Write-up by Greg

Elite 3 - 0 IBU

After a lot of doubts over the course of Thursday and Friday about whether the game would go ahead, The Elite were transferred to a surprisingly decent Newton 2 for Saturday’s early kick off. Having gained only three points so far in the new look Cap 6 the Sea Captains sitting pretty and unbeaten in 3rd would have fancied their chances. Little did they know though that our man mountain of a centre back Stevo had returned and he wasn’t going to give them a f*cking sniff!
The opening exchanges were promising for the Elite, controlling possession and territory, however without creating much in the way of goal scoring opportunities. The Sea Captains were playing their way into the game though and were looking the more likely side to break the deadlock.  Some resolute defensive work from our back four kept them at bay.

The Elite were able to get a breather though when the referee decided his black shirt was clashing with the opposition and decided to change it for a dark grey(?) one. He didn’t like the piss taking that followed though and disgracefully threw Dec’s jacket into a muddy puddle. Temper temper Captain. $2.

The Elite’s grit was rewarded half way through first half when a ball from the midfield found Blake in space down the right hand side. He skipped past their full back and played a perfectly weighted pass between their goalkeeper and backline which was met at the back post by Tim to open his scoring account for the season. 1-0 to the Elite.

With the wind in their sails the Elite started to look the more dangerous of the two sides. The Sea Captains seemingly happy to over commit players and Damo regularly took advantage by getting past his man to support Blake on the right hand side. Dec and Greg started to take advantage of the time allowed on the ball in the middle of the park. Soon enough a ball from the middle of midfield saw Nik played in behind the Sea Captain’s back four. He attacked the by line and pulled back a perfect pass to Turk who ruthlessly fired into the roof of the net from 18 yards. 2-0 to the Elite.

The Elite back five of Niall, Damo, Jason, Stevo and Rori were up to the task when the Sea Captains asked questions of them before the break. This allowed the Elite to hit the interval with a 2 goal cushion up their sleeve and a chance to regroup.

The second half started as the first had finished with the Sea Captains again pressing for an opportunity to get themselves back into the game. It wasn’t to be though as again Niall looking as solid as ever denied any half chance that they could muster.

As the second half went on the Sea Captains grew frustrated and started to give the Elite more and more opportunities. Sloppy play in the middle of their midfield allowed Greg to pick up a stray pass and play it into Turk’s feet before he pulled off a pass to Gav that Iniesta would have been proud of. Gav pounced to toe poke the back past Lenny Kravitz in goal. My favourite goal of the season so far and 3-0 to guys in Orange.

The Elite continued to push for a 4th but saw one on ones for Ganesy and Jason put wide of the target in hilarious valiant fashion.

There were to be no more goals but a massive 3 points for the Elite. Dragging themselves away from the danger zone. 3 more points would almost certainly see them avoid the drop.

.......beer time!!


MVP Points –
Turk 3 – Cracking goal and even better assist for Gav. Caused them problems all day.
Stevo 2 – A big piece of us that has been really missed all season. Great to have you back leader.
Niall 1 – Really solid in the sticks. No spectacular saves but everything was dealt with easily and   distribution bang on. ​

Elite 2 - 6 Olympic
​
Write-up by Ganes

As I arrived on time (any time before kick-off) I could see the mighty Elite were prepping for an all-out game against bitter rivals Olympic. 
 
Olympic were looking fairly standard showing off their flash individually named shirts but didn't look all that threatening. Little did we know....
 
The game started quietly only to be spiced up by "the Toff" who decided to send a place kick directly to the closest and fastest player in the opposition. Now I'm not saying he was paid off, but old money runs out and you have to heat the ancestral home somehow, so 1-0 to Olympic and everyone was back in the game.
 
We started to string a few good passes together and although there was the odd, quick counter strike, the Elite were looking to dominate the first half. A stunning run and pass into the centre by our lightning quick Shano found Decs in the box, who nicely slotted the ball past Olympic's keeper. A great piece of footy to bring us to 1-1.
 
The remaining half was spent attacking the ball and defending counter attacks which was looking fairly successful if not niggly at times, Rocky Balboa coming out for an 8th movie. Turk and Blake looked solid and had a few goes down the wing, Adam was clearing up in the centre, CJ when not being pushed in the back looked to catch the goalie out of position and the defence was resolute when not passing directly to the opposition. Things were looking good other than how quiet we were unless it was mouthing off at each other.
 
