Rowen Cross 6th & 7th- Season   Daniel Cummings 19th - Season   Richard Addison 6th - Season   Dominic Whitaker 1st - Season   Tom Elliott 9th - Season

15 Sept 2009 - King's Sports Centre, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Since 205BC, the world has always had Stevens in some form or other; Steve, Stevie, Ste, they've all been there. The first Steven was the true pioneer of the aeroplane, way before Da Vinci, Sir George Cayley and his adventurous butler or those copying bandits the Wright brothers who took Cayley's design and added an engine. Like all talented trail blazers, the first Steven suffered for his art and was stoned to death by a pack of religious cats for being a heretic after suggesting that men could fly and that mice were the superior life form of the planet. It was a tragic end to a short life that had promised so much and had opened the skies to man and the earth to rodents. Not only a leader in aviation, he was a leader amongst Steven's, the first, and some say, or at least those who've not seen the OBs play, the best. However, the EB can think of others, the stingray juggling Irvin, the over valued (unless in Jammies) Austen and of course the muse of Good King Wencelas. But none of those are relevant to the tale of OBs against DMS, a top of the division clash with the winner guarenteed top seed in the play offs. The three Steve's relevant to this game were the missing Henshaw (37), Roughead (49) and Gaffing (76), and the question in everybody's mind was whether the OBs would be strong enough to win when for the first time in their history, they were playing without a Steven in the team.

The OBs started well and nearly took the lead early on after a tremendous run by L Elliott who latched on to a visionary defence splitting pass only to see his sweetly struck shot rebound off the upright.  Instead it was DMS who scored next with a well worked goal on the break. A quick pass from the back and a lightening counter attack gave their striker the opportunity to calmly rifle the ball past Sives, who could do nothing to stop a fine strike.

Kiwi Cross (who is actually one of the OBs and not some pleasure giving hybrid sheep breed but just in case the EB has trademarked the name and is inviting offers) was the first to address the Steven connundrum. Following a barging run from Cummings, the ball pinged to Cross who was able to skillfully deflect the ball past the hapless DMS goalkeeper who was confused by the lack of pace, purpose or direction of the shot and could only watch in despair as it trickled over the line.

The game was opening up and promised to be just as fast and skillful as the previous encounter this season where the honours were deservedly shared in a 2-2 draw. However, the OBs had a desire about them last night, not quite the same as the EB in Amsterdam last week, but pretty hot and potent none the less and no one epitomised this more than the battling Cummings who put the OBs into the lead again with a typical barrelling run down the boards and powerful finish from an acute angle. Whilst his Buddha impression was more blinding light than red light, there would have been punters in Amsterdam who would pay for the privilege.

With the OBs cruising and starting to play attractive football, including outrageous dummies and stepovers, they were looking forward to another inspiring halftime team talk from the effervescent gaffer. In a pleasing change to recent weeks where the OBs noticably relaxed the pressure before the break, the attacking was relentless and the whole team was just not satisfied with being only a goal ahead. Apart, of course, from the languid Sives who distributed even slower than a Yorkshire money lender. But, almost on the stroke of half time, the reliable Addison added another goal of the season contender to his growing tally with another fine instinctive strike from distance. This time shooting under pressure and finding the top left corner from the mid-point in the attacking half.

At 3-1 the OBs appeared comfortable but the Gaffer was not pleased as he asked for more commitment, greater closing down and better movement of the ball. All reasonable observations as the OBs had been poor again for spells although the tireless running of Shakespeare, Chiazza and Blenkinsop had kept most of the DMS threat at bay. The second half required commitment and passion although it missed the dulcet tones of Roughead's empassioned plea for greatness., at least that's what the EB thinks is what he's asking for; he's never totally sure.

As the second half commenced it was pleasing to see that there was a bounce amongst the OBs, a pleasure in playing, a camaraderie amongst obvious friends where smiles were prevailent and this showed in the free flowing attacking football. And then it happened, the moment of the season so far for Whitaker as he broke his goal drought in fine style. Much maligned for his lack of goals following healthy tallys in previous years, Whitaker had been feeling the burden. But with the positive football and happy faces, he felt comfortable bounding forward again, and this time found the back of the net to cap what would become a man of the match performance.

DMS didn't stop, and any team with Denis Rowe in would never be allowed to give up anyway, and they scored again following a defensive slip where again Sives was blameless. At 4-2 with ten minutes to go, it could have gone either way and the last ten minutes promised to be compelling. And it was. Ludford-Thomas continued his melifluous attacking play, causing the DMS defenders all sorts of problems as he twisted and turned and looked to shoot or lay off and this allowed the OBs to continue shooting from distance.

T Elliott was the first to capitalise, albeit after a number of attempts, hammering his [th] goal of the season as he shot through a crowd of players down the right and beat the valiant but futile dive of the 'keeper who seemed to react only once the ball had screamed past him and into the goal. To cap a keenly competed rout, Cross added his second (a Kiwi Cross Brace, also trademarked as a s ex aid) and the game finished 6-2.

Next week its the playoffs and the OBs are three games away from a title that has so far eluded them. Bring your Steves, the sky is the limit.