EAST U/14 Lions WIN Scottish Inter-District Cup
EAST DISTRICT U/14 MIXED LIONS
The venue was Dundee at DISC on Sunday 23rd May 2010
The Lions Coaching Team was Chris Duncan & Andy Allan. Manager -Rona MacVicar
THE STORY from the LIONS VIEWPOINT
After an enjoyable journey on the squad bus, in pouring rain it has to be said, the team arrived at Dundee International sports centre to be greeted by no-one as we were first to arrive. As the squads had been announced on the journey and all paid for kit was handed out, except for a pair of shorts for Mille Bown that were missing, (note to Neill, only 1 thing wrong in kit order was better than expected), the kids were all in good spirits, and were raring to go.
Chris Duncan took the squad for an elaborate fitness warm up that would have caused me an injury if I had attempted it, and then we got down to the serious business of naming the captain of the Lions for the tournament. The agreed choice of the coaches was Sean Stewart, and he was duly named to the applause from the rest of the squad. Having has a quick look at the calibre of our team, Chris and I made the decision to dispense with the tactics board and go for the relaxed approach of telling the kids that the main purpose of the day was to enjoy themselves, and that should they lose, it didn't really matter, as long as they were prepared to walk home.
About this time, it became aparent that there was a possible romance in the Lions squad, but to protect reputations, it is best not to name Kerry-Anne Hastings and Craig Mitchell. The referees finally called the teams to get ready and then our tournament began. A game against North B opened the day and 24 minutes later, the team were celebrating an 8-0 victory, far surpasing the coaching teams hopes. Goals from Millie Brown (4), Sean Stewart, Patrick Christie (2) and Connie Lathe provided an excellent base for the remaining games and a team in good spirits headed over to the second pitch for the next game.
South West were our opponents and although they were primarily made up of girls, lets just say they opened a few of our players eyes with some colourful chat, and we were pleased to end the game with a 5-0 victory. Adam Lloyd was memorably picked up from the pitch, having been the subject of a late challenge at the end of the game from a particularly aggressive South West lady, and although some sympathy was provided, a few of his colleagues were seen surpressing laughs as he staggered off, dusting sand from everywhere. The goals came from Patrick, Millie (2), Sara Laverty and Stuart Hatton.
By now, the rain had disappeared, and the sun was beating down, making substitutions frequent, and sun tan cream and oil started to appear. The number of creams and moisturisers truly were staggering, and that was only the boys.
West came for game 3 and they were dispatched to the tune of a 6-1 victory. Goals from Stuart (2), Kerrie Anne ( and was she happy when that ball crossed the line), Millie, Connie and Adam saw East run away with the game. The goal conceded served as a warning to James Allan (GK), Jamie Young and Craig Mitchell that they had to concentrate fully as there were harder games to come.
After the pitch had been watered, the kids fed and watered, and the coaches had 5 minutes peace, game 4 arrived. This was the potential decider against the reigning district champions, Midlands, and they were expected to provide a stern test of what we had learned.
As it turned out, it was our hardest group game, but there was to be no relaxation in our performance, with Chris Duncan turning in a magical coaching display that inspired the kids to a 3-1 victory. (He has paid me £20 for this comment, so please bear with me). Although we were pushed hard, players such as Daniel Kidd came to the fore, proving that it was a squad performance that was needed. Patrick and Millie (2) scored the goals in a tense game that saw East need only a draw in our last game to set up a potential final against the other East squad, who we had noticed, were playing rather well and winning all their games.
Highland region provided our last opponents and with Kerry-Anne suffering under the heat, evryone was rotated during the game to ensure no-one would miss the final from heat exhaustion. Can't believe heat exhaustion and Dundee are being mentioned in same mail! The team were instructed to take it easy and reserve energy for the hoped for final, but it didn't matter as a 5-0 victory was recorded against an extremely enthusiastic but limited opposition. Patrick, Millie, Kerry-Anne (yes, she recovered and wanted on), Connie (only 1, but another was wrongly chalked off after the opposition coaches had a tantrum and appealed to the umpires about something they, and only they had seen) saw us lead 4-0 before Daniel joined in the scoring just as the final hooter sounded.