Looks are deceiving however and second half things went pear shaped... We lost a lot of the momentum from the first half, our shape fell apart and Olympic came out firing. A defensive blunder by yours truly left a ball to the opposition who slotted an easy opportunity, sorry lads not my best work. 2-1 Olympic but the Elite were not down and out just yet.
 
On came fearless leader Lady Thighs who calmly took control from the middle and having enough of this running business, struck the ball high and true for what had to be one of the best goals of the season. Followed by a Chrispy-esque "I'm bigger then Jesus (read hey-zeus), he could only walk on water" celebration. Fair play though, 2-2.
 
The next 15-20 minutes were a blur. Olympic really took up the pace after that goal or we in our old age, slowed down with the centre 4 struggling to keep pace with the through balls and Speedy Gonzales coming through who proceeded to score a hattrick. Henry did well to keep on him as best he could (and much better than myself I'll add) but I think we can all agree, the goal he scored at pace, bringing the ball down from the air and speeding through our line in a blink of an eye was class.
 
There was a lot we could have done better as Olympic moved the ball around from wing to wing with too much free time, us not clearing the ball in the air and misjuding the through balls but it is what it is and it cost us dearly. Rocky and Jas brought some stablity into the backline towards the end but it was too little too late with the Elite going down 6-2 or 7-2? 
 
Trying to rally from the scathing attack Gav saw a golden opportunity to score only to be met with a cracking save from the goalie. Olympic clearly still feeling the pressure from the mighty Elite who played on regardless of the result decided it was last man standing, their goalie throwing himself at Decs without even trying to look like he was going for the ball. 
 
Free kick over, Decs having enough did his best Bill Paxton impression and told the ref to blow the whistle already. 

​Points
Bit of a spread for this one, a lot of people tried to put a big effort in to get us back in the game and did well regardless of the result.
 
Adam 2
Decs 1
Shane 1
Damo 1
Jas 1

Write-up by Roger

Elite 0 - 1 Tawa

The Charge of The Elite Brigade​

Three and half leagues, three and half leagues,
Three and a half leagues northward, (just past Adrenaline Forest – highly recommend)
All in the valley of Death (Porirua)
   Drove the fifteen Elite.
“Did someone say special offer salmon?
Count me in!” Gansey said.
Into the valley of Death
   Drove the fifteen Elite.
 
II
“15 minutes in, a loping shot, they’re 1-0 ahead, oh no!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the players knew
   Someone had blundered.
   Theirs not to make reply,
   Theirs not to reason why,
   Theirs but to do and try.
   Into the valley of Death
   Drove the fifteen Elite.
 
III
Failed passes to the right of them,
Failed crosses to left of them,
A well-disciplined back line in front of them
   Volleyed and almost chundered (after a late night);
A goal-line deflection by Adam saved our skin,
But Turk’s best efforts couldn’t get it in,
More passes strung together, in quite windy weather, but
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
   Drove the fifteen Elite.
 
IV
Angus flashed forward, and passed to air,
Roger headed the ball (!), past the post, no fair,
They had possession and territory there,
Charging at the Tawa bears, while
            A Dave-like figure in dark glasses wondered,
Plunged past their defence,
They played the ball through a lot,
But lacked a final shot,
Shattered and sundered,
Then they drove back, but not
Not the fifteen Elite (Tim had left early, so just fourteen of us by then)
 
V
Failed passes to the right of them,
Failed crosses to left of them,
A well-disciplined back line in front of them
   Volleyed and almost chundered
Stormed at Tawa Bears with shots and yells,
Gansey hacked, and their player fell,
They that had fought so well,
Came back with a 1-0 defeat,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of the fifteen Elite.
 
VI
When can their glory fade?
Why were they were so tired they were at death’s door?
   The dark-glassed man wondered.
Honour the effort they put in to score!
Honour the Elite Brigade,
   Noble fifteen!
 
MVP points
 
2 – Angus (great cut through)
1 – Jason (safe pair of feet)
1 – Adam (goal-line clearance)