BOING FC Scoop another trophy !

19 June 2004

Is that it....? Skipper Wrighty holds the pot

BOING FC, the West Bromwich Albion Internet team, have won the 5th Annual Leicester 7's Tournament, hosted by the Electric Yetis (Leicester City's Internet team).

Everyone arrived at the Saffron Lane Sports Centre in Leicester on time. Except for our Captain, Stu Slater, who was nursing a hangover after arriving home at 6 am that morning. As a result we also lost Dean 'Chinner' Currie as Stu was his lift to the tournament. An excuse is still pending from Nick 'Ole' Bramwell, however, the fact he didn't fancy the jaunt down from Runcorn will be a valid reason. Let's hope its nothing more serious as I still haven't been able to speak with him.

The format of the tournament saw 2 leagues of 4, with matches 20 minutes each way.

Group A
Blues / Villa Utd
Wolves
Man Utd
Notts County / Forest Utd

Group B
Boing FC
Hull
Electric Yetis
Scunthorpe

Boing FC 8 - Electric Yetis 0

Our opening match was against the Leicester host team Electric Yetis. Opting to play a 2-3-1 formation, Boing FC had the lion's share of possession, but it was not until the 10 minute mark where we got our breakthrough. This signalled the flood gates to open and 6 goals in a 10 minute blitz.

No formal record of the scorers were kept by myself and that information may have to sent in by the scorers at a later date. However, I can state that both of our back 2 of Dan Conway and James Challenor got on the score sheet.

This result was great for moral and also allowed wholesale changes in the team at half time so every one got on the pitch during the first game. 2 further goals were scored in the second half.

It was also nice that we were being reffed by a Dingle and the Wolves team were sat in the stand behind our goals having to watch this spectacle.

Boing FC 2 - Hull Tigers 5

After our opening goal fest this match was a against a very strong Hull team. They were young, fit and athletic - all the things Boing FC are not.

Although we took an early lead through JJ McCreedy they took advantage of some sloppy passing and marking from ourselves. And although we matched them and even out played them in large portions of the game we failed to take our chances and made too many mistakes.

Boing FC 2 - Scunthopre 0

Well we got this result without even kicking a ball as Scunthorpe failed to turn up to the event.

Group B final table

Team             P   W  D  L   F  A  Pts
Hull             3   3  0  0  15  2   9
Boing FC         3   2  0  1  12  5   6
Electric Yetis   3   1  0  2   2 16   3
Scunthorpe       3   0  0  3   0  6   0
   

Boing FC had made it through to the Semi Finals. Our opponents were to be the Blues and Villa Combined team, the Winners of Group B, while the other semi final was Notts County /Forest Utd aginst Hull.

The Dingles finished 3rd in their group while Man Utd finished bottom.

Boing FC 2 - Blues / Villa Combined 1

Our last game against Hull saw us do a lot of things badly. So it was back to the basics for this game. A strong shape and a sound work ethic were the order of the day. The Blues / Villa team had a pacey and tricky forward and he had been identified as their main threat. Jay C took the task of marking him and to say he didn't get a kick is an understatement.

Shane and Mark worked tirelessly in the middle while JJ gave us an outlet on the left. Dan Conway was solid and Dave Challenor was an enigma for their defenders.

Although going 1-0 down we fought our way back to 2-1 with goals from JJ and Dave. Still using out squad rotation system. Tim Davies, Finbarr and Jez all came on as in previous games to see out a tight and tense finish. Boing FC were in the Final!!!

All the time we were playing we could here screams, shouts and cheers from the other pitch. Notts / Forest v Hull finished 5-5 after Hull were 4-0 in the lead at half time. The game went to penalties and Notts / Forest won the shoot out to book their place in the final against Boing FC.

THE FINAL: Boing FC 6 - Notts County / Forest Utd 0

Having seen them at close quarters while reffing their game Dan Conway said all they do is sit back and defend then break with a young quick striker who had scored most of their goals.

Therefore, we set our stall out as we did against Blues. Organised and hard working (Megson would have been proud). Jay Challenor man marked their young centre forward. Last night when he got home that lad probably looked under his bed and in his wardrobe before he went to sleep as Jay C didn't give him a kick, although he definitely gave him some bumps and bruises to show his mum when he gets back to Nottingham.

Again everyone worked very hard. Mark Davis scored the opener with a questionable tap in and possible use of the hand, but the ref let it stand and we didn't look back. Shane bursting from midfield to slot home from distance, while Dan Conway scored an absolute screamer. The biggest cheer of the day went up as JJ netted, thus scoring in every round. How fitting for an Albion fan to score in every round on the way to lifting the cup... I'm sure Jeff would have been proud!

The full squad was used once more as everyone had a run out. I had no intentions of playing in any of the matches due to my injured ribs, but I managed the last 5 minutes with a cameo of showboats and one shot that whistled wide. Finbarr stuck to his talents as per the semi final to break up some attacks. Jez injected some fresh legs getting up and down the pitch while Tim slotted in at the back not missing a tackle or header.

This was a fantastic team performance. And nice to get another tin pot in the now growing trophy cabinet!

So we won! It was nice that the dingles stayed to see us lift the cup and we didn't even rub it in... the fact we gave them nothing to mock us about and we had the silverware was enough!

Now the fun bit....

TAXI: John Joe for missing a sitter against the Blues while we were 1-0 down. It made AJ look like Marco Van Basten in front of goal.

Showboat: Dave Challenor had some tricks on display that bamboozled the opponent's defenders, however, Mark Benbow cam out of goal in the second half against Hull for a little run out. As he challenged for the ball his glasses fell of and he tried to catch them. The ball bounced off his arm onto his chest then into his path. He did a stepover around his glasses then drilled the ball into the bottom corner. The ref said the arm was an accident as he was clearly trying to catch his glasses. Comedy gem and a top show boat!

Player of the tournament: Jay 'The Shadow' Challenor, he just didn't give some very good players a touch of the ball and wasn't in defence but in goal when Hull went on a rampage. Man marking his way to being our best player.

However, everyone did very very well on the day. Mark Benbow was great in goal and we played as a team, working hard for each other and that showed by us lifting the trophy.

Finally.... Thank you to all the Leicester organisers. It was a well organised fun day out and we hope to return next year to defend our title.

Boing Boing

Matt Wright
Boing FC GAFFER

Previous Stories:

  04 June 2004:  Jon's Review of the Season

  03 June 2004:  Second signing imminent?

  25 May 2004:  Ticket prices - an Own Goal?

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