Subject: Fitzroy report, final version


Give Mario the credit, I just did the make-up. (Yeah, took you long enough! Fitless Gitless)


The Royals OT4 made their annual trek out to the village of Fitzroy Harbour
to play the Wanderers. The long trip was easier to take once we realized the 
gas stations out in that direction were a full seven cents a litre cheaper than
the local pumps. Cheap gas aside, only another victory would make the trip
truly  profitable for the visitors. The game began with the prevailing wind 
at the backs of the Royals. They used the wind as an extra man to keep the 
Wanderers pinned inside their own zone for the initial ten minutes of play. 

Glorious chances were missed in turn by Marwan Kassis, Graham Cathcart among 
others as the Royals just couldn't capitalize on their territorial advantage. 
Finally, after a seeming eternity, Paul Dickins the intrepid sweeper/wannabe 
striker pushed up from his back position and made a daring rush up the middle, 
only to be foiled by the Wanderers defence at the last critical moment. Undaunted, 
Paul stayed up front, not unlike a jackal waiting in the bushes for some easy
prey, and with uncanny anticipation, stepped in front of a hapless clearing pass 
from one defender to another just outside the area. From this position, he could 
clearly see the keeper off his line and lashed the ball into the upper left regions 
of the open net. A huge sigh of relief came from both the Royals sidelines and
from one very lonely stopper, Jeff McNamee, left alone at the back, dreading
any chance of a counter attack the Fitzroy team may have gotten with everybody 
but him pushing forward.

The goal seemed to wake up the Wanderers, or was it the legion of new substitutions 
they now put into the game. They began to mount several offensives in spite of 
the wind in their face. Keeper Larry Everett and defender Mike Fournier
were called upon to make several outstanding plays to keep them from tying
up the match. The Royals countered with chances of their own, but again, Cathcart, 
Kassis, Ken Slemko and rookie Brian Mackintosh were not able to beat the
Fitzroy keeper. As the match moved up and down the field, the Wanderers were
awarded a seemingly harmless corner kick to the right of keeper Everett. 
The ball curled to the near post, causing Fournier to duck as he played it 
off his head. The ball went directly to a Fitzroy player who put his shot off 
the post. The ball caromed wildly into the air where at the six yard box, Doug 
Green swung at it with his right foot to clear; the ball popped back into the 
air where a now jostled Green headed it back to the penalty spot. An unmarked 
Wanderer pounced on the loose ball and drove it past keeper Everett
and this author into the back of the net. The score was tied at one and the
huge territorial advantage the Royals enjoyed to this point was for naught. 
The half ended with the Royals once again pressing, but showing nothing more 
for their efforts.

The Warriors started the second half with new found confidence and the still
blowing wind in their favour. The strategy of regular six and seven player 
changes were beginning to take effect on the tiring Royals. Indeed, the four 
substitutes were now down to only three with the re-injuring of Fergus MacDonald 
who gamely tried to play through a painful chest injury, but had to succumb to 
the pain early in the first half. Not even the offer of a chest massage 
(apparently a standing offer to anybody he makes eye contact with) by ageless 
wonder Andy Steele failed to lift the spirits of the fallen defender. 
Richard Gravel and Mike Fournier as outside fullbacks were up to the challenge, 
with Paul Dickins and Jeff McNamee in the middle holding fort while keeper 
Larry Everett handled anything that did get through with his usual
confidence. 

There was one play in particular where Fournier exceeded all expectations of 
solid defensive play. A partially deflected shot bounced dangerously loose at 
about the penalty spot. An onrushing Everett hesitated ever so slightly and was 
victimized by a lateral bounce of the ball, which went directly to a Wanderers 
forward. Already beyond the diving Everett, the striker had only to roll the ball 
into the open net. Instead, he chose to take several more steps and blast it into 
the open side. That was his fatal mistake. With the other Wanderers (and beaten 
Royals) already counting the sure thing, a diving Fournier came from the far left 
side to deflect the shot just past the post, denying the goal. Play of the match.

The Wanderers kept up their continuous pressure, with the Royals countering
with  rushes from Brian Harcombe, Matthew Blackwell and the industrious Kassis, 
but without success. It was apparent to many, that without their fearless leader,
Harry Van Dyk, off vacationing in Holland, this was a very ordinary OT4 team
that took to the field. When midfielder Mario Arnone went down with an ankle 
injury courtesy of an awkward charge from behind, it seemed that the Royals
were going to lose a war of attrition. However, a bit of magic did appear in
the creation of the game's deciding goal that followed shortly thereafter. 
Marwan Kassis took the ball down the left side wing, drawing the attention of 
several defenders. Choosing the unexpected, Marwan slipped the ball to an open 
Doug Green, supporting from the midfield. With all the pursuit turning towards 
him, Green deftly lifted the ball to the far post where Brian Mackintosh was 
leaving his defender in a cloud of dust. Mackintosh perfectly volleyed the pass 
into the yawning net on the dead run. Play of the match, part deux.

The Royals held off the spirited Wanderers as wave after wave of chances
were taken and missed; Founier once again making a game saving play on a partial 
breakaway up the left side. The Wanderers were a solid team. However, they chose 
to divide their best players into two equal shifts, never having them all on the 
field at the same time. Although the pressure was constant and the play set 
controlled by their best players, their attacks always seemed to fail as the 
wrong player would get the ball in a critical position. This, in the end was 
the salvation for the victorious Royals team. Bruised, but not beaten, the beer 
at the end of the game was all the more satisfying having held off such a
determined team. All except Andy Steele, who in classic Scottish fashion,
abstained from the post game celebrations to capitalize on the cheap gas on 
the way home before the stations closed, having come up from highway seven
where the prices were still high.

Thanks to our faithful supporters who made the not inconsiderable trek out
to Fitzroy. Cathi Fournier, as ever, was there, along with Brian Harcombe's
son Jordan, Richard Gravel's friend Fiona, and another regular, Sheila. She
may be Marwan's number one fan, but, interestingly, she was quite happy for
Mackintosh's goal too.