THOMAS & CHACON SHINE BUT ALL-STARS SNATCH ALL 3 POINTS

Highflyers (HF) battled back from a humiliating 11-0 defeat last week to play some of the finest football the league has seen so far. With Haines providing excellent first-half goalkeeping judgment and Chacon giving a truly inspirational performance at the other end of the pitch, it was hugely disappointing that HF did not get a point from today’s game; a point they more than deserved.

The game started with many EMEA All-Stars (EAS) players prophesying a double figure score for the premier BT side and a clean sheet to boot. When it came to walking-the-walk it looked like EAS's confidence was correctly placed as it took only 4 minutes for Thomas to score; weaving in and out of the HF midfield to score a fantastic solo effort.

However, it wasn’t long until Brazilian talent Chacon used his startling pace to outmaneuver the unprepared EAS centre-backs. From a perfectly placed Jalil pass, Chacon was given a dangerous amount of space to cock and fire his infamous right-sided hammer to thunder the ball into the bottom left. 1-1 inside of ten minutes and game on!

EAS looked tired and deflated on watching the equalizer smash the backboard, many of the squad playing on 4 hours sleep and 12 hour liquid diet, clutching various parts of their bodies with pained facial expressions. HF’s “Muscle in Midfield”, Griffiths, seemed to pick up on EAS slow pace and took full advantage, physically dominating the midfield and taking chances from positions he should not have been able to get himself into.

Chacon and Jalil persisted relentlessly, Callander and Thomas looking on in shock of the skill on display, possibly expecting a more inferior opponent. However, the defensive duo that have been so strong for EAS kept cool heads to make sure the deadlock was kept for a further 10 minutes. Meyer also played a stronger game than he had previously, holding possession when the pace became too quick for the All-Stars, who by this point were calling desperately for half-time.

Just before the half-time whistle and from nowhere Kettle made a darting run intercepting the ball from Gambrill, took a shot and hit the cross bar. The ricochet fell to the feet of Callander who perfectly set up Paul Reid for a cracking shot that singed the inside of the post giving EAS the lead before half-time. Lee was unfortunate not to have blocked the shot after maintaining a great defensive line in the first 20 minutes but, 2-1 the Stars at half-time.

Gambrill took a stint in goal for the second half and proved his worth has be blocked some fantastic volleys from Reid and Perrott. Perrot, EAS’s second signing of the week took more control of the game in the second half, managing the left flank well and feeding Callander and Kettle with some pin-point balls that, unfortunately, were not converted.

From the rebound, Chacon brought down a lobbed pass from Haines perfectly and make a run down the right wing, passing to Griffiths who returned the ball back but slightly too weighted for the Brazilian to comfortably shoot. The South American star took his chances, putting his body on the line, sliding in and connecting with the ball heavily to place it just out of reach from Reid. A fantastic equalizer that the opposition applauded.

At 38 minutes Gambrill cleared Meyers shot high into the air, Kettle – shielding his eyes from the low morning sun – took a fortunate first touch that rolled perfectly to Eves. He was left one-on-one with the last bastion of the HF defense, Lee, and chanced a shot. Hearts were in mouths as the view to the shot was obstructed but from the keepers expression the EAS’s knew it had gone in, and with that the game ended. 3-2 the EAS’s.

Adam Jalil, the new signing for EMEA All-stars, played on short loan terms for the Highflyers today to make up their numbers after a heavy football social the night before left many players “unfit” to play. Captain Haines looked disappointed to have so many absent players but said after the game that Jalil had made all the difference and would be trying to sign him on more permanent terms in the January transfer window.

Bembey and Drury could not make the game for the EAS's this week, which was disappointing for the 5 strong supporting crowd as the duo have been in the form of their lives.

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Man of the Match: Juliano CHACON

GOALS
EMEA ALLSTARS
Andrew THOMAS
Paul REID
Will EVES

HIGHFLYERS
Juliano CHACON (2)