Goals Yay, Points Nay
Team News: Just half a team available - Oscar, Rizzo, A. Muppet and a rare game out for Kermit needed Big Bird to draft in his mate Neil to fill in the sixth position.
Previous Results: Played 3 Won 2 Lost 1 - With the youthful CBFC side coming out on top over the older more experienced side in past seasons, last season's cup match emphasised that fact in one of the best second half comebacks of the season.
First Half
Fozzie attempts to clear the ball but as it happens to everybody the bounce of the ball ever so slightly deceiving takes it past Fozzie for a corner. CBFC lacked the quality in the final third, whether the final pass was poor or the shot selection; numerous chances were wasted in the early period. When Beaker cut through AFC Nay's high line of defence Neil and Swedish Chef failed to score, Chef hit the keeper with his shot, Beaker collecting the rebound passed to Chef his cross into Neil was shot goalwards at the keeper. With the best first chance squandered the next fell for Gonzo, though a left footed volley at a fair distance from goal was a difficult one to convert.
While they should have already been in the lead, up popped another chance to correct their mistakes. As the ball is launched into Nay's half, Beaker receives the ball to have a crack at goal, more of the same with both his and Chef's follow up shot on the rebound straight at the keeper. With five shots on target in a row, Neil ends the run as he completes the flurry of shots with a wayward attempt. Neil was unfortunate with his first touch after Beaker played a splitting pass through the entire AFC Nay side for an unmarked free space at the back post.
AFC Nay worked their first chance of the game from the goalkick, the striker with space at the back post had a tough task to side foot volley the shot on goal. In response Big Bird and Chef combined from their goalkick, a wonderful chipped through ball, outside of right boot under pressure over the midfielders head to Chef had put him through the middle of the defence. The profligacy of the shot was just not good enough again.
Goal 0-1 // AFC Nay
Ruthless when the chance came, a lack of ability to keep the possession from the goal kick proved costly. A clearance into the CBFC box was nodded down by the striker for the midfielder to shoot his volley wayward off Big Bird and into the striker's path for the chance of a tap in.
Goal 1-1 // Neil - Assist 4 Beaker
Having not fashioned a single effort since falling behind, Big Bird charges forward to win a corner for Beaker to deliver the ball right into the heart of the box. Neil making up the numbers this week reacts to the ball dropping at his feet to poke the ball through the goalkeeper's legs to equalise.
Having conceded AFC Nay came right back earning a corner and hitting the post from a lay off. At the end of the half the scorer was put through on goal needing Fozzie to make an important save on the stroke of the half time whistle.
Second Half
With both sides on the charge early doors excellent goalscoring chances were wasted by the two teams. AFC Nay's tactics of playing to the target man up front had worked a little but with Big Bird around, he was kept him in line. What was the important moment of the match was when Neil missed from close range. Big Bird collects the goalkick, spreads the ball wide to Beaker, an inside pass leaves Swedish Chef with a turn and shot on goal needing the keeper fully outstretched to push the ball onto the post. Neil is there first... yet blasts the ball Sergio Ramos style into the stands. The AFC Nay goalkeeper was having a field day with every shot after shot saved, Beaker had a crack pushed clear of goal with Big Bird putting in a cross on the follow up earning a corner.
Goal 1-2 // AFC Nay
From another blocked shot courtesy of Big Bird's defensive work, a subsequent goal was conceded from the corner in poor circumstances. It was bad enough for a short 2 v 1 corner to take place, but even worse was the free run the midfielder was allowed to make into the box for a shot on goal.
It took a few minutes for the dust to settle for CBFC to get back into their stride and start again. Neil with 50% of the team's shots on goal was put through by Beaker and denied again by the on form goalkeeper. Gonzo was playing as an attacker in an attempt to score some goals.
Goal 1-3 // AFC Nay
Disaster pure disaster with Gonzo eager to take his kick in fast to drum up some momentum he misses a simple pass to Beaker and conceding possession to the striker. With Big Bird moving across to close him down, slightly wrong footed a tap past him puts the striker through on goal to score. An avoidable mess.
Goal 2-3 // 8 Big Bird - Assist 17 Swedish Chef
With the match in the closing stages the game went crazy, immediately responding Big Bird passed to Beaker from the kick in, Beaker sent the ball forward to Swedish Chef, with Big Bird making a run and calling for the ball a square pass gave him the chance to shoot neatly into the near post bottom corner to bring the match back into life.
Neil tested the keeper not too soon after the restart with a fiercely struck shot, Chef had a shot blocked, Neil again rode a tackle before firing just past the post in a multitude of chances.
Goal 2-4 // AFC Nay
Having given themselves a chance to go for at least a point the all-out attack was the obvious downfall to the important late goals. With Fozzie's goal kick intercepted on the halfway line, Chef got back to prevent the striker from going to goal. Heading to the corner flag to waste some time Chef got around the striker to dispossess him. Big Bird played a dangerous move rolling the ball away with the sole of his boot, however this gifted the striker the opportunity to take the ball and was free on goal to score at the near post. AFC Nay converting their third shot on goal in a row.
With no option but to attack Chef and Neil immediately ploughed forward to earn a free kick, AFC Nay's closest players unsportingly walking away from the ball with more attempts to waste time.
Goal 3-4 // 8 Big Bird - Assist 5 Gonzo
Again the team strike back less than 60 seconds later. Beaker's free kick for Gonzo to shoot long range is closed down but finds its way to Big Bird. Free to turn his shot is too quick for the keeper to get any better contact on than see it bounce into the net.
With all CBFC players fighting for another goal with just a minute remaining a couple of hopeful passes were the only chance they had. The dreadful defending on the goals coupled with some unclinical finishing were what cost the side in the end with AFC Nay avenging their previous two defeats. The side facing another possible group stage exit from the cup for another season.
Full-Time Result: Cillit Bang FC 3-4 AFC Nay
Goal - Neil // Assist 4 Beaker