RedOrDed
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 120
Location: Lookin for K2's fridge! Still don't know where its gone. Found it, Its in Thailand
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| Posted: Wed 16.5.07 9:03 Post subject: |
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Bi BLACKCAT Iain.
With apologies if I’ve spelt your name wrong, invented you, missed you out altogether or fictionalised events.
First of all, here are the answers to last week’s poser.
GIVEN
KING CARR LAUREN BRIDGE
ZENDEN BUTT CAMPO DOWNING
BENT (at the time of writing) MARTINS
There is no winner this week as no-one could be arsed to give it a go.
Today’s quiz is much simpler. I’ve hidden all 109 substances that are represented within the periodic table in the text of today’s match report. All you have to do to win £1,000,000* and an all-expenses trip for 14 to the destination of your choice* is to be the first one to e-mail me with the Relative Atomic Mass of all 109 substances. There’s also a T-shirt if anyone can demonstrate the odd one out and why using a Bunsen burner, a runcible spoon and some litmus paper. Good luck. Does anyone actually read this bit?
12/05/2007
Colombo Lions 6, Maldivian young ‘uns 1
Six into one will go as Lions go eight games without loss.
What a delight it was to play a game where the weather conditions were as near to European conditions as we could have hoped. It was a cool day, the rain only threatened and the resultant puddles from a week of inclemency were confined to strict areas and conspired to mainly help, rather than hinder the Lions whilst having a seemingly opposite effect on the visitors.
And in case you’re wondering what ever happened to Carlos Valderama, he’s got K*v*n Keeg*n’s old haircut and he’s alive and well and playing for Maldivians. Apart from him, the rest of the side looked as young and enthusiastic as many of the teams who come to Beddagana to give it a go. But the Lions were fielding a 17-strong squad from which a plum 11 was selected.
The Lions kicked off with a confidence that comes with defeat being a distant memory but that gave way quickly to concentration when the Maldivians started to play their game. This didn’t last very long however once the Lions quickly took control of the ball and, as a result, control of the game.
Many times in the past, the Lions dominance has been disproportionate because of the quality of the opposition but today these young guns were no slouches. In particular, they were fielding a decent and skilful midfield and one of their strikers was particularly dangerous. Fate can only guess at the difference this player might have made but for the sake of a decent pair of boots!
The first in-roads were made as early as the third minute when Daz conned their defender into giving away a corner which lead immediately to another. But ultimately to nothing, but then this is how the Lions usually start; putting pressure on the visitors from the off.
The early rude awakening for Maldivians came a minute later when Danny ran on to a precision long knock from Chandu. A puddle put the ball in his stride and he leathered it first time into the net to settle any early nerves. 1-0.
Six minutes later the lead was doubled by Daz whose speculative cross was palmed into his own net by the inexperienced keeper. 2-0.
Lions continued to turn the screw by winning a corner a minute later but, although the Maldivians weren’t as bad as this report may suggest, it’s true that their ideas department were short staffed in the final third. To be fair, possession at this point was pretty even.
In the eighteenth minute a promising move started by Daz was thwarted, for a change, by an inconvenient puddle.
As the half hour approached, the visitors managed to put a few moves together and proceeded to put the Lion’s goal under some pressure but, once again, the back four showed no signs of vulnerability. This is becoming a characteristic of the Lions style of play, leading well from the back and holding their line with confidence.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, things were improving. A precision cross-field ball from Chandu on the right presented Danny with a scoring opportunity from which there was to be only one outcome. 3-0.
Once again, it was comforting to see the Lions greedy for more goals. Rich was instrumental in galvanising and goading the team into not sitting back and being satisfied with a job only half done.
Norwegian newcomer Vegard narrowly headed wide a cross from yet another corner in the 29th minute but then the game showed a more even face. Substitutions were made, puddles were utilised and half time came with the feeling that the job wasn’t finished yet.
Half time: 3 - 0
The first notable action of the second half saw Jules re-introduced to the game and his first contribution was to spread a diagonal ball in-field to Daz from deep on the right. The pass was inch perfect but Daz cleverly dummied the ball allowing Pablo to run onto it, carry it with his first touch to edge of the area and plant it into the far corner. 4-0.
The lead was extended further by Danny when the most bizarre goal of the game happened. His first header was parried well by the keeper but the ball rocketed skyward and when it came down, Danny was the only one on hand on the goal line to claim his third goal of the game by heading into the empty net. 5-0.
Daz rounded things off nicely, increasing the score line to 6-0, by firing in after a well worked solo effort.
Toward the end of the game the Lions took their foot off the gas and allowed the Maldivians to advance enough to allow a speculative cross which looped over Seaman who was sufficiently off his line to let the ball drop into the net. 6-1.
So, no clean sheet, but another solid team performance from all quarters.
A special mention should, perhaps, go to Danny who claimed the match ball by scoring a hat-trick. It may even have been more if the service had matched his enthusiasm and running. (He told me to say that).
However, the Man of the Match award went once again to Rich for a typically solid midfield captain’s performance. Although the Sri Lankan land registry has threatened legal action if he doesn’t return the pitch that he stole in broad daylight by stealthily hiding it on his kit. Anyone interested in growing their own potatoes on the newly elected team captain should apply to him in person for permission. Oh, and there was lots of shouting.
Final score: 6-1
Starting XI: Seaman, Laurent, Steve H, Kaz, Kadi, Jools, Rich (Capt.) (M.o.M), Cormack, Chandu, Danny (3), Daz (2)
Subs: Pablo (1), Iain C, Furrukh, Kell, John, Jacobo, Vegard.
* Prizes subject to availability |
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