Classic matches
Blood, tears, and plenty sweat in Renaissance triumph
Renaissance 3 - 2 S.W.18
19th June 2005
Chidi Umeh
Victories do not get sweeter than this. The energy sapping summer heat, SW18's lively attack, and referee Craig David's outrageous addition of a whopping seven minutes injury time could not stop Renaissance recording a memorable victory at Wandsworth Common.
Nobody could have predicted such a dramatic win over the league leaders yet Renaissance avenged their season opening 8-1 drubbing with all the odds stacked against them.
The last encounter was a one-sided display of SW18 efficiency against Renaissance calamity. But hard lessons were learned and Renaissance stifled SW18's attacking verve with Da Vinci and Rembrandt man-marking their bemused danger men and denying them time on the ball.
The first half saw little goal mouth action as the teams cancelled each other out. The game entered the interval goalless and a stalemate seemed on the cards until Renaissance drew first blood early in the second half.
Brunelleschi fed the ball to Michelangelo who shook off the attention of his marker before finding the space between the goalkeeper and the near post.
SW18 hadn't yet found their feet and it wasn't long before Da Vinci, tearing down the left wing, crossed the ball into the box where Brunelleschi's feint left The Artist to empathically drill the ball home past the keeper.
Clearly rattled, SW18 attempted to get back in the match but Renaissance were now in command and it was they who struck again. Good work by Michelangelo found Brunelleschi in acres of space and he swept the ball first time past the on rushing keeper. 3-0 and game over surely.
Nope! Re-e-wind. Referee Craig David who had enjoyed a competent performance up to this point suddenly became erratic with his decision making. SW18 quickly restarted the match, stormed up the field and almost scored whilst Renaissance were still celebrating their goal in a delightful three man jig. Heaven knows why Craig David allowed SW18 to resume with Renaissance players still in the opposition half.
SW18 pulled a goal back and struck again seconds later to reduce the deficit to one after a messy goal mouth scramble. Renaissance were losing compusure at a critical stage. Smelling blood SW18 launched a blistering wave of attacks, matched in intensity only by the scorching heat taking its toll on weary legs.
Yet the Renaissance defence, all seven players, held firm. Goal line clearances, courageous blocks, great goalkeeping, and last ditch tackles all contributed in a frantic effort to overcome the inexorable SW18 attack. After what seemed an eternity the referee blew time on this hugely entertaining affair and Renaissance departed the field drenched both in sweat and glory.
Line Up:
K. Umeh; C. Boy, Da Vinci, Rembrandt; The Artist, Brunelleschi; Michelangelo
© 2007 Renaissance | site by: chingo
Renaissance glossary
workshop
an intensive training session.
players re-learn the basics of the game by running around cones, jumping through hoops, and must demonstrate an ability to trap the ball and make a straight pass.
dossier
1. a blueprint of plans for an intense training session.
2. a highly detailed and thorough critique of an opponents strengths and weaknesses.
Check out more definitions from the Renaissance Glossary.