Rise of the Machines

03/11/2011

The first game of the Blackfriars League kicked off last Thursday with the Business Travel derby game between the EMEA Allstars and perennial underdogs, Lamine's Machines.

The Machines started the season short of a bench, with many players lost due to injury. However, they managed to field a strong starting 6 with the notoriously dirty, aerial threat, Ben McSweeney and new blood Rupert de Saeger.

Allstars fielded what looked like a full strength side, but their "Carlos Tevez" wantaway striker, Karanveer was nowhere to be seen.

Allstars almost secured the lead inside two minutes - only for Ben McSweeney to set the tone with a fine block from Anthony Drury’s near-post volley, as he met a superb pass from Andrew Thomas and then John Callander eventually broke to score. 1-0 the Allstars. McSweeney made his first horror challenge of the day, kneecapping Eves but got his comeuppance when Thomas charged the offending keeper with retaliating force, leaving McSweeney bloody and concussed.

The first goal from the Machines owed much to Van West’s pace as he outstripped Chris Paton, cut the ball back to Gugi, who's deft strike smashed into the back of the net, Kettle unfortunately not reaching the glowing shot. 1-1.

A goal a piece for each side was scored by Will Eves and Alain van West before the half-time whistle was blown, only for a Van West brace book-endeding half-time to bring the score to 2-3.

It all fell apart from then on for the Allstars, as Karan Bembey arrived for the rival team, after Nasir was taken off injured, and scored a hattrick before Anthony Drury's 15 foot effort cleared the goal line to make it 3-6. Gugi was on fire setting up goals a plenty as Carlo parried shot after shot at the other end of the pitch.

Karan went on to score another...and then a 5th mere minutes later, just short of a double hat-trick. This was followed by an excellent goal by McSweeney and a great hat-trick finish by Alain van West. Kettle managed a consolation goal to make it 4-10 but the game was well and truly over by that point.

A terrible display from Allstars, highlighting a lot of the players lack of training over the summer break. Allstars promised to jet to the top of the league from the off, but failed to get off the runway.

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Man of the match was Karan Bembey.

ALLSTARS
John CALLANDER (1)
William EVES (1)
Anthony DRURY (1)
David KETTLE (1)

MACHINES
Gugi MANDLA (1)
Alain VAN WEST (3)
Karan BEMBEY (5)
Ben MCSWEENEY (1)