We have one special match lined up before the opening fixtures are announced. This will be a clash of last time's finalists. It will be the Barrow-Downs vs. Angband once again. Let's see how it pans out this time...
Barrow-Downs 1 - 2
Angband
It was a disastrous beginning for the 'Downs as right at the start
Melkor played the ball in for
Gothmog who stole into the penalty area and drove a shot past the
Barrow-Wight. Moments later a loose pass from
Glirdan was picked up by
Ungoliant and in a repeat of the first goal,
Gothmog stole away and drove past the
Barrow-Wight again.
After the initial shock of being 2 goals down with hardly five minutes played had sunk in the 'Downs began to play some very good attacking football. At the 10th minute
Glirdan burst forward and played in for
Sleepy Ranger but the 'Downs front man saw his shot pushed away by
Glaurung for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared and led to a counter attack by Angband. However, this time
Barrow-Wight got the upper hand and knocked away a lobbed shot from
Melkor and immediatly after punched away a rebound attempt by
Gothmog.
The 'Downs kept pressing on attack and soon
Saucepan Man tried to blast one in only for his shot to bounce off some defenders. Next it was
The Phantom's turn. A cross in from
Rune was headed just wide of the post by
Phantom. Near the end of the half the 'Downs won a free-kick not too far out but alas,
The Phantom sent it fizzing over the post to bring an end to an exciting (and disappointing for 'Downs supporters) first half.
The second half started with Angband holding onto the ball and slowly building their way forward until
Nogrod snatched away the ball and played it front tp
Rune who ran forward playing a one-two with
Arcticstorm until the ball was finally crossed over to
Saucepan Man who put himself in a wonderful position to shoot but instead held onto the ball till
Arcticstorm was up front,
Saucey sent a neat pass in for
Arctic who blasted in from point blank only to shockingly see his shot saved by
Glaurung.
The 'Downs kept piling on the pressure but were unable to find the back of the net. They were let down by poor finishing on some ocassions and on others they just had some horrible luck.
Nogrod had a chance off a corner but his header was held onto by
Glaurung. Towards the end of the match
Sleepy Ranger knicked the ball away from a defender but unfortunately it was too tight an angle and his shot hit the cross-bar. Quite to the 'Downs luck the ball landed straight at the feet of
Feanor of the Peredhil who chipped one in for
Arcticstorm only for his header to come back off the crossbar as well.
This time the ball wound up at the feet of
Rune who crossed the ball over to
Saucepan Man at the other end who immediatly played the ball into the box for
Sleepy Ranger to head home. With mere seconds left to play Angband restarted. A fired up
Rune stole the ball and began a furious run, passing the ball over to
Firefoot eventually who was just about to cross to an unmarked
Sleepy only for the referee to blow the whistle. Quite unfortunate as the 'Downs were perfectly set up for the equalizer. Well, either way they played a fantastic match but Angband played slightly better and deserved to win it in the end.
Shots: 15(11) - 14(10)
Posession: 52 - 48
***
It was quite a match, wasn't it? Anyway, the fixtures will be up soon.
