3rd November 2007, AFA Intermediate Cup

Old Meadonians 3-0 OH (AET)

by Tom "Statto" Nichols

OH arrived at their new home and cup fever was in the air. It was billed as a David and Goliath clash, Viduka claiming it would be the hardest game of his career. Things were off to a bad start with Shuey missing his train, no doubt due to dancing commitments, before pulling his hamstring trying an outrageous b-boy move in the warm up. For Andy, the revelation that he was about to embark on a month of ‘tash growing hadn’t gone down well, and he got an early warm up after being thrown from the car by his irate missus.

Despite the early set backs everyone was pumped up; “I’ll start on the bench!” screamed the Keen Machine, unable to contain his excitement. The OH game plan was modelled on Rangers against Barcelona. ‘Anti-football’ was the buzzword of the day. Lionel Messi would have loved it.

Long balls and tough challenges kept the not-so-old Meadonians at bay. It was like the crazy gang in their pomp. There were few chances to speak of in the first half. A fine headed miss from Meadonians from inside the 6 yard box sticks out, Chris Reidy sizzled one past the upright with a 30 yard volley, and I’m still having flashbacks of my shot that came back off the inside of the post. OH went in at the break lucky to still have 11 men after the Duke went for the crown jewels of the Meadonians centre back.

The second half continued in the same vein. Reidy and Eoin were having monsterous games at the back. Rasheed and Rico were also keeping little Lewis Hamilton quiet on the wings and Meadonians were getting frustrated. The not uncommon sight of Potter missing a one-on-one suggested it might turn out to be one of those days.

Sure enough after 110 minutes of gruelling football Meadonians broke from their own box to win a penalty. Appeals for it to be put to the video referee were turned down, but OH refused to drop their heads. Playing our best football all game didn’t help though as we slipped 2, then 3 behind and then down to 10 men. God knows how Viduka stayed on the pitch so long but his assault on his opposite number was the final straw for the ref and he was given his marching orders. A 5 hour round trip and £32 fine… not bad for a days work. 

Man of the Match: Eoin or Reidy. Absolute beasts on the day and unlucky to come out of the game conceding 3.