Match Review: Hotspurs FC vs German-Swiss All Stars

• GK Martyn U'ren
• DF Aaron Jones
• DF James Keane
• DF Barry McVeigh
• DF Tom Hine
• MD Ali Roseburgh
• MD Joshua Donavan
• ST Thomas Greene
• ST Jack Skinner
• -- Robert Gorczynski
• -- Patrick Sheriff

• MD Ng Zhiwei
• ST Addy Cutts
• -- Jonathan Drape-Comyn
• -- Mark Hadlow
• -- Daniel Krzystek

Sunburn Saturday at SIA

Hotspurs lined up at the earlier kick off time of 1pm at a new pitch location, SIA. Hotspurs went into the game with a full squad of 16 looking for a must win to kick start 2020. The sun was beading down given the revised kick off time and the pitch having the shortest touchline ever seen, the ball spent long spells being chased into the adjacent car park. The first half was a close affair, Hotspurs growing into the game after a slow start creating some guilt edge chances. Our best chance fell to a gut busting Tom Greene who could not reach his size 7 bright pink feet to a cut back from JD. Jack also unlucky to not break the deadlock with the keeper making a smart save after a neat through ball. Just before half time, a corner to GSA where their winger leaped unmarked to slot a header. 0-1 into the break. After half time with changes made, Hotspurs looked to get back into the game and was it not for the GSA keeper saving everything we threw at him, the scoreline would have been much different. Early into the half we had a penalty saved well to the keepers right after Jack Skinner was felled in the area when through 1 on 1. We continued to knock on the door with great headed chances falling to Ali and Addy however the GSA keeper having the game of his life was equal to everything we threw at him. GSA threatened us on the break with Martyn making some key saves as we pressed for an equaliser. Both teams failed to capitalise and the scoreline remained 0-1 Although the performance was not at our best, we created great chances to get something from the game. Special mention to the GSA keeper who was a clear MOM with a string of match winning saves throughout the 90 mins. On to the cup next week.

• Florent Caupin GK
• Matthias Bertl DF
• Takahiro Kawabata DF
• Hamza Ben Naceur Gharfane MD
• Benny Sattelmaier MD
• Nick Hennies MD
• Diyar Mailepessov ST
• Leandro Schütte ST
• Arnaud Houles --
• Joe Giani --
• Mark Leonhardt --

• Laurent Brutsch DF
• Gullzar Khan MD
• Michael Klemm --

First 3 points for GAS in 2020

4 years in we finally had a 29th in Feb again....pretty much the time when GAS had last won a match (at least that's what it feels like). In the roasting heat at 1pm noon we were facing Hotspurs. After I don't know how many lost matches we knew that this was the match determining whether the season would end up in disaster or whether we could still achieve a decent result at the end of the season. Even more unfortunate the fact that we had a couple of last minute drop-outs including Dennis who despite a 2 min voice message at 6am in the morning to Coach Q where he assured that he will play the match of his life (clearly intoxicated by approximately 15 pints) did - surprise, surprise - not show up. Infront of the screaming crowd including our VIP fans (Schoko, Deoroller, Pipo von Pain and Papa Z) who travelled up all the way to Malaysia, the team started off well and was dangerous from the very beginning on. With Nick, who finally made it back into center mid after he had been sent to the right back exile, and Arnaud, who has just been nominated as new Captain and successor of Mitchinho, forming the heart and core of our formation, their strong defensive and offensive performance was crucial for us and enabled several chances for Leandro, Hamza, Benny and Dee, none of which materialized in a goal. After first waterbreak Hotspurs were getting stronger and brought in some dangerous crosses from the side infront of our goal, fortunately as unable to convert as we were. Minutes before halftime, then the relieving goal to bring us in lead by Dee who finished with a powerful header, obviously still with anger in his stomach after an argument with the coach a minute before (credits to our coach for getting the best out of us ;) ). Second half started with some more chances and beautiful football by GAS, which again Hamza, Benny & co. couldn't convert to decide the match early, before goalie Joe Buffon was stepping up to become the man of the day. Hotspurs profiting from GAS' fitness deficits were becoming more and more dangerous with several attempts on goal but would always find their master in our Italian "Eroe" who prevented at least 3 or 4 100% chances and even saved a very well shot penalty. Thanks to a very solid performance by every individual including the subs and as a team, GAS managed to sustain the lead gaining the first and very important 3 points of the year. Thanks a lot to the refs and Hotspurs for a very fair match and a good rest of the season!