Match Review: Aioli Monkeys FC vs Singapore Vikings FC

• GK Fraser Tyler
• DF Alex Stathopoulos
• MD Harry Shaw
• ST Eric Clermont
• ST Peter Besselink
• ST Shotaro Ichikawa
• ST Mark Addy
• -- Adrien Dambre
• -- Silvan Lehner
• -- Benjamin Darde
• -- Boujema Jelikh Kamel

• DF Andrew Storan
• MD Attilio Ferrari
• MD Pablo Huidobro
• -- Darren Naughton
• -- Brian Twomey

Stalemate

We arrived with a big squad and big expectations for this game. We knew a win was the only way to elevate ourselves into the top 3 in the final few games but it wasn't to be. A valiant effort but the goals didn't come and we took a point away. The game started with us leaving the vikings pass it around at the back, fair to say the vikings dominated the first 30 minutes as we stayed too deep and didn't press. They scored a nice goal when some clever passing got the left winger in behind who squared for the striker to tuck it away. In hindsight we should've pressed them early and upped the pressure. We created 2 great chances afterward when mark saw a header creep passed the post and also went through one on one with the GK but the strike straight at him. We also had a goal disallowed after some lovely football at the edge of the box. We were starting to dominate possession as the half time whistle blew. We expected the pressing game of the vikings had tired them out and with the introduction of fresh legs in the second half would swing it inner favour. We built more and more posession but the vikings were holding out. On 65 we got the equaliser when a perfectly timed tito through ball put eric in 1-1 and the frenchman cracked it into the bottom corner to get us a deserved 1-1. Plenty of time left and all to play for. Chances not plentiful but we were confident a chance would come and after the introduction of darren and a scramble at the edge of the box he flicked it through for brian who pulled the trigger but it clipped the Gks shoulder. That turned out to be our best chance. The vikings sat deep and defended crosses into the box very well. Defensively we were as good as we've been this season giving Kamel MOM for a top class performance at CB. Cheers to vikings and well done on a successful season.

• Thomas Domino Andersen MD
• Tomas Dubsky MD
• Jesper Meincke Nielsen --
• Jonas Groenbech --
• Christian Laurenborg --
• Thomas Elbo Andersen --
• Nicolai Sunekaer --
• Brian Chang Won Plaenoe --
• Leslie Andersen --
• Frederik Jurgensen --
• Michael Riber Hansen --

• Karl Martin Nygaard --
• Hotan Matthews --
• Rick Aarnoudse --
• Michael Jorgensen --

Third Place Gained Rather Than Two Points Lost

A sunny early evening game at Turf City pitch one was the setting for Vikings to take the final points needed to secure third place in the Cosmo league. Standing before them were a spirited Alioli team who were looking to pick up as many points as possible in the final weeks of the league. "Foul Throw Freddie +2 OGs" and Nicoli were selected and playing their final game for the Vikings before heading off to pastures new-more about that later. As always the game kicked off when the ref blew the whistle, exciting start! It is fair to say that Vikings absolutely 'domino'ated the early stages of the game. Elbo, Brian and Chris were knocking the ball about as if it was training session, the latter player getting up and down the line in swashbuckling fashion, like a young Roberto Carlos some might say. The midfield saw the return of the Czech powerhouse Thomas and Captain Domino. The average age of the centre was reduced with the appearance of Jonas. Vikings really did boss and dictate all the play and some intricate play between Domino, Leslie and Nicoli resulted in the team nearly taking the lead! A long pass (not hit and hope by any standard) from Brian to put lightening clean through resulted in a disappointing first touch from the goal getter and the chance had passed. Further evidence of Vikings possession and pretty football was on offer but somehow the game remained goalless until a Captain Fantastic nutmeg in the centre of the park gave him the opportunity to thread and inch perfect weighted pass to Leslie who squared the ball for Nicoli to roll into an empty net, Vikings were up and deserving of it too! That should have been the start of the rout but as many of you are aware we seem to make it difficult for ourselves and sometimes lack that killer instinct to put teams to the sword. Aioli mounted a number of small attacks and they had a goal disallowed for offside - correct decision. Anyway, HT hit and Vikings were 1-0 to the good! The second half started in much the same way as the first with the ref blowing the whistle and Vikings playing keep ball. This is pretty much how it stayed for the next ten minutes or so. Chat on the sidelines, via the vast grouping of Viking supporters, drifted away from the game and onto reminiscent tales of the previous week's antics at the Viking Cup Beijing. Big John told us about his injury and Peter Crone had to leave early to get out for dinner with his Finnish friend!!! It was a toss up whether the banter or the game was more exciting at this point! Aioli confidence started to grow and they managed to get a foothold in the game and few chances started to come their way, a good header going narrowly wide. This prompted Domino to start barking out orders and MJ take to prancing up and down the sideline like a proud peacock looking for possible changes to stem the ever increasing attacks from our visitors. Vikings seemed to lack wind in their sails at this point and were truly blown off course moments later after a huge cry for a penalty from the Aioli bench was turned down. A long through ball down our middle left Brian at full stretch and exposed, failing to cut it out allowed the striker to poke it past our keeper for an equaliser. Rick was readied and replaced goal scorer Nicoli, MJ threatened to add a little colour to the game by putting on his boots in anticipation of a cameo slot and Karl was the final throw of the dice. 10 minutes or so to regain the lead and salvage a victory. The power seemed to re-enter the minds and bodies of the players and the Vikings were a rekindled spirit! Jesper danced past a couple of defenders and shot wide, Leslie tried to muster up a final effort and Karl carved out a couple of good crosses. Despite ending the game strongly there was to be no winning goal for the Vikings. The game ended 1-1 with Vikings feeling more disappointed with the result than their counterparts, who seemed positively buoyed by the result. Only after the game when reminded that third place was secured and that it had been an incredibly good season did smiles start to appear back on the faces of the Cosmo boys. Thank you to the match officials and Aioli for a sporting game and to all of the supporters who turned out to cheer on the respective teams. Thank you and congratulations must also go to Fred and Nicoli who have been a great addition to the team as both players and people, we wish you both the best of luck in the future and hope to see you someday soon putting on the kit of the Vikings once more! Freddie's parting gift http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-15---the-throw-in Over and out!