Final Match Report

Season finale (24/06/2008) - Metrica v IPC Marketforce

Tears for heroes

On what was a sunny, but sad Tuesday evening, the soon to be disbanded Jagger’s Daggers made their final trip to the pitches by the Imperial War Museum. In what was being billed as a mismatch similar to when the 300 Spartans took on the mighty army of Xerxes. Metrica went with their heads held high, knowing that salvaging 2nd from bottom in the league was the only success available.

Playing a team beaten only once in 30 matches, it was always going to be difficult. The glimmer of hope was that the one defeat suffered by IPC Marketforce was at the hands of the mighty Metrica.

The match followed a similar course to many others during the season…defeat. This was down to lackluster defending which had been an issue for the team in every match since the loss of the influential Ed Kitchingman. Although the performance was promising in attack, the unwillingness to defend properly was once again the team’s downfall.

The best goal of the game (in which there were 17) was scored by Kenno, after some slick interplay with Tom and Francisco (making a rare appearance in the starting line up) Kenno struck a fine first time left footed shot, which rocketed into the top corner. Andy, John and Francisco chipped in with a goal-a-piece, so if you want to know the score, you do the math!

Team: Jagger, Ryland, Kenno (1), Franny (1), Fairclough (1), Fell (1)

Season review:

Dundas & Wilson saved the team the ignominy of finishing bottom, however, summer signings are required to bolster the defence!

League Table:

A small but not insignificant highlight is the appearance of John as joint 5th top scorer in the league.

Top Scorers: Finally here are the team statistics for the past two seasons.

For more detailed descriptions of the sin bins and sending offs, please contact the players (or just Adam) directly for the full low down.

The team will now be taking a leave of absence from the league, although never rule out a return. Unlike Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford we have little to live up to in the next chapter, so it will undoubtedly be a success.

In the meantime we will be playing in a series of friendly matches – the first of which is to be played against Ketchum. Watch this space for future results and fingers crossed they will be more successful!

Match Report: Metrica v Huxley

Final Score: Metrica 3 - 9 Huxley

It was a day for heroes. A day when the rain poured, the wind howled, and the changing rooms at GMH Park still hadn't been completed.

Against this (slightly melodramatic) backdrop, a band of merry stragglers from Jaggers Daggers made their way via the free booze at the staff meeting to a 7.30 showdown with Huxley. The size of Metrica's task was immediately apparent as they lined up with just 4 players- Ray having set off on a crusade for a new pair of shoes at 5.30, never to be seen again.

Despite this, Tom, JT in goal, Rich and Thane "the rookie" Ryland made a good start (by our standards), with some neat passing and tidy defence. The extra man told though, and at half time it was three zip without anyone doing much wrong, Metrica was staring down the barrel of another defeat, and we were getting tired. It was still raining too.

Coming out for the second half it seemed like the cause was lost, and sure enough Huxley tucked a couple more away with some very sharp finishing. But Metrica stuck at it, and with a left foot that would make John Arne Riise proud, Rich lashed a shot towards the opposition goalie. Also like Riise, the hapless fool then turned it into his own net, although Rich still claimed it at the end of the game.

At the other end James was playing a blinder in goal to keep the score respectable, and some neat interplay between Thane and Tom led to a couple more Metrica goals, finished off in style by Jagger. As if that wasn't enough of a surprise, Ray then turned up, enthusiastic as ever but apparently without having bought any new shoes.

Huxley's reputation for physical play and gamesmanship was working against them too, and although even Tom was getting a bit puffed out, a few sneaky kicks and pushes here and there helped to make a contest of it. At the whistle, the Daggers trooped off the pitch with their heads held high and the now-customary defeat in their pockets. Even the rain stopped to applaud their efforts.

Metrica: Taylor, Jagger (2), Ryland, Bennett (1), Hirang (1/2!)

