NABS/MediaWeek 2007 5-a-side Tournement - Report

Introduction
All good things come to those who wait and with Dare FC you have no exception. After months of preparation and hard work, Dare FC finally brought back silverware to rival the already bulging Dare trophy cabinet.

Early on Sunday morning, before most people are even awake, Captain Green was greeted by 11 eager faces. The faces of some of Dare FC’s finest men. There they were, all busy readying themselves in their own special way for what was to be their biggest football challenge so far – The NABS / Mediaweek 5-a-side Tour 2007.

With all honesty the event didn’t get off to great start, with Lexi Cherniavsky, Phil Wright and David Boleas placing the B Team in early controversy with their late arrivals. Cherniavsky tardiness being firmly blamed on the classic cliché “my alarm clock didn’t going off in time”. Young Boleas tried desperately to justify the hysteric timings the Spanish like to keep in regards to their hours of socialising at the weekend. He received little sympathy as going to bed at 7am was simply never going to be a winning strategy for the usually passive Spaniard. Then arrived the ever-green Phil Wright who gratefully spared us any of the previous excuses and got on eagerly with arranging his footwear.

Before these absences we’re accounted for, drastic action was required as the tournament began with the B Team only have 4 members active. A saviour was needed and who else than captain Green to setup and take the challenge. With myself included the B Team was now complete and with luck cruelly putting the B Team as a the 1st fixture of the day, there was little time for dwelling on second thoughts. The eventual lack of B Team players proved to be quite useful for the eager Lexi Cherniavsky, with the circumstances later forcing himself to be graduated to the 1st team with captain Green’s new commitments to the B Team. It wasn’t an easy decision, it was a sacrifice, which he already knew could come back to haunt him later in the tournament.

The B Team lead the way

Miles Gilder [GK]
Mark Wheeler
Jamie Green [c]
Phil Wright
Dan Vaughan
Jon Reidy
Dave Boleas

With the referee looking both impatient and ridiculous (full head of bleached hair featuring a diagonal black stripe - featured above), captain Green gathered his players; Mark Wheeler, Dan Vaughan, goalkeeper Miles Gilder and the powerhouse Jon ‘Your not gonna knock me down’ Reidy. It was clear they all looked nervous, but who wasn’t. A few brief, strong words we’re laid down and the haunting scream of the opening whistle rebounded in their heads. The first match had begun.

With both teams looking erratic from the start. Some early errors of discipline from debutant goalkeeper Miles Gilder led to 2 penalties being conceded by Dare (2) in the opening first 5 minutes. Dare (2) we’re not to recover from this early combination of unforced errors and despite a convincing late penalty from new-boy Mark Wheeler, Dare (2) went on to lose their opening game 3-1. The tournament continued with Dare (2) providing a strong physical presence to Group J with captain Green exhausting some of his early frustration via definite tackles on directly the opposition.

Goals we’re scarce for Dare (2) throughout, with their next 4 fixtures all resulting with no goals. Clearly frustrated by his teams lack of luck Mark Wheeler pushed forward and started to open up more opportunities for his team mates. Phil Wright’s eventual arrival provided further forward options, opening up play with his clever position movement off the ball. Dan Vaughan elevated to roaming midfielder and on occasion was again denied by poor luck. Even our new Spanish playboy Boleas made an impressive appearance displaying some decisive tackling suitable of La Liga. However the sun had got the better of eager David and after his dogged tournament debut finished he was not to feature again the mighty Dare.

The group gradually came to a close with the tempo surprising upbeat among the Dare (2) camp. Captain Green made an unusual appearance in goal in the final game, and with the bulky presence of Wheeler and Gilder - Dare (2) fought their way through a tasty last fixture and secured a hopeful 2 – 0 victory. The final whistle came and Dare (2)’s journey ended on a positive note despite just missing out norrowly on qualification. There next test would the mighty test of getting served at the BBQ.

Dare FC (2) Results

...and then came the A Team, Dare FC (1)

Greg Sines (on loan)
Jamie Green*
Stuart Peddie
Rohan Nayee
Will Rose
Lexi Cherniavsky
Kit Suman
Matt Firth

* Later banned from further competing in the competition due to the unforgiving memory of my favourite referee.



