Matchday // Match 14 v Jabalani's Legacy - Season 6 // Cillit Bang FC

Kermit the Centurion sets up End of Year Christmas Win

Team News: Few absentees this match with Fozzie and Rizzo. Oscar back for his second game in a row and taking his long awaited place back outfield, along with Big Bird back after his two week absence, Nick made another appearance in goal with Doug unavailable.

Previous Results: With the last match being a very rare outcome of a draw, against a good passing team which dominated large portions of the previous match. CBFC were looking to bounce back after playing and subsequently losing to the teams in first and second.

First Half

On the final game of the 2011 calendar year, the game was off to a flier, Kermit almost capitalised on winning the ball from the defender in the opposition box in between shots from Jabalani's Legacy testing Nick within the first thirty seconds and another going wide.

Goal 1-0 100th // 14 Kermit - Assist 17 Swedish Chef

From a kick in Beaker and Kermit pass quick and decisive out to Swedish Chef, when he sees Chef flick the ball down the line Kermit runs straight for the box to hit the net from the cross for his 100th Cillit Bang FC goal. A little over 25 months since scoring his first on 10th November 2009 back at the first 5-a-side match v Mighty Ducks FC.

Oscar returning to an outfield position since September almost had a chance of scoring with his first touch of the ball. Another Beaker kick in centred to Chef, followed with a through ball was met with Oscar attempting his shot a tad too early allowing the defender to get back in to win back the ball. On the other hand from a Gonzo clearance the opposition defender won the contested ball setting off an attack, as the cross came in from the wing somehow the ball found itself travelling right through the players in the box without any type of touch. Gonzo first to the kick in picked out Kermit in an unmarked position deep in the opposing half, yet Kermit was unhappy with himself misjudging the bounce letting it roll out for the goalkick.

With A. Muppet on the field immediately pressurising the midfielder stopping the pass, he was almost put through by Chef.

Goal 2-0 // 17 Swedish Chef - Assist 5 Gonzo

After some hassling and forcing the goalkeeper to clear the ball up field, Nick sent the goalkick on the floor downfield, Gonzo by flicking the ball with the faintest of touches through the oncoming defender's legs giving Swedish Chef a chance to hit his shot back across goal in off the post.

Though 2-0 down, Jabalani's Legacy could consider themselves unfortunate to find themselves in this position with the way they were playing as could be said with their immediate attack, skipping past players, playing great passes another cross was just behind a teammate, enabling A. Muppet to mop up the loose ball. More pressure came from kick ins, as numerous crosses were pumped into the box, Big Bird closing one out, Beaker clearing off the line direct from a kick in. Though four CBFC players were camped in the box there seemed to be a lack of a goalscoring threat by way of run of the ball or just someone not there to tap in these chances created.

Some quick play from the back by Nick and Kermit nodding the ball down the wing past a player, a precise pass across the face of the box had put Oscar in, had it not been for a touch which the keeper could clear in what would of been a jammy goal to score against the run of play before the end of the half. Oscar redeemed himself within a fine shot on goal after great work again by Kermit on the left wing, cushioning the ball past another tackle before laying off to Oscar, the keeper matched the shot to concede a corner.

Strikes from distance were plentiful as A. Muppet gets in the way for a shot, but it was the one from close range which almost proved deadly. From a wayward shot Beaker is first to the ball, however in the moment of excitement at the attempt to pass down the pitch to Oscar whose free, the pass is not so simple, as the block not only halts the attack but rules Beaker from his sideways momentum out of the way of the immediate danger. Gonzo and Kermit race to cover, Nick saving at his near post, Kermit heading out of the danger zone in a somewhat pivotal moment of the match. With everyone back for the following corners the route to goal is hard to find, Kermit on the half time whistle is dispossessed on a counter attack.

