Phoenix (1) vs Titans Two Brewers (0)
Sunday 11 December 2001
It was cold, it was wet and it was miserable. No, I'm not talking about Graeme's face, I'm talking about the seasonal cold weather which came back with a vengeance this weekend.
Phoenix had to reshuffle the team from last month's defeat by Stonewall but were supplemented by ex-Stonewallers Steve Sawyer and Neil Walsh.
The game itself wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination. It was beginning to descend into a game of who could take the best throw-in as the teams rarely threatened the goals. Titans had the best, possibly only, chance of the half. A long ball over the top found the striker but his effort rebounded off the post.
The second half became a more open contest and an inspired substitution saw regular goalkeeper Graeme Moore thrust into midfield duty, and his shot from just outside the area was well saved by the goalkeeper only for Steve Sawyer to fire home from an acute angle.
25 September 2011: Falcons' wings clipped by Phoenix!!
Phoenix FC 3
Falcons RA 1
After a sluggish start, Phoenix came from a goal down to maintain a 100 per cent start to the new league season.
In spite of high winds playing havoc with the trajectory of the ball and players forgetting their kit (not mentioning any names here), Phoenix started the game well and pressed high up the pitch with Johnny B and Said having a lot of joy and freedom down each flank. However, it was Falcons that took the lead early on despite the best efforts of the Phoenix defenders trying to clear it off the line.
This only spurred Phoenix on and Danny's low shot moments later found the back of the net after squirming through the goalkeeper's hands.
Phoenix continued to pepper the visitor’s goal and the turnaround was complete when Danny again produced a moment of magic as his effort looped over the goalkeeper.
Falcons went down to 10 men on the stroke of half time when Said was felled when clean through on goal. The sending off forced a reshuffle for the visitors and Phoenix tried to take advantage of the extra man. To their credit, Falcons fought hard in the second half and had a number of chances to equalise and Graeme produced some excellent saves to keep the score at 2-1.
Second half substitute Umair produced another piece of magic in the second half to increase the lead after collecting a pass from the left and unleashing a ferocious right foot shot into the far corner. Falcons had an effort cleared off the line by Marcel towards the end of the game but the extra man took its toll on the Falcons' players as Phoenix looked comfortable in the final few minutes. [Marcel]
Man of the Match: Danny
Followed up on his goal against Romans on MD1 with a brace here (and perhaps could have had 4 or 5!!). Produced some magical touches and great link ups - and of course some great finishing!
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