It had always be in them to win, Firth with his experience and technique, Peddie with his powerful shooting and strength on the ball, Rose with his determined tackling and concentration, Suman with his unpredictable and uncontrollable forward runs, Greg with his Jekyll and Hyde goalkeeping (a modern David James if you will), Lexi with his impressive stamina and reaction, and last but not least Rohan - the man who models himself on the great flamboyant Frenchman David Ginola (and why not?).

Despite there early potnetial the 1st team struggled to get going in their first group game, and we’re unlucky to lose in what was an even match. However, this result would prove to be the perfect tonic for their next fixture, as Dare (1) became wide awake winning comfortably 2 – 0 in there next game. The tournament progressed evenly for the 1st team and Peddie’s intimidation and physical presence began to come across as a nuisance to the charismatic long-haired referee taking charge. Enough was enough for some what ‘pirate’ like referee and he soon ordered Peddie off the pitch during a crucial encounter and became ‘sin-binned’ for remainder of the game. Dare (1) hung on however and remained strong to survive the barrage that an extra man will bring to an uneven fixture.

The remainder of Group B would feature a range of unfortunate draws for the first team. Qualification was eventually secured and Dare (1) began prepared themselves for the Silver Plate division of this thriving agency tournament.



The Silver plate stage of the tournament would be made up of all the teams coming 3rd or 4th respectfully in there groups being entered together into a knockout tournament stage.

Dare (1), currently being led by vice-captain Rohan Nayee in captain Green’s absence, we’re woefully unlucky to miss-out of the Champions Cup part of the tournament with a last-minute, last-kick-of-the game goal from Rohan’s former agency (Haymarket) forcing a draw and denying the 1st team a deserved 3rd place group position. This was especially frustrating for Dare (1), as Group B was one of exception with qualification to the Cup also going to the 3rd placed team.

Dare (1) accepted there fate and commenced to the enormous queue for the BBQ, knowing they we’re securely through to the later stages of the Silver Plate.



The Silver Plate (or UEFA Cup as we see it)

Onward we went with our patient bellies now full of sausage, burger, couscous and in Kit’s circumstance, lightly cooked vegetarian saugage. The injured Kooch Chung made a welcome mid-lunchtime appearance to help bolster his team mates in there new energised state. With an hour for break in-between playing, Will’s WAG was busy both turning heads and taking photos of the boys in there tired worn out state.

Captain Green discreetly returned to the 1st team with the group stages now being over, and was soon unsympathetic to this fiasco of supposed tiredness amongst his squad. A constant series of drills and exercises we’re quickly organised to keep the blood pumping for the Dare FC faithful. The players we’re not exactly delighted by captain Green strict methods, but would later understand that this was the sacrifice that winners make.



2nd Round - Dare (1) 3-2 Carat
Goals (Lexi, Peddie, Rohan)

The Captain later gets controversially suspended.

This game was a cracker of a fixture with Dare dominating but having to fight for victory late on. The game would feature Captain Green’s only appearance in the Dare (1) Team with the referee controversially banning him from playing with the 1st team after his earlier games with the B Team group stages. However Captain Green gave a heroic last playing appearance with spectators comparing it to that of Roy Keane’s contribution to Man Utd’s semi-final against Juventus in the Champions League campaign of 1999. Green was never going to bow out a loser.

Quarter Final - Mindshare 2-2 Dare (1)*
Goals (Lexi 2)

*Dare win 4-3 on penalties

With captain Green now installed in his new role as coach, it was Greg Sines turn to prove the new saviour. Sines produced some heroic saves during the eventual penalty shootout after what was a tired and poor performance all round. The game proved a turning point in Dare FC’s current bad fortune during the tournament and coach Green was in some way able to put away the ghosts of the Umbro cup safely behind his now proud team. We we’re in the Semi-Finals.

Semi-Final – RKCR/Y&R 0-3 Dare (1)*
Goals (Kit 2, Rohan)

Kit Suman stepped up his game for the Semis and secured a surprising comfortable victory on route to the final with his inspiring forward display. Rohan continued to lead the team well having featured in every single game throughout the tournament. Lexi was still proving to be the engine of the team with his constant running, and the interchange between Peddie and Rose was also proving successful in defence. Things we’re beginning to look very bright for Dare FC as the final whistle went. Bring on the final....

