Champions!!!!

This wass the one we'd been waiting for. It was a massive night in the history of Sparkshop last night amidst the dying embers of the setting sun; the blood red skies a portent of glory or savage humiliation with just one team standing between us and the glory of a division winning victory. Our destiny was in our hands as we took to the pitch with a full strength squad, a destiny which had turned on one penalty which gave us a shock win over the league leaders just a few short weeks ago. Three points would mean no one could catch us and it was with fire in our bellies and strong mental fortitude that we warmed up with our usual vigour.

Rich in goal
Don and Doug at the back
Matt C, Kev, Phil and Pete in the middle
new Matt and myself up front

and Dave C, our back up keeper fresh from his clean sheet, in the crowd and time keeping to ensure the subs got a fair crack of the whip.

A nervy start saw the opening stages played in cagey fashion but before long, glory fell to new Matt who burst onto a long throw out from Rich which was misjudged by the youthful defenders. Smashing the ball home new Matt quickly doubled the lead with a smart finish after I'd nutmegged a defender and squared the ball. It already looked a question of how many goals would come.

Another throw out was mishandled by the keeper leaving me with the simple task on tapping home into the empty net and we turned round 3 up and on our way to victory.

Rich was in fine form with his distribution in an otherwise quiet night as Doug and Dom shut up shop in their inimitable manner. No one was going to pass them by tonight and each looked like a colossus as they stood manfully daring the opposition to have a go.

In the middle, Kev barked out his orders like the general he has become and saw Matt C and his extendable legs stretch out to nick possession time and again. Phil and Pete were like marauding pirates intent on laying waste any attacks we suffered whilst setting up chance after chance with pinpoint passing and adept use of the ball.

Up front, new Matt launched like some cosmic spaceship, propelled himself up and down and side to side with boundless energy, the epitome of an old fashioned centre forward. It was a privilege for all who saw the game to witness the carnage we created in the opposing defence and more goals followed in a one sided second half. Key struck home from close range as Pete's short corner left him free at the front post. The keeper almost audibly sighed in reluctant admiration of the neat finish which saw the net bulge with welcoming arms.

Matt C smacked the ball with the instinct of a seasoned pro to leave the keeper stranded agog at the audacity of such a clinical left footed finish. More goals came with a perfect cross delivered by Phil for me to head home and another cross field ball from Pete left me with time and space to control, size up the situation and hit home at the near post.

A final goal came courtesy of another keeping error as a long throw from Kev slipped through the shell-shocked keeper's hands and in, to leave us 8 - 0 winners and champions of the league. A magnificent achievement for a bunch of old timers with willing minds and ageing limbs.

Well done to all who contributed and supported. A well deserved triumph that surely indicates the best is yet to come.