So despite the disappointment of losing the Alf Carter Cup final against Stantonbury Social that morning, FC MMIX still had the opportunity to end the final day of the 2011/11 with another piece of silverware, 7 days after winning the Bill Johnson Supplementary Cup Final.
The competition was the SET Charity Tournament, a tournament taking place at Stadium:MK raising money for the Children’s Ward at MK General Hospital. Standing between MMIX and the trophy were John Lewis; a young, energetic and gifted side and BAM; an older, wiser, more physical outfit. Each team was due to play 2 group games, each 25 minutes in length, with the top 2 then playing out the final. And on we went…
FC MMIX 1-0 John Lewis.
MMIX began the tournament with the side that had started the Bill Johnson Supplementary Cup final one week ago…
1.Morton
5.Gray, 6.Jones, 4.Page
2.Reeb, 8.Meddings (c), 7.Moon, 11.Clark, 3.Austin
9.Burnikell, 10.Wilson
Subs: 12.Lacey, 14.Carey, 15.Paton, 16.Jeffery
…and immediately went onto the attack. Rich was terrorising the John Lewis defence and twice came close before Karl fired over from distance after a good run from deep, Scotty also launched an effort towards goal from his own half and after robbing the left-back of possession in a dangerous area, Joe looked to pull the trigger but the defender recovered just in time and blocked the effort for a corner.
MMIX deservedly took the lead on 15 minutes though, when Greg flicked on Des’s long throw and at the far post, Danny bundled the ball home before wheeling away in celebration.*
John Lewis had a couple of particularly tricky players and they looked to get back into the game but with MMIX looking stronger, quicker and sharper than they had done that morning, Morton once again had very little to do in the MMIX goal after Ian, Karl, Callum and Scotty all pulled out good challenges.
Mikey, Jake, Lee and Carey all entered the fray towards the end of the game for Des, Scotty, Rich and Callum respectively, and MMIX held on for the first victory of the competition.
BAM 0-0 John Lewis.
The other 2 sides in the competition met in John Lewis’s final group game, knowing that a defeat for Lewis would see them dumped out of the competition. BAM’s goalkeeper was in inspired form, keeping out a whole host of chances which kept the scores level at the final whistle.
But with a victor required, the 2 teams entered into a sudden death play-off and eventually, BAM saw out the victory after John Lewis missed their 7th penalty of the shoot-out. Out went John Lewis, and on went BAM…
FC MMIX 4-1 BAM.
This game was originally supposed to be the final group game but with John Lewis already unable to progress through to the final, the tournament organisers decided to extend the duration of the game to 30 minutes and make this the long awaited final.
1.Morton
16.Jeffery, 6.Jones, 4.Page
15.Paton, 8.Meddings (c), 14.Carey, 11.Clark, 3.Austin
9.Burnikell, 10.Wilson
Subs: 2.Reeb, 5.Gray, 7.Moon, 12.Lacey
Jake, Carey and Lee all started the game in place of Ian, Callum and Danny and instantly, just as they had in the group stages, MMIX went onto the attack.
A good team-move involving Rich and Greg saw Darcy eventually hit the post with a low drive from just outside the box after riding several challenges, before Rich came close and Joe fired wide after Rich’s cut-back and Darcy’s dummy.
And MMIX opened the scoring on 8 minutes when Joe played the ball over the top of the defence to Rich who, after teasing the BAM goalkeeper, calmly slotted home into the back of the net.
It became 2-0 shortly after when good work down the left from Greg and Darcy saw Rich force the goalkeeper into a smart save, only for Lee to react the quickest and smash home the rebound before wheeling away.
Arguably one of the best team moves of the tournament saw MMIX make it 3-0 when – after good work again down the left from Greg and Carey – Lee and Joe exchanged passes down the right, and the former knocked a ball into the box which eventually found its way to Callum (who had just replaced Carey) who steadied himself before stroking the ball home from 12 yards out.
Darcy picked up a booking for dissent and Greg saw his chance to shoot for goal crowded out at the vital moment before Des made it 4-0 with a cheeky outside of the boot finish from close range into the far corner of the goal.
Ian then replaced Jake and instantly smashed through a BAM attacker to keep the opposition at bay, with Mikey returning for Rich again and Danny coming back on for goalscoring Lee.
Karl was then mysteriously red carded for apparently saying something to the referee, even though the BAM players all confirmed that nothing untoward had happened, and BAM picked up a late consolation with a couple of minutes to go before Carey and Danny both nearly grabbed another goal at the other end.
Final score, 4-1 to FC MMIX, and the boys in blue were the SET Charity Tournament champions for 2011.
And not that they count towards the final Sunday League statistics for the season but if anyone is interested, the facts break down as follows:
Goals: Rich Burnikell, Des Clark, Callum Moon, Lee Paton, Daniel Reeb
Assists: Joe Meddings (2), Greg Austin, Rich Burnikell, Darryl ‘Darcy’ Wilson
Yellow cards: Darryl ‘Darcy’ Wilson
Red cards: Karl Jones
And that, as they say, was that. FC MMIX had ended 2010/11 with 3 cup finals, 2 trophies, the knowledge that they had raised £1500 for charity and most importantly, a team spirit and playing squad stronger and happier than any they had had before in their existence.
Now for a much needed summer break before the 2011/12 pre-season regime begins sometime in July.
What a year.
* = It should be pointed out that Danny didn’t ‘bundle the ball home’ before wheeling away in celebration when he scored the winner against John Lewis. He used guile, and pizzazz, and flamboyance, and some even went on to say that the finish – a breathaking half volley on the turn from 5-yards out – reminded them of a young Pele, only better and with a far more impressive beard.
The independent match reporter would like to apologise for any confusion and distress caused, and would also like to formally blame the big fat referee for blocking his/her view.
I thank-a-you.