NABS/Mediaweek Silver Plate Final - Dare (1) 2-1 MediaCom
Goals (Matt Firth, Lexi)

Matt Firth got the game off to great start with decisive low drive that got the crowd hopeful. Peddie took one for the team early on with a wild elbow being shot into his chest from the start. An unfortunate error from Greg would a quick equaliser raising the tension with both teams looking exhausted. Rohan continued to prove an example to the 1st team along with Lexi’s determination. Cherniavsky would later become the hero via a late freekick with a clever decisive last-minute finish to secure long awaited silverware to the Dare FC squad. Celebration continued through to the bar where Dare would later be presented with the glorious Silver Plate, having competed with nearly 70 other agency teams and endured the scorching heat of early July.

Winners


The team later retired to the bar in boyish jubilant mood, and rested easily among the now forgotten tournament players still on location. On the big screen boomed the Men's Wimbledon final and was providing suitable background viewing as we all waited eagerly for our medals of honour. A round of celebratory drinks we’re quickly organised and the glare of drunken red men gradually materialised the Wembley club house. Eventually our moment came and we gladly accepted out medals and surrounded our trophy closely all in the knowledge that we had finally justified our lavish kits and would return home all sharing the memory of Dare FC’s finest hour.

Congratulations Dare FC!

Man-of-the-tournament – Rohan Nayee


Despite Lexi’s outstanding contribution and goal scoring finesse, the Man-of-the-tournament goes to the equally outstanding Rohan Nayee. It was an even contest between the two players playing extremely well, but with Lexi’s early jeopardy of being very late, which unfortunately tainted a glorious tournament performance.

Rohan was ever present throughout the 1st teams journey and was closely behind Lexi in the goal scoring charts. Rising to captain with little effort he provided an excellent example for the rest of the team to follow and was the key factor behind Dare FC’s recent success.

Top Scorers

5 - Lexi
4 - Rohan
3 - Kit
2 - Matt Firth
1 - Peddie

Played 9 (10)* – Greg

*conceded goals

Our Maida Vale debut

Last night’s winners; Team B
Congratulations to Team B who, from my understanding, we’re the eventual winners of last night’s rain fest of football - winning both their games. With the return of Barret ‘Sharpshooter’ Stanboulian, Team B we’re a solid outfit and worthy winners. Good performances with a decent goalkeeping performance from Elliot Ryan, the slick reliable vision and finishing of Rohan Nayee, the dynamic and threatening forward runs from both Phil Wright and Eduardo de Felipe, and the solid unsung middle-of-the-park work from powerhouse Jon Reidy.

Team B consisted of;

1. Phil Wright
2. Rohan Nayee
3. Eduardo de Felipe
4. Barret Stanboulian
5. Elliott Ryan
6. Jon Reidy

2nd Place; Team A
A close 2nd place goes to early favourites Team A who secured 1 win and 1 loss. Despite the delicate technique and experience of Matt Firth, and the aggressive dominating Will Rose, Team A we’re unable to turnover Team B in what proved to be a decisive 2nd match encounter. One of the talking points throughout the night was the courageous and welcome return of the Swede Dennis Christensen back to the game with an outstanding Man-of-the-match Dare FC debut performance (more below). Claus Stangl also made a worthy debut appearance alongside fellow debutant Mariusz ‘Pro-ti’ Peotasewicz. Aschel again continued to impress with his constant imposing presence on the either wing.

Team A consisted of;

1. Aschel Kritsos
2. Dennis Christensen
3. Will Rose
4. Claus Stangl
5. Matt Firth
6. Mariusz Peotasewicz

3rd Place; Team C
Despite having the prolific Kit Suman, Team C struggled to get going in the heavy rain, and failed to record a single victory. With one man down and the unfortunate early loss of the free-running Dan Vaughan, Team C we’re at best indifferent. Darrio Stangl showed some encouraging long passing throughout - much to the fond envy of brother Claus ;-). Boleas worked hard to keep constant pressure on each oppositon’s forward line. Suman and Green linked well at times, with Suman showing his usual eager nature for forward play – but the pair struggled to produce an end product to what was eventually a disappointing night for Team C. The unlucky few consisted of;

Team A consisted of;

1. Darrio Stangl
2. David Boleas
3. Jamie Green
4. Kit Suman
5. Dan Vaughan
6. .....(borrowed player from A or B)

Man-of-the-match; Dennis Christensen
After being injured for over a year and coming close to quiting the game – the Swede made an emotional return to football wowing the crowds with an awesome display of superb reflex saves as within goal and determined and decisive defensive work at the beginning.

