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Fukuda Denshi, Sunday 17th January.
Who would have thought that such a motley crew of briggands, rapscallions and shysters (plus the Vagabonds) could have served up an 8 goal thriller? Not me, that's for sure. But lo and behold this cup classic ended 5-3 to Sala with the Vagabonds putting up a great fight.
2 goals from man of the match, Pete Swinney, and a goal each from Shige, Lenny and Ryotaro earned Sala their place in the last 16 of the cup.
From the off Vagabonds showed no respect to their division 1 opposition, taking the match to them and causing Sala lots of problems with their direct play and their two tricky strikers. In the first 10 minutes they forced several shots and corners but with Clarkey, Ian and Dan marshalling the Sala back line there was no way through, and indeed it was Sala who drew first blood, somewhat against the run of play.
Sam, sporting fantastic boots which looked like an Adidas designer's wet dream mixed with a pile of snot, was sent tumbling on the edge of the box. Pete clipped the wall with the resultant free kick but it broke to Shige who scored from an angle with the aid of a deflection. 1-0 Sala.
Harsh on the Vags for sure, but it was about to get worse. Vags barely had time to dry their eyes and get a can of "toughen the f*ck up" out of the fridge, when Sala scored a slightly fortuitous second.
This time Shige whipped in a corner which Vags failed to clear and everyone's favourite catalogue man, Pete "Swinners" Swinney, clipped it home with an undescribable unorthodox finish. Is it in fact describable because I called it undescribable, or isn't it because I didn't actually explain what he did?? A wee brainteaser for you there, sports fans. I'll let you all know next week what AJ and Roddy decide! 2-0 Sala.
At this point a lot of teams in the Vags' position would have spat the dummy at the injustices of the beautiful game but all credit to them they didn't. And, with the effects of their cans of "toughen the f*ck up" beginning to kick in, Vags raced up the pitch and got the goal their efforts deserved. After a jinking dribble their number 11 (?) was invited to shoot and promptly placed a left footer into the bottom corner, from outside the box. 2-1 Sala.
Sala reacted by getting some of Vagabonds' fighting spirit for themselves and this made a big difference. Sam, Ian and Scotty started getting stuck in more and when Sala's subs, Guido, Lenny and Ryo also made an impact it gave Sala the impetus to wrestle control of the game away from the Vags. Stu, Masa and Lenny had shots from distance before Sala's best move of the match cut Vags open and left Stu with time, a brilliant shooting position and the freedom of the Vags penalty area. But the man who is forcing writers to think up new ways of slagging strikers apart from the old classics of "he couldn't score in a brothel" or "he couldn't hit a barn door from a yard with a shovel" slotted the ball a good few yards past the post. Doh! went the tall one. Blast went the writers.
Fortunately, Pete was determined to get the next goal for Sala as it was obviously going to be crucial. Showing that touch of class that we all know he has, he played a one two with Ryo then smashed a 25 yarder past the keeper. The keeper got a touch but to no avail. 3-1 Sala.
In the second half Lenny started to get some joy down the left for Sala, benifitting from the dominance that Sala were starting to show. With Vags losing the midfield battle their dangerous strikers were seeing a lot less of the ball which was a big loss for them. The fourth Sala goal came soon after. Lenny produced a lovely top corner Phuket 7's-esque finish after Pete had received a pass from Scotty and then played him in. 4-1 Sala.
Goals were being scored left, right and centre now (unless Stu had the ball), and with Sala looking for an offside, the Vags number 7 raced through and squared to their striker who dinked a quality finish over the onrushing Taylor. 4-2 Sala.
Toby was next to feed the famished Lenny Lennerington. Having come short to collect the ball he turned and played in the indefatigable Kiwi, whose shot squirmed under the keeper only for Ryo to poke home from close range. A goal he deserved for the impact his dribbling and speed had had on the game. 5-2 Sala.
With a few minutes left there was still enough time for Scotty to fluff a clearance straight to Vags danger man, Steve, who pulled the trigger sending a dipping volley over Taylor for Vags' third goal. 5-3 Sala at the feep.
Man of the Match - The man who sold a thousand catalogue sweaters, Pete Swinney.
Sinner of the Match - The man who missed a thousand catalogued sitters, "Big Bird" Stu Anderson, for his truly bird-like finishing ; )
By Scotty Thomson
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