 
Grantham stood their ground against several more attacks with Jack, Kev Knott (CM) and Jake Hays all having shots, and Schofield should have had a penalty for a clear push in the back.  However, with about 10 mins to go until half time a semi-firm pass from one centre back to another allowed the opposition to simultaneously pinch the ball from a toe whilst shooting into an almost empty net as Dave Gault (GK), as instructed, made himself available to receive a pass. 1-1 the score with the opposition barely threatening the Icarus goal for the whole game. As directed, no one whinged as everyone was super supportive throughout the game and the Gaffa’s words from the pre-match team talk about trying to play from the back and not caring if we make a mistake were well understood.
 
The half time team talk from both the Gaffa and Captain was very positive and focussed on all the great things Icarus were doing which included some very quick triangle play, lots of hard work, some great runs and through balls, composure all over the park, great battling and, as requested, great use of the back 4 to maintain possession and build. Our main areas to improve were ensuring we remained on-side due to the flaghappy assistant referee and, instead of individual runs, we asked everyone to allow the ball to do the work. We had been guilty of some impressive (up to a point) mazy runs as the opposition dived in. Sadly for every run there were easy passes and available Icarus runners to pass to. Inevitably the run came to an end and players got caught out of position. Everyone to a man heeded the team-talk as there was hardly an offside for Icarus at all and the mazy runs ceased, increasing the potency of Icarus and fantastic teamwork through outstanding movement and accurate passing.
 
It wasn’t long into the second half that Icarus settled down with a second goal scored by Jim Schofield (CF) with a gorgeously weighted lob over the onrushing keeper. Jim was level with the left hand post about 15 yards out with the ball being caressed on the upward bounce to rise over the hapless keeper, the ball bounced near the goal-line and into the right hand roof of the net. Jim had to run a long way to go to thank the provider, it was an exquisite pass only bouncing once that was struck from behind the half way line from the immovable and highly skilled 1st Team player and close runner up for Man of the Match, Ben Burton (we told the opposition his name was Button and that he was actually 58!). 2-1 to Icarus.
 
It was Jim again that struck to make it 3-1 after a picture-perfect repeat of the pass from Ben Burton. Jim was in an identical position and lobbed the keeper again with the ball on the bounce.  Despite the keeper getting a strong hand to that one, the ball still made its way over him and into the back of the net. More opportunities kept coming with little response from Grantham – although they never stopped trying, and succeeding, in playing some high quality passing and occasionally getting as far as our outstandingly solid back four. Our full backs included the ever youthful and very fit Eddie Roughsedge (RB) and a very energetic and calm (and left footed for a change) left back in the shape of a newcomer, James Hodgon, both had a very solid game. Challenges to the opposition came from all over the park in our tireless efforts to win the ball back on the rare opportunities that we lost it. Jake was super calm on the ball and kept things ticking along occasionally getting a rare chance to shoot. Dave Batey on the right wing was, as usual, one of our most active players covering vast swathes of ground tracking and tackling, but it was Kev Knott that caught the eye of the Gaffa for the Man of the Match award, winning tackle after tackle, always being available for a pass from anywhere and continuously and cleverly distributing it to create many chances.
 
Considering Jim was now on his 99th Goal for Icarus, and potentially on a hat trick (and we all know how competitive Jim can be for the Golden Boot (which he won last year mostly due to the 12-2 win over NETMA in Apr), he amazingly and very unselfishly faked a shot to draw in the keeper and defenders only to drag back and square the ball to his right for the onrushing other newcomer to Icarus Gareth Jones (LM), who professionally slotted the ball into the centre of the goal. It wasn’t long before Jim got his chance and similar to the position he found himself in for his first goal he elected to use his left peg (normally reserved for standing on) to strike the ball firmly into the right hand side of the goal. There was nothing else for it…the Gaffa sprinted (well, jogged a little) from the sidelines (along with everyone else) to congratulate the legend on achieving 100 Icarus goals…and of course his hat trick! 5-1 to Icarus.
 
The opposition to their great credit kept working hard and had spells of good possession. It was a cross not claimed by either our central defender or their striker that surprised the gaffer at left back (on just long enough to get his cap….no doubt still on his 84th game as he has been for the last 3 years according to Johnny H!). The ball hit the left arm of Si who had no time to react from the lack of contact by anyone – free kick given. Dave diving to his right hand post was undone by a solid deflection from the free kick that made the ball collide with Dave’s left hand post instead, the onrushing striker had no one around to stop him slotting the ball into the empty net from a yard (5-2).
 
Jim not happy with this score was relentless in his efforts and, and of course, Jim was also a very close runner up for the man of the match. After another quality passing move Jim slid the ball through to young Jack for his second – another quality strike from near the penalty spot left the keeper with no chance at all as the ball rocketed passed. 6-2 to Icarus and a fantastic team performance with very high-quality football played