Captain's Report: MK City vs Bucks 3 (8-8) and Wallabies (8-1)
First up were MK Bucks, fortunately only the 3rd team! City is still chasing the elusive victory over Bucks in a competition. Both teams had staged their Christmas do's the night before so there was no advantage to be gained or lost from that. We have a history of taking the lead against Bucks and then losing it (Darren and I are still haunted by 'Dark Sunday', when we were leading 5-1 and it went to penalties...). That didn't happen. Instead we found ourselves 4-0 down and chasing the game. Being down seemed to inspire us more and we pulled it back to within 1 goal at half time. There wasn't a lot to say at half time, we were playing well and Bucks, I hear, are a reasonable club... It is no surprise that penalties were a feature of the game. We conceded 2 which the Bucks Captain converted but we had our fortune too and were awarded a penalty at 8-7 down. Credit to Michael for a cool conversion to give a final score of 8 each. Of course we wanted full points and it wasn't a far fetched dream, but a draw was a fair result and there is always the rematch. Special mention to Darren for a hat trick, proving he deserves a place in the team as and when he chooses and that he can run if he wants to!
Next up Wallabies. The Captain was worried this would be tricky. Wallabies have some good (tall) new boys and the girls were playing down from Roos. The Captain applauded Claire's long shot in the opening minutes until she realised Claire was not playing for City and we were 1-0 down. Embarassed, the Captain responded with a long shot and City were back on track. Goals continued to come from City until half time when we were 8-1 up. The brief was to imagine this was the next OKA game and really go for it, but something went terribly wrong. The attacking division found themselves attacking and attacking for the whole half. Was it great defending by the Wallabies or poor finishing by City? The defensive half must have considered conceding goals for a change of scenery but to their credit they kept a clean sheet. Money was offered to anyone who could score or assist but it was not to be. The Captain was one of those 4 attackers and can't begin to explain what went wrong. It won't cut the mustard in OKA but let's not lose sight the score was 8-1.
So on Super Sunday it was an okay result against half of the Bucks first team aka Bucks 3, and a good first half result against Wallabies.
Finally, the Captains thoughts to wrap up the first half of the season ...
In the OKA, it's in our hands on the 10th January to finish in the top half of the table for the first time. The squad is strong for that game if we don't eat too many mince pies. Let's get the result we need so we don't have to rely on others and lots of maths to qualify. We are unbeaten in OKA for 18 months, let's make it 2 years, go out of OKA in style and prove we can win games by playing not just by forfeit.
SMKA, has been mixed. We have won the games we were expected to (or first team selection would be questionable) and we have had close games with Hatters and Bucks. Despite not ever beating Hatters or Bucks the Captain still believes in Father Christmas and that City will beat them in the rematch and finish top, she really does.
The most pleasing thing is the goals are coming in from across the team. We are not reliant on individuals (Darren) and we are breaking double figures, a big thing for City. There have also been some great individual performances but it's the team performance that's counted.
City has fielded a lot of players, word was Thomas was going to appear in a City top. Many have played at short notice and we always thank them but we have not thanked the players that sign up straight away and show up for every game. Emma Cash has a 100% record for City matches (matched only by the Captain of course). Others have been plagued by injury (aka old age) and some have lives outside Korfball. All Captains know the value of players that say they will be there and are so thank you to those ones too.
Darren should be commended for managing to step back from the day to day City graft and letting the Captain run it by email and mardiness. No one thought he could do it but I only get 5-10 emails a day now and we still have him as the great player he is. I know Darren wants City be self sufficient but we still need him. Some of us don't even know the way to Cheney School (Beechey and Cash you should be ashamed of yourselves, we have been going there for 2 years!).
City is the first team of Roos, Wallabies, Rogues and Colussus. It means we regularly steal the best players (and Joe and Darren) even when they have matches. I know it's hard for those teams especially when they take on the mighty Hatters and a club called Bucks. Trust me the City players are all too familiar with taking a heavy defeat on a Sunday afternoon. We have City so we can play in the Oxford League to get regular games at a higher level and then we entered City in SMKA to give Bucks and Hatters a close run, which yesterday we did. It's not a permanent arrangement. I still think it's the best way for now but because we know the strain it puts on the other teams it's even more important that City does well.
To the City squad have a sensible Christmas and New Year. To everyone else have a great Christmas and a happy 2010 and see you back at Courtside.
Team v Bucks 3
First attack Emma Green 1, Laura, Joe, Darren 3 (Sub Tim)
First D Emma Cash, Kelly, Pete1, Michael 2 (Sub Claire 1)
Team v Wallabies
First attack Emma Green 1, Laura 2, Joe, Tim 1
First D Emma Cash 2, Kelly, Pete 2, Michael