Icarus Vets Squad v Prison Service Vets

On a warm and pleasant afternoon the warriors of Icarus vets met to do battle with not only their opposition but father time and the ravages that old(er) age and too much football reap on the body, to play football like 18 year olds and recover like 80 year olds.  Having conducted an extensive warm up the main issue with the team was quickly identified, despite being a team of RAF Officers maths was most definitely not on the list of skills on display, as even playing 2 touch became problematic for some.  Warm up complete it was back to the changing room for final match prep and the game plan from the gaffer.
Raring to go the team sat anxiously waiting for the inspiration to pour from the gaffer, a Shakespearian offering similar to Henry Vwas surely in the offing. 20 minutes later and we had covered the next match admin, the NETMA game and the end of season do!  Short on time we were reminded of the new vets mantra, keep ball and no goal scoring, the gaffer then sent us on our way.  Expecting to hear uproar and see a rush of people towards the changing room door, all prepped for battle, he was greeted by 12 slightly dazed and confused faces, ‘can you tell us the starting line-up please?’.
 
Minor admin point corrected the lads emerged from the changing room, from a distance it looked like something reminiscent of the entrance to a boxing arena, the gladiators emerging from a haze of dry ice, from much closer up you realised it was not a dry ice effect, but from the taste and smell of the cloud it could be confirmed it was the 3 bottles of old man’s warm up (deep heat), that had liberally been applied to all aching limbs and joints creating an effect similar to the confidence chamber.  The lads jogged out to the pitch and completed last minute prep, with the exception of Constable who ran out to the pitch and promptly returned to the changing room to collect his playing shirt, proving admin is not a small town in China. 
 
The match was put sharply into perspective when both teams formed up around the centre circle to hold a minute silence to remember the victims of the terrorist attack which took place in London the day before.  Respects paid both teams formed up waiting for the referees whistle to release the greyhounds from their traps.
It was not the start that Icarus had hoped for.  Some good initial passing was for naught as a speculative long ball from the prison service bounced in the Icarus box and was subsequently dispatched.  1-0 down early doors but heads remained high and with the gaffers mantra firmly embedded in the heads of all players the ball was moved nicely across the pitch.  With the defence looking to get the ball from the keeper and play from the back, the midfield working hard to create triangles and the hard work up front of the Rev and peg leg Batey keeping the Prison Service defence honest, an even pattern of play developed.  The Prison Service were reduced to some speculative long range efforts which were not troubling the keeper at all.   That was until they were awarded a corner.  A lapse of concentration left a 2 on 1 at the back post and the ball was headed goal wards to be turned in just prior to crossing the line by the Prison Service captain.  A proud bunch, this turn of events did not go down well within the Icarus ranks.  Initially the disappointment manifested itself in some tetchy words within the team, however, within a few minutes the anger at being 2 down so early was being directed into an increased work ethic and determination to be ‘less S**T’ (less S**T is an OACTU leadership term).  At about the 20 minute mark, as per the plan, the gaffer rang the first changes, entering the field himself alongside Finney for his Icarus Vets debut.  This signalled a change in intent and the free range to score.  Batey had the first opportunity collecting the ball in space and opting to take a long range effort, when if he had been fully fit he may have driven at the goal before trying his luck.  The next notable effort was by Sammut, I say notable as it allowed the rest of the team a breather and to get back into shape as it took a 5 bounce meander towards the Prison Service goal, allowing the not insubstantial ‘unit’ of a keeper to gently amble across his goal to collect the ball.  The momentum of the game had most definitely changed now and Icarus were having the lion share of the possession, no doubt pleasing the gaffer.  Icarus had a strong shout for a penalty turned down when Sammut was pulled back in the penalty area but the referee was having none of it, despite saying at half time if he had gone down he was in with a shout, but that is just not the Icarus way.  The half time whistle came probably to the relief of the Prison Service who despite being 2-0 up were having some trouble with the all-round effort of the Icarus team. 
 
The second half started as the first had finished, Icarus being the dominant force but just not being able to create a clear cut chance.  Some tactical changes were put in place which saw Finney move up top and the gaffer slip into centre mid, giving Bradley a breather.  Congratulations must go to Bradley on actually making it past the 7th minute in this game, most impressive.  Early in the second half Evans had the ball on the right, looking up he saw a queue of team mates at the back post, with a swish of his wand of a right foot he sent a CROSS drifting towards the back post.  Early indications that all was not good in the Prison Service goal came when the keeper was heard to shout ‘ oh f*ck I haven’t got this, oh f*ck’.  To everyone’s surprise including Evans the ball sailed into the top corner. 
 
Just the little bit of luck Icarus needed?  Not long after, some good work down the left saw the ever industrious Finney find some room, he cut the ball back to the gaffer who, light as a fairy, skipped past 2 Prison Service defenders and, hit the ball first time on his left foot near the edge of the area, put just enough spin on the ball to leave the keep routed while hitting the bottom right corner of the net!.  Game on, 2-2, no more than Icarus had deserved from the work rate and style of football that was on display.  As people got tired the game began to be stretched.  The Prison Service were making the most of the large squad they had, however, the industry and will to win of the Icarus team was matching the fresh legs yard for yard.  As in so many games the defining moment was delivered not by the 22 gladiators on the pitch but by the one individual who should attempt to go through the game unnoticed.  Merritt closed on a Prison Service attacker blocking his cross.  To everyone’s dismay the referee blew and pointed to the spot.  The ball had hit his arm, but his arm had remained stationary and the ball was travelling at such a speed and from such close range he could not have intentionally handled the ball.  The atrocious decision resulted in the Prison Service scoring the resultant penalty while the referee attempted to justify his decision with the meek excuse ‘his hand was up’.  Soon after the result was put beyond doubt with a mix up at a free kick.  With the keeper coming out to launch a long ball forward from the centre circle, an opportunity for a quick one was spotted, unfortunately it was read by a Prison Service player who was left to slot home into an empty net.  The game finished 2-4. 
 
The score line does not reflect how close the game was and could have been very different.  The effort put in by all cannot be faulted, nor can the style in which the beautiful game was attempted to be played.  The non-stop effort and harassment of the Prison Service defence by Dave Batey, made even more impressive given he was carrying an injury into the game, justifiably earned him the man of the match award.  Thanks also have to go to Andy Constable for his work to organise the game and the refreshments afterwards. 
 
Despite the result confidence can be taken into the next game that the beautiful game is alive and well within Icarus vets ranks and it is beginning to click and when it does, someone is going to be on the wrong end of a hiding, you have been warned!