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Men's First Team - Capital 1
Match Reports & News
OPENING GAME
The Valley boys with a complete new look about them, started the season with an away game at MacAllister park against
Wellington United, an opponent that last year we beat twice: 3–1 at home and 5-1 away. With that in mind today’s result was not a good one,
losing 3-2. But, reflecting on the game, this year's squad played some of the best football today that they have played
since I have been in control of the team. We controlled approximately 75% possession and attacked from all angles.
The goalposts will probably need repainting for the number of close shots and direct hits they sustained. Wellington United
spent vast amounts of time camped in their own penalty area and totally relied on long ball break-aways to put any pressure
on our defence. The fact that we attack so much was probably the cause of our downfall. They scored first, against the run
of play, in the 17min with their first runaway effort. Debutant goalkeeper Ali Ammand had come out to cut his angle
down and was unlucky not to succeed in stopping the shot. Our three-man back line marshalled by TK (also on debut) usually
held strong and created the start of many attacks from left and right through new defenders Abdee Shiek (RB) and Muda
Shiek (LB). Before half time we had replied twice with both goals being finished by Jimmy Ige. The first started by taking
United by surprise with TK dribbling at pace straight at them from our box, beating numerous defenders on the way to their penalty
box and slipping the ball behind their last man to Jimmy, who calmly placed the ball to the right of the advancing keeper.
Just before half time an attack down the right flank by Jerry Chung resulted in a spot-on cross to the far post that found Jimmy
out-jumping the defense to rocket home to right of the keeper with his head.
Second half: although we had 80% possession and virtually camped in their half we missed opportunities time after time. Again
the number of times we were in their half left us open to long ball counterattacks and we paid for that dearly in the 50th min
with a two on one against TK. The first shouldered TK (legally) off the ball allowing the other to slot the free ball past
keeper Ali. Another debutant Ali Gonzallez found himself many times in great positions to score, only to be thwarted by either the
bar, the last man or the ball being deflected just wide.
Deflection was also our downfall in the 63min. A free kick straight at the defensive wall deflected through and past keeper
Ali to put United into the lead. Our putting everything into getting the equalizer let at least two more run away at our
goal only to be superbly cleaned up by keeper Ali. It was not going to be Stokes Valley's day despite a valiant effort by all right through to the
final whistle. Young local Liam Hyslop had a great game in his first top line senior football match and was unlucky not to
score on a couple of occasions. Chilean ex-pat Referee Pedro was superb in his control of the game and we appreciated his after match
comment that we were the best team he had been in control of for a couple of years (as far as attractive attacking football
was concerned, that is).
Kevin Smith
Man of the Match: T.K
THIS SEASON - 2009 - CAPITAL 1
Again we have Kevin at the helm and the direction that we are heading is to the top. A number of transfers out and
transfers in have probably created a status quo. This with better weather this season should suit us down to the ground.
Latest news… it is rumored that Kevin is in contact with a current Kenyan World Cup qualifier squad member Benjamin Buzuka
and it may come to pass that Ben may be visiting the Los Vegas hunting grounds for more than just site seeing. Ben had a
short stint with Kevin at Stop Out AFC in 2005 while he was helping his sister through a tragic accident that she was in
while working in New Zealand. In the short time he was here in NZ he was the teams top goal scorer. He will, if he is able
to come, have to be on standby for their world cup series and National team duty, as he was in 2005 but that was the same deal
that he had with Kevin then.
2008 SEASON - CAPITAL 1
Well here we are having such a hot Summer, in a huge contrast to the wet winter that devastated a huge part of last season.
This was mainly due to the worst wet winter in a century. Our last seasons fifth place probably had a lot to do with the
fact that we had a vast number of ball carrying (dribblers) in such boggy conditions. On the whole though, a creditable
placing for our first year back in the Capitals first division. Player for player we had one of the best squads in the league.
Definitely the most international with two Zimbabweans, one Sierra Leone, one Brazilian, one Nigerian, one English and a good
sprinkling of Kiwis in the squad. This left its mark on the league with a unique blend of attractive flowing football. With
a bit more adventurous fire power up front the end result would have been far different.
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