Match report
Renaissance do the Cartman in season curtain raiser
Renaissance 5 - 4 Ted Baker
30 November 2006
Chidi Umeh
There's rarely a dull moment if you're a Renaissance fan. After last season's humdinger of a finale and the protracted shenanigans involved in registering the team for the current season, one would be forgiven for expecting Renaissance to come out of the blocks wearily. Here, they led twice and were pegged back twice by a determined Ted Baker side before the tie was settled by a strike from The Artist.
It was new signing Cartman who set the tone for the evening with a great virtuoso effort. A minute into his debut he collected the ball from just inside Ted Baker's half and proceeded to slalom his way at terrific pace around a couple of challenges before placing a low shot beyond the reaches of the keeper.
Renaissance were in full control with the defensive pairing of Brunelleschi and The Shaman keeping Renzo Sorenti in check whilst the midfield, with Rembrandt in tow, efficiently and effectively thwarting Ted Baker's build up play. Renaissance were late arrivals to the league and after a little amount of match practice under their belt since last season would have been surprised at the ease of it all.
A second goal arrived when The Realist's shot from the tightest of angles managed to evade the keeper's rather lame effort to keep it out. Ted Baker defeated Renaissance the last time around but were displaying all the old frailities which unveil themselves when playing against stronger opposition.
Nevertheless, Ted Baker soon began to get a stronger grip as Renaissance took their foot off the pedal and their perserverance paid off when they scored with the last kick of the first half. A low shot beating goalkeeper Mark Bradbury at full stretch.
Renaissance restored their two goal advantage early in the second half when The Artist tucked away an effort from close range but Ted Baker were down but not out. Renaissance gifted them a couple of rapid goals to grant them parity. Firstly, Bradbury misjudged the flight and bounce of the ball in what should have been a routine save, and much to his horror and annoyance, was guilty of a similar error minutes later.
Back to square one. But just as in the first minute, Cartman was on hand to put Renaissance back on top with a cool finish just outside the box. Yet despite this setback Ted Baker still had some sting in their tail and drew level again when a speculative shot from fully 30 yards found the very corner of net with bewildering accuracy.
The wonder strike even drew a number of mocking woos from ecstatic Ted Baker players as they celebrated. But ultimately it was Renaissance who rallied together and displayed match winning composure. The Artist's decider ensuring the last laugh belongs to he who woos first.
Renaissance glossary
button moon
(more popularly known as heighting, rainbow, and sombrero)
used when the ball is deftly dinked over an opponent's head and collected with minimal fuss on the other side.
taken from an 80's Thames TV production where a home-made Heinz rocketship arches over the moon.
shoot her!
used when a player is within shooting distance of goal.
taken from one of the Jurassic Park films.
Check out more definitions from the Renaissance Glossary.