Basement 2 - 1 Upper Levels

Kennington Park

During a blusterous dark night in Kennington Park, the much anticipated 2nd leg of Dare’s FC latest football outing was decided thanks to ambitious forward Phil Wright and his 2nd half wonder goal - delivering a second successive knockout to the Upper Levels in the space of just two weeks.

The thinking-man’s Gascoigne was in good form last night, as Wright’s clever turns and use of space were the highlights of what was a scrappy tense affair to begin. The first half remained bleak throughout, the mood matching the weather well, with the dark windy conditions. Each team we’re sporting new signings after their previous encounter, and this proved evident as both squads were slow in forming any kind of break thorough early on.

Caco Vaccaro, the new much talked about Brazilian signing, enjoyed his first outing for the basement squad; and after a nervy 15 minute period of adjustment to the English game, the tricky Brazilian shone – answering most of his critics that he might be past his best after his disappointing World Cup campaign last summer. In all black, and just as deadly, the influential midfielder was the first to strike successfully at goal, with a decent effort narrowly screwing past the top-corner of the Upper Levels’ goal.

With Captain Green keeping things steady at the back, the game headed to a frustrating goalless draw at halftime. The teams quickly exchanged halves, and the wind would now favour the Upper Levels. Would this be the turning point?

Both teams remained surprisingly unchanged after the interval, and the welcome first breakthrough came with the determined Kit Suman finishing an assist from the new Brazilian Caco, after a scrappy clearance from new Spanish signing Dave Boleas.

The goal seemed to act against the Basement and was the perfect tonic to wake-up the disappointing Upper Level squad, who soon responded with a range of direct passes down the right flank from Stu Peddie - neatly ending with Greg Sines scoring with a convincing low drive. With the game nearing an end and heading for luckless draw, the Upper Levels pushed further forward ruthlessly in hope of sneaking a second decisive goal.

Peddie had rediscovered his form after his blunders in the previous game, and was spreading the ball with ease – linking impressively with both the two wide men Captain Firth and the Spaniard Eduardo. However, the Basement squad we’re able to counter this move, and having been impressive all season on the counter-attack, a fantastic individual effort from Wright was to win the game for mighty Basement.

Having received the ball outside the Upper Levels’ area thanks to important tackle from Kooch, the Brazilian Vaccaro was able to find Wright neatly hovering with intention. Once the tenacious Wright received the ball he was able to turn Leijon and Ashley with a delightful change of direction and finally capped the move with cool finish into the low-right corner - below the normally reliable hands of keeper Will Rose. Phil went on to celebrate his goal in his usual cool reserved style of simply raising one finger to the sky, as he was paraded by his fellow successful Basement team mates.

With the game won, and the next party of people looking anxious, the Basement celebrated a second successive victory - increasing their dominance further, and adding yet more pressure to Captain Firth and his underachieving Upper Levels squad.

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Basement Captain Jamie Green:
"The goal deserved to win any game and I can't wait to see Phil score another like that. Also Caco and Kit bring world-class quality and I believe they’ll show that all through the season.

"We've got a pretty good record against the Upper Levels and we'll be looking forward to the next game and hoping to do well."

Upper Levels Captain Firth:
"We were never under pressure and we had lots of chances to score, but we didn't take them.

"It's difficult to take over the two games. We needed to be ruthless, but we were also bit unlucky over the two matches with decisions.

"With Eduardo’s trip in the first half it looked a clear penalty."

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Basement
9 - Caco
8 - Jamie (c)
8 - Kit
10 - Phil Wright
7 - Dan Vaughan
7 - Amy Whittaker
8 - Kooch
7 - Matt Collins

Booked:
Collins (for mocking his captain).

Goals:
Suman, Wright.


Upper Levels
7 - Firth (c)
6 - Stenzhorn
7 - Peddie
8 - Sines
7 - Leijon
7 - Eduardo
6 - Elliot
7 - Boleas
6 - Ashley

Goals:
Sines

Att: 17.

The Debut of Dare FC

European Basement 8 – 7 Rest of the World (Upper Levels)

Kit Suman’s late strike helped European Basement to win a close encounter, during what was highly memorable night of drama in Brixton, South London. Suman opened the scoring with a low drive under the body of Greg Sines, after the opening 10 minutes had been a tense period of players adjusting to the fast attacking tempo.

