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25 Jun 2009 - King's Sports Centre, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
On a day when the world mourned the passing of one the greatest entertainers in modern history who had touched the lives of many young boys, the Old Boys started their season with two of the new signings absent due to international duty. It could have been a sombre affair, the death of a dearly loved icon and the sleek blackness of the latest Thistle Construction home kit was a film makers wet dream, but instead, Marriott FC, playing in orange, and the referees, clothed in yellow, brought frivolity and slap stick to the occasion. It was clear from the outset that the OBs were rampant and played with the kind of free flowing football that made the Dutch such a powerhouse twenty years ago.
And so, with the memories of the red swim suit still getting a rise, it was a game that acknowledged experience and purity and was a tribute to the old guard; Roughead was magnificent, commanding from the rear, dictating the game and keeping the players focused and Gaffing was unstoppable with his tireless running and exemplary vision. With 100 years between them, these two typified the fresh new start that the OBs needed.
The buzz that greeted the arrival of the Old Boys, resplendent in their new strip and training tops, was nothing to the buzz that the players created on the pitch, none more so than the housewives favourite, famous for his predilection with wood, who scored three. Following a period of sustained pressure, the ball was zipped forward, every player contributed with either touch or movement allowing Blenkinsop to guide home his and the teams first. Ludford-Thomas, back for his first game in two seasons, then scored following his trademark persistence, cheekily slamming home a free kick awarded after he had been assaulted into the boards. A lesser man would have crumpled or complained, not Ludford-Thomas who showed that football and goals are the greatest retribution. This is true, even when the referee's needlessly take them away; a goal keeper handling outside the box? A goal keeper slide tackling outside the box? A goal disallowed for being in the area when clearly outside? Outrageous challenges close to the boards? An inconsistent application of the rules? The Old Boys really need to stop dwelling on these decisions, realise that they can't change them and take the example of Ludford-Thomas.
The half ended with Cummings calmly opening his account with a side foot from a narrow angle into an open goal following yet more great work from Gaffing. The ball had been won by Roughead with a swift interception and then quickly distributed up the park to Gaffing who pulled the defender and 'keeper over to the left allowing Cummings time to do the rest and introduce the now infamous 'Buddha Belly' celebration. A three nil lead and a goal disallowed was a good start but it's a testament to the hunger of the team that it was not considered enough. Marriott had talented and fit players but they lacked shape and vision. This had to be exploited in the second half and the Gaffer urged that no body should rest on their laurels. It would appear that this message wasn't heeded as it should have been with Marriott being allowed to score quickly after the restart. It wouldn't even be fair to say there was poor marking. There simply wasn't any at all. A quick Marriott counter-attack and a long ball with no-one tracking back meant that their centre forward was left with enough time to chose his spot and beat Sives.
This was the wake up call the OBs needed, having needlessly conceded, they were not prepared to throw the game away. The second half then continued like the first, Marriott were given nothing, OBs were the first to every ball, the decisions continued to bemuse, another goal was disallowed and Blenkinsop continued to score. His second was from open play and tucked into the bottom left hand corner, evading the flopping dive of the goal keeper. His next and the goal that secured his hatrick was better struck, having been poorly cleared by a Marriott defender it fell to Blenkinsop to strike sweetly with his side foot from the top of the box. It was a tremendous finale to his performance and he deservedly was voted the man of the match. In another game, the next and final goal may have taken all the headlines, it was slick football and a fantastic finish that left the Old Boys and all of their fans in total rapture. A long ball from Sives was headed down by Cummings in to the path of Shakespeare who hit it first time from fifteen yards out over the top of the 'keepers head and in to the goal. A great team goal with individual skill and brilliance. A fitting synopsis of the entire game.
A score of 6-1 puts the OBs at the top of the league after the first round. There were some pleasing performances and the squad is only going to get stronger as the absentees return. It was a real statement of intent on a day when other events could have clouded the mood. The Old Boys mean business.
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