The Calm before the Storm

On a cool and blustery Monday afternoon the Tornadoes FC gathered at Hatleyvale for their first official fixture against an unbeaten and fiercely competitive unit, The Noordhoek Vikings.

The lads were all very excited and having put in two training matches against the youth, where we won both games, were expecting good things.

We lost the toss and started playing into a setting sun and blustery south easter which suited the Vikings game of long balls
and physicality down to the tee. With early game nerves and confusion about positions and tactics marring the opening minutes we were lucky to not concede a goal when Clean Sheets Quayle was left flailing at the ball only for Valderama Ibbotson to clear the ball off the line. After some harsh words were exchanged the lads settled into some better flowing football.

Unfortunately early in the first half Jaap Stam Charton pulled up with a very tight groin. He was duely subbed and hasn't left the physio table since. This rocked our defence but the lads were held together at the back by Jamie John Terry Boyes. It was during this period where the lads realised this was no ordinary football match. We had arrived in the big leagues and the big boys were not going to allow us to play our free flowing ball on the ground style of football.

Having said that we settled in quickly and it wasn't long before Giggs Liebrecht latched onto a loose ball in the area weaved past a few and drilled home a shot. Oh yeah, 1-0. Now if we thought that the game would settle down from here we were sorely mistaken. The intensity was just upped, with sliding tackles going around like Mandela dumpies at a Kaiser Chief game, the lads were under no illusions this was going to be tough. The Vikings soon equalised which shook the lads up and sparked us into play again.

Some cracking interplay down the right brought the ball to JJ Elley who looked up and saw Torres Roffie free in the centre. A tracer bullet pass to Torres' feet looked like a certain goal scoring chance only for Torres to be scythed down just outside the box by Big Bad Bob. Not his only foul on the night. Torres then while the wall was being formed slapped a beauty into the top left corner. Huge protests from the Vikings were met with deaf ears and we strode back to the half 2-1 the better. Once again this only fueled a fired up Vikings who stormed back into the game with a neat equaliser before the half time whistle. Clean Sheets record had turned sour and our defence was battling to clear the ball facing a strong wind.

The half time break brought about a much needed chat to re-align ourselves and get to grips with the physical nature of the game. Basically it was take no prisoners and lets try keep the ball on the ground and support the ball carrier. Sounds simple.

The second half turned into a titanic struggle between two sides determined not to give an inch and hell bent on victory. It was a case of Arsenal against Bolton on a cold North east day. Oil and water have never mixed, saying that these teams were more like fire and ice. Every player gave their all, none more so than Dave Beckham Loebie who stormed up and down the left flank in the second half marking Big Bad Bob and getting the better of him on most occasions. After a spell on the bench Giggs returned for the second half and duely sent us into the lead 3-2. Currently this man is without a par and is deadly with both feet in the area. Full fitness will be frightening sight for any opposition. Jasper " I'm still playing flank " Louw had to resort to some rather pitiful tactics to try keep him out of the game.

Unfortunately we once again relaxed and stopped working together which allowed the Vikings once again to equalise shortly after our goal which is very frustrating and something we must work on. This time Kean tried a miracle ball instead of passing early and giving away possession was punished for it via a very suspect cross or shot, we are still trying to figure that one out, which looped over Clean Sheets into the top right hand corner. By now our keeper was having a frothy about his once beautiful clean sheet.

With pressure on both teams to look after the ball and weary legs taking its toll a good period of play was once again enjoyed by the Tornadoes. The game became very strung out and this suited Giggs who made space for himself and with a cracking left foot sent the ball past a diving Viking goalie. A hat trick was well deserved for this little man/goat who with a little work can develop like the rest of us into an awesome footballer. With ten minutes on the clock, tackles flying in all over the place, Kean's temper being severely tested and Jamie Fabregas refusing to come off the bench the game swung into hyper drive. Glenda Best had a few scores to settle and was never from far the hot spots. He will be ruing a missed chance with five minutes to go when he cut inside beautifully and cracked a curling banana which just refused to bend inside the posts. Next time.

It was shortly after this that the Vikings broke away played a couple of long balls and with our defence failing to clear a great pass found the two left feet of Bob who cracked home a great shot past a diving Clean Sheets. No one said being a goalie was easy.

Extra time was three minutes and while we had the better chances a howler of a penalty being missed by the ref Frodo the Tornadoes first game ended at 4 all.

A rematch is already on the cards and both teams will be out to enjoy what proved to be a cracking game of high intensity football. The Tornadoes will know whats in store next time and having led for most of the game will feel confident that a positive result will be ours next time.

Ucha cha