Match Reports
Metro 5 KPR v Slacks Creek 20/06/10
Result: KPR 3 Slacks Creek 4
Date: Sunday 20/06/10
Kick Off: 15:00
Conditions: Good to soft
An absolute cracker for the neutral this one, with the momentum swinging more times than a bi-curious chimpanzee.
Tommo Ishiguro was a surprise inclusion in the KPR line up after returning from Japan earlier than expected. The global Ugg Boot market collapsed after Jamie Carragher was seen sporting a pair at England HQ in Rustenburg, so Tommo reclaimed his spot on the left of midfield.
The Metro boys were getting their first glimpse of the new and eagerly awaited removable goal posts, but it was another long standing item on the maintenance to-do list which was to hand the visitors an opener on a platter.
When a through ball at pace caught the KPR defence napping, keeper Grant Preston reacted quickly and raced off his line to clear the danger. As he swung his size 10, the ball hit the mother of all bobbles, spinning agonisingly up and over his foot, and gifting the chasing Creek player the easiest of tap ins.
Fortunately for KPR, the karma gods were in town and they were level within 5 minutes of the restart. Danny Zumaeta danced his way around 2 defenders into the penalty area, and smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Quality!!
Undeterred, the visitors bounced back immediately. The ball was worked down the left flank to the byline, and pulled back for their captain to slot home confidently from close range.
The home sides work rate and composure never wavered, despite the disappointment of going behind for a second time. They continued to knock the ball around assuredly, and soon had the Creek defence chasing shadows as they snatched a deserved equaliser.
Chris Oliver collected the ball deep inside the Rovers half and picked out Neil Gibson in space. Gibson set off on one of his trademark mazy runs and laid the ball off to Chris Duffy, who picked out Danny Zumaeta in the box with a sublime 30 yard pass. The rest was academic for KPR’s leading goal scorer, as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net once again to level the scores going into the break.
Within 30 seconds of the restart, KPR found themselves in more trouble than Jana Pittman on Australia day, when the Slacks boys caught them off guard with a move straight from the training ground. The ball was knocked long and wide directly from the kick off, and before anyone knew what was going on, their winger was bearing down on the home goal. His venomous strike struck the hand of the lunging KPR centre back and deviated up & away from keeper Grant Preston, into the roof of the net.
A Creek onslaught followed for the next 20 minutes. The KPR boys looked like they were running in treacle, and were fortunate not to concede again as the visitors took the paint off the woodwork twice in quick succession.
Chris Rojek, who had run the Creek defenders ragged in the first half and held the ball up brilliantly, was conspicuous in his absence. His ability to defend from the front and bully his opposite number out of possession was sorely missed in the second half.
To their credit, the home side toughed it out and levelled the scores for a third time when Christian looped a clever header over the Slacks keeper from close range - a fitting way to bow out in his last game for the club.
Amazingly, there was still one more twist to come in this enthralling encounter, and it was a twist that is generally regarded as being as rare as rocking horse shit - a goal scored directly from a corner! Agonisingly for KPR, it was the Creek captain who delivered what was to be the killer blow!
KPR were still not finished though! Danny Zumaeta narrowly missed out on his first hat-trick for the club when his volley from close range was just a fraction too high. And Chris Oliver rattled the upright with a header from a swerving Chris Duffy corner.
Neither side deserved to lose this game, but credit to Slacks Creek for yet another cracking contest. As for KPR, this game could well re-ignite their faltering season. Something clicked for them in this match, and if they continue to gain momentum, anything is possible! Watch this space...