5 games played and 5 victories saw the final arrive, and it was as expected/hoped for/feared (take your pick), East Tigers who were to provide the oppostion in the final. The heavens had again opened and hailstones were beating down on the two teams, who to their credit, had arranged for a truce regardless of the result, ensuring a peaceful bus journey home. It must have been particularly difficult for Tigers coach Jim Hatton, whose son Stuart was in our team, and was in no mood to be nice to his dad. Chris and I spoke with Jim, but he wouldn't throw the match, despite our best efforts to persuade him that it would be the 'dad' thing to do.
As the game started, it was obvious that the teams were very evenly matched, and moves which had worked in earlier games were thwarted, both sets of players and coaches knowing each others players and tactics so well. Half time came with the match goalless, and 2 minutes of adjustments by the coaches of both teams making little difference as first one team then the other came close, but finally the breakthrough arrived. A quick run and shot saw the ball deflect across the Tigers goal and Patrick Christie dived in to deflect the ball in. 1-0 up and about 6 minutes remained, but with about 4 minutes remaining, a lapse of concentration at the back saw an equaliser from the Tigers and although both teams pressed hard for a winner, the game finished at 1-1, and the dreaded penalty flicks loomed.
Having to ask for 3 volunteers, Chris and I were pleased to see the number of volunteers to take the flicks (had they known what was going to happen, suspect there might have been fewer hands going up), and the three volunteers were Jamie Young, Patrick Christie and Stuart Hatton. James was the keeper and he hasn't had the best of luck in these shoot outs and I think he was dtermined to stop as many flicks as possible.
James saved the opposition first flick and when Jamie scored ours, we were almost there. James saved again, great diving effort to his right, but Patrck hit the post with his effort (he had turned a lovely deathly shade of white by now), and when the Tigers scored, Stuart had the chance to win thegame. Unfortunately, the ball went narrowly wide, and we were into sudden death. We now went first and Jamie scored, they equalised, and then Patrick missed to give the Tigers their first chance to win. With all players looking on, James dived to his right again and pulled us out of the fire. Stuart scored, and then they equalised, before Jamie saw his effort saved. Needing to keep it out, James again proved up to the task and on we went. Chris and I were beginning to get a tad nervous by now and we feared the worst , but Patrick calmed our nerves by slamming the ball home. Again the Tigers equalised, and then Stuart must have been distracted by a spectator as he sent the ball into orbit. Again we faced defeat, but for the third time, James kept us alive by diving and blocking the next penalty. Jamie scored our next effort and they again equalised, and with nerves beginning to fray, Patrick strode up, well maybe not, and saw his effort spin backwards off the keeper and over the line. With the Tigers needing to score to carry on, James dived to his right and kept out the ball, whereupon a mass pile up of excited kids was seen. Both teams deserve a great deal of credit for the game and the 6 penalty takers and the two keepers derve a special mention for dealing with the pressure of the situation so well.
The final score was 7-6 on penalties and a happy Sean led the team up to get their medals and the trophy. Little did he know the final surprise of the day was he had to make a speech, and to his credit, he did this well, thanking those that needed to be thanked.
After saying cheerio to those who were returning to Edinburgh by car, the remainder of us boarded the bus, collected some very wet kit, (Patrick was in the showers with his kit on), checked we hadn't left anyone behind, and then headed for the magnificent resteraunt that is MacDonalds. Everyone was mucking in, burgers, nuggets, fries and ice cream were ordered and eaten in rapid time, before more ice cream was ordered and eaten. Where do the kids put it, most of them eat like horses and yet they still charge around. The Dunfermline kids were picked up in the car park, while the bus set off again, before we finally returned, 10 and a half hours after we had left, with kids who showed no sign of tiredness, while the same cannot be said of the coaches.
Thanks to Chris, a pleasure coaching (if thats what is called) with you, to Jim and Walter for the laughs on the bus and in Dundee, especially to Rhona McVicar, the team manager and mother figure on the bus. She provided the sanity that kept us going, and assisted with the refereeing duties, which without her willingness to do so, would have seen us chucked out of the competition before it started. As all refs had to be under 25, she made it by 4 years and never was a younger 21 year old more appreciated. It was also good to see the parents come up to support the kids throughout the day.
Final, and most deservedly, thanks also to the kids who were a pleasure to select, coach and generally spend time with. All the parents can be proud of their own children as they caused no trouble, did as asked, eventually, played in the game in a great spirit, and really mixed in to the extent that club loyalty was never an issue, and everyone just got on great. Some of the conversations on the bus are best kept on the bus, but that is how the best trips often are
Posted By: Neill Sinclair on Tuesday 25 May