Rest of the World quickly replied on the counter attack with captain Matt Firth finishing a impressive counter-attack to low beyond Kooch, currently operating in the Basement goal. European Basement went into the match in confident mood, and were quick to recover the lead with their attacking 2-3-1 formation proving overwhelming early on to the Rest of the World’s static defense.

With team Basement missing their experienced midfield general James Cooper in the early stages, this clearly began to show as the Basement failed to maintain their lead and were caught with another swift counter-attack, ending with a neat finish from Greg Sines. Eduardo, Sines and Caroline we’re forcing back the Basement formation, and playmakers Firth and Rose were able to pick out these players with ease, via a combination of subtle direct passes and delicate through balls. The pair followed with threatening forwards runs into the flanks which added to the heightening pressure on the Basement goal.

The attacking Swede, Caroline Leijon, was keen to make herself known to the opposition also showing some darting forward runs and some strong tasty challenges, on a occasion flooring Captain Green at one point and making a strong point of intention to the rest of the Basement squad. With the evident arrival of James Cooper, the team basement midfield received a much needed boost of experience and the midfield was once again balance and running steady. Coop’s inclusion quickly paid-off and allowed Kooch the time and space to grasp a loose ball, and drive it neatly home to raise the score to 3-2 with half-time looming.

After the break, Captain Green elected to bring some youth into the team with the two recent Dare school signings of Elliot and Luke entering the field. Rest of the World also made some tactical changes which soon proved effective with Stuart Peddie and Will Rose bombarding the Basement with strong long drives from distance. The Basement’s failure to close down these shots we’re proving fatal, as Rest of the World recovered their lead with two quick goals in succession from Leijon and Peddie. The Upper Levels pushed forward in numbers to try and dominate the fixture, but also left themselves vulnerable to a counter attack.

With imminent substations lurking, Rose crossed in low from the left to Firth just behind Green, who managed to deftly flick the ball with his heel and send it in off the post. The lively Caroline almost added to Rest of the World's advantage but was twice denied by Elliot as the Blues started to dominate again.

The Basement lacked a threat up front, with Collins off the pace, and a lone Phil Wright as forward, Captain Green recalled an eager Kit back to the action. Suman’s strong, ‘Maradona-style’, forward runs and the neat linking play of Phil Wright and Cooper were proving too much for Upper Levels to contain.

Shortly the Basement we’re able to get back on level terms, with Peddie failing to react sufficiently to a timid effort on goal from young Stenzhorn of Dare School. Phil Wright later added to Peddie’s woes, scoring from 20 yards with a confident low strike. Suman’s inclusion proved defiant and after Green had equalized with an exquisite late shot to level from the left flank, the score was leveled at 7-7.

With the next party banging on the fences to remind us of our running over our playing time, the next goal prove decisive in this thrilling encounter between the basement and upper levels. With seconds remaining, man-of-the-match, Kit Suman was somehow able to skip past some ruthless challenges from Rose and Firth to neatly slot the ball past a desperate Rest of the World defence.

This goal was final nail in the coffin, and with the final whistle soon to following, the Basement recorded their first victory in what was to be a thrilling and memorable night of a 6-a-side football.

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Basement captain Jamie Green:
"Kit's strike was a very important goal for us. At 7-7 the game could have gone anywhere.

“I’m delighted with the win and think we showed good spirit to come back 5-3 down.”

Upper Levels captain Matt Firth:
“We were not able to affect the game and dictate the pace of it as we would have wanted and some the players are disappointed because we had a real chance at getting a result.

“Obviously I’m disappointed we lost, and I think our decision to place Peddie in goal may have well been the turning point, but we’re able to move on.

"We were lacking physically because some players were unavailable to us but some of them will be back soon and I am sure we will produce a different performance in the anticipated rematch."

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European Basement:

Jamie Green 9
Luke Stenzhorn 7
Elliott Ryan 7
Kooch 8
Matt Collins 7
Kit Suman 10
Phil Wright 8
James Cooper 9

Goals: Suman 3, Kooch, Green, Wright, Stenzhorn.

Rest of the World:

Will Rose 8
Matt Firth 9
Eduardo de Felipe 7
Caroline Leijon 7
Stuart Peddie 7
Ashley Browning 7
Greg Sines 7

Goals: Firth 3, Sines, Leijon, Peddie, Eduardo or Will? (Not sure)

Att: 15