EBOG 6-a-side tournament, Sunday 28th August, High Barnet

In the first tournament of 2011 Melee took to the field sporting their new decentinary kit (10-year), reverting back to the original blue strip worn on the first ever game. With a decent squad of 8 for the 6-a-side grass tourney including two Melee debutants, hopes were high of a good days play.

Drawn in a group of 3, the opposition looked professional in their 11-a-side Saturday league kits which could have put the Melee boys off. However the pre warm up antics of one team left Chris Pils disillusioned ‘I forgot these kind of people exist’. The format was to play each team twice, 10min matches. Melee watched the first game and anticipated a difficult match against the opposition when it was their turn to play. However when Melee eventually did run onto the field things started to fall nicely into place, the team passed the ball fluidly and confidence was starting to build. Melee smashed the first game 5-1, roll on.

The rest of the games in the group followed with Melee taking on one of the home EBOG teams (twats) beating them twice, one time convincingly. Melee topped the group, played 4 won 4:

Melee 5-1 Team in Red/Black
Melee 1-0 EBOG A
Melee 3-0 Team in Red/Black
Melee 3-0 EBOG A

After the lunch time break Melee were drawn into the Cup competition into another group of three with top two teams going through to the semi-final. The lunch break didn’t seem to be a problem and Melee stormed to another 5-1 thrashing, passing the ball into the net, finishing off the second EBOG team. Confidence seemed to be high at this stage but legs seemed to be starting to tire and Melee lost their first game of the day to a well organised (much younger) team. After the first round Melee realised they needed only 1 point from the remaining two games to qualify for the semi’s but that one point ended up being one point too many as Melee lost 2-1 to the EBOG team after taking a 1 goal lead and looking in control. Melee lost composure along with their legs in the final game to be beaten by the yellow kitted side and unfortunately leave the competition yet still with heads held high.

Melee 5-1 EBOG
Melee 0-2 Team in Yellow
Melee 1-2 EBOG
Melee 0-2 Team in Yellow

Overall Melee played some sublime footy at times, a real team effort but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to take home a medal. Everyone enjoyed what was a fun day.

Player of tournament has to go to the super keeper Fabio who kept Melee in many of the games, making some wonderful saves and providing confidence to the back two. Goal difference of positive 10 proves how valuable he was. Special mention goes to Dave for his 5 goals and ridiculous two footed sliding challenge on the opposition keeper (although I think we all agreed the keeper deserved it).

Squad
Fabio, Jonny Jonny, Sho Nair, Chris Pils, Dave S, Jack Dell, Jonny Away, Kev

Goals
Justyn 1
Pils 1
Dave 5
Jack 3
Al 1
Kev 5
O.G 2

Team photo to follow

New Season, Same Result

There was a celebratory atmosphere in the air last night after Melee paraded last seasons division 1 winners trophy aloft. That kind of morale boost served well on this average summers night seeing Melee take a 12-6 victory against Becrypt Allstars.

After two weeks of no shows Melee could have potentially been rusty and some early worry signs were there leading to an early goal gifted to the opposition. But heads didn't go down and Melee started to press and pass cleverly to take a demanding advantage into half time leading 4-1.

After the break debutant goal keeper Fabio got lobbed by the opposition goalie in what only can be described as a rare event in 5-a-side. However his general play may have already secured him a place in Melee folklore.

After the traditional taking the foot off the gas the scores stood at 5-4 in a game that could have turned around. Bizarre tactics never seen in 5-a-side of booting the ball up to the big man seemed odd,although Foz had him in his pocket for most of the game. Strong performances from Pils and Dave in the midfield changed the game back into Melees favour forcing the opposition into numerous errors. Quick goals followed with Dave and Kev taking advantage of some poor defending to rack up a tally of 5 goals a piece,leaving the opposition bamboozled and heavily deflated.

Melee now sit top again of the Championship division,with some huge games to come in the following weeks,long may this run continue (now 9 games undefeated).

Goals
Dave 5
Kev 5
Pils 2

Champione Champione, Ole Ole Ole

So we are the champions my friends!!

In only their second season the new Melee won promotion to the Championship division after winning 6 of their 7 games with a positive goal difference of 17.

The last game of the season saw Melee needing only a draw to get promoted, however it was a final win that the team really wanted. The game started quickly and Melee were straight on the scoresheet from another new recruit Dave S scoring with practically his first ever touch for Melee.

Beautiful passing followed and some chances went begging before a flowing move end with Foz playing an outrageous flick off the inside of heal to play in O'Neill to finish clinically. Another lovely O'Neill goal followed before the opposition pulled one back from the keeper running way out of position. Half time 3-1

The team talk at half time made it clear the next goal was key and Melee quickly scored after the break from another one two move classily finished by O'Neill. more goals followed all great team moves with Dave S and Justyn setting them up. O'Neill bagged his hat trick and then his 4th with a simple tap in at the back post from a throw in, before Kev finished it with a majestic clip over the keeper in true Samuel esc style.

Some late goals from the opposition left the final score 8-4 when it could have easily been 10-2. An all round great team performance capped off the season with all the glory to come next week in picking up the league trophy.

Goals
O'Neill 4
Kev 3
Dave S 1

http://www.pitch-invasion.com/players/results-and-fixtures/league-table