Second Half

Jabalani's Legacy started the half with a purpose, a shot across the box was in the middle of everything, wide of the goal, too far forward for a teammate to tap in. A. Muppet showed some class to control a goalkick to pass forward to Kermit, whereby the shot was easy to save. With Big Bird back in defense, there was a much more solid feel unlike previous games as could be seen with a simple blocked cross to set off a counter, Gonzo going close with the more difficult diagonal option of Beaker where the simple pass to A. Muppet was available. Bouncing back a goalkick in which a melee of 3 players including Big Bird and Gonzo somehow allowed the ball to slow up for a great chance to score which was not taken.

With Gonzo shifting from defense to attack, with a 2 on 2 situation, Beaker's pass through to Gonzo was shut out as the next goal was looking to prove vital in the outcome of the match. As Jabalani's Legacy were pushing men forward looking for something, Gonzo won a tackle to setup a 2v1 however the advantage was lose by a poor pass behind Kermit which should have been on the ground.

Some bad play had gifted an unbelievable chance away from a corner. A. Muppet's perhaps bad choice of pass to Gonzo was blocked, Oscar by trying to win the loose ball was the wrong side and second to the ball leaving a Jabalani's Legacy player top pick up the pass and with the entire CBFC half to take on the keeper, however Nick was up to the challenge saving the shot, the follow up shot and diving on top of the next ball. Nick was determined to cling on to the clean sheet as the match approached it's last quarter.

With kick ins not being the greatest creative fortay, Kermit sent a lovely pass towards the box to meet with Swedish Chef's crossfield run, as the ball bounces from the collision A. Muppet's attempt is cut out as he pulls the trigger, Chef's follow up shot is blocked. A 2v1 counterattack was almost sprung catching out CBFC at the back, the danger passed as the ball rolled quickly out.

Goal 2-1 // Jabalani's Legacy

As Chef's picks the wrong pass with a backheel to Kermit, the quality of passing and movement from the opposition pays off, down the wing a pass inside with a fine finish sets up a nervy last few minutes.

Goal 3-1 // 17 Swedish Chef - Assist 8 Big Bird

Vital, Vital goal within 23 seconds of the kick off, you would fancy the equaliser was coming within the closing period had it not been for such a crushing goal to dampen Jabalani's Legacy hopes after 25 minutes of searching for the first goal. Big Bird curves a pass over the top leaving the defender to make a fairly difficult clearance, where Swedish Chef's pressing pays off as the rebound falls kindly for him to knock the ball past the keeper to re-establish the two goal lead. Swedish Chef beats his previous season's goalscoring record of 16 goals with four games more to spare.

Just a minute later Kermit plays a pass around the side of the defender onto Swedish Chef's run, yet his first touch is not good enough to control it for the shot as the keeper shuts down. Tackling back for the ball he links up with Kermit but his pass to set him upo is blocked. All this attacking was leaving spaces at the back with Big Bird pouring forward and Kermit nutmegging the defender, the tables were turned as Gonzo played a great part in holding up play, breaking down the moves.

Beaker almost cost a goal as his headed clearance ended on the edge of his box, the air shot set up a cleverly improvised backheel shot that had Nick by almost surprise.

Penalty Appeal // Jabalani's Legacy

With moments til the end of the match Nick rolled the ball out dangerously to Kermit, whose pass sideways was pounced upon. Now what was strange came from the attacker bypassing both Gonzo and Kermit in the box. Both taking a swipe and missing the ball but not the attacker's legs, somehow no one on the pitch was even bothered when 2 clear penalty appeals were there to see.

Goal 3-2 // Jabalani's Legacy

The penalty appeals did not affect the game as the goal from open play followed which incidentally could have been ruled out by the player diving for the ball, which is not allowed by the rules. The keeper's down field pass bouncing over Gonzo's head, the striker and Nick diving both for the ball, landing for a tap in on the unmarked player.

With no time left in the match to play, Cillit Bang FC had managed to hold on quite fortunately and reclaim 6th spot over Christmas and New Year which was lost for just a week.

Full-Time Result: Cillit Bang FC 3-2 Jabalani's Legacy