Match Report: Metrica v PR Newswire

Final Score: Metrica 3 - 7 PR Newswire

When Bill Shankly talked about a game of two halves, he must surely have been watching Metrica vs. PR Newswire in the Waterloo Tuesday Premier League! Weekes made his debut in goal for Metrica, but it was the outfield players who looked like they hadn't played together before. An up-tempo start by PR Newswire caught Metrica flat-footed, and saw them quickly put five first-half goals on the board. An air shot from Tom was the highlight of the first half for Metrica FC, getting a laugh from everyone...even the unusually unbiased referee cracked a smile.

The second half saw an upturn in fortunes for the boys in blue. With JT replacing Jason in goal the fresh legs improved the outfield dynamism immensely. Despite having no subs, Metrica forced their aggressive brand of football on the opposition to get back into a game which at halftime had looked dead and buried. Excellent running on the left side from Jagger forced PRN to play deep and following some neat link-up play with Fell, Jagger fired in a shot past the opponent's exceptionally athletic 'keeper, who until that point had managed to keep out everything thrown at him.

Despite being 5-1 down, Metrica found a belief in themselves on the back of last week's much improved performance, showing grit and determination to drag themselves back into a game they had no right to be in. Leading by example, captain 'workhorse' Jagger ran his socks off, linking up in attack well with the 'mercurial' Fairclough and Fell to create some promising chances. Weekes pulled strings in the middle of the park, while JT played more of a Grobellar role between the sticks, distributing the ball quickly to continue the attacking barrage on Newswire's goalmouth. A rebounded effort from John dropped to Andy to finish off, to which the PR boys retorted with a brace.

With minutes to go Andy forced a penalty, which John converted expertly into the bottom left corner which would have left even a Premiership 'keeper with no chance. The final whistle came too soon for Metrica who were going from strength to strength as the opposition were fading fast, but alas it was not to be despite an improved second half performance.

Metrica: Fairclough (1), Fell (1), Jagger (1) (MoM), Taylor, Weekes

Metrica v Saffrey Champness

Final Score: Metrica 4 - 5 Saffrey Champness

The Daggers were back in action last night eager to banish the previous week's poor showing, which they did in some style. From the off it was a different game and goals from John and Andy gave the Metrica boys an early lead.

The Champness lads were not going to go down quietly however and worked their way back into the game scoring three unanswered goals to lead at the half.

The second half was a good battle between the teams and Metrica showed some of the form they had been missing so far this season. Andrew, Jason and Tom worked tirelessly from box to box, while Ray was proving the find of the season in goal. His two full stretch, top corner saves were definitely a cameraman's dream.

John added two more to his tally but both were in response to Saffrey scores. Trailing by a goal with three minutes to go the Daggers pushed on valiantly, peppering the Saffrey goal, but to no avail, as they were edged out by the odd goal in nine.

Metrica: Ray (MoM), Kenno, Jay, Andy (1), Jagger, Fell(3)

Metrica v Practical Law Company

Final Score: Metrica 1 - 12 Practical Law Company

Metrica took on the top of the table in this early Tuesday kickoff – without the scoring exploits of Adam it was always going to be a tough match to win. After conceding a couple of early goals Metrica knew that it would be the toughest game of the season to date.

Despite the gale force winds, the opposition goalie appeared to be in unbeatable form. His goal remained intact, despite some excellent efforts by the 'daggers' attack. Then, just before halftime, John hit a powerful shot and awoke a glimmer of hope for the boys in blue. 7-1 at the half.

The second half was more bruising that the first and the opposition made a number of bad challenges, which went unpunished by the oblivious ref.

The team consisting of Tom, Rich, Paul, Andy (back after a long injury spell on the sidelines), John and James all put in the hard graft, but unfortunately came away with only 1 goal. Big shout to Tom who did a great job between the posts and kept the score down.

There is good news on the horizon following this below par performance – we have to play 4 of the bottom 5 teams in the next 4 weeks. We are confident of getting some points on the board!

Match Report: Metrica v Huxley

Jagger's Daggers left GMH Park on Tuesday with a brave and disciplined performance in their back pockets but no result. A freezing night with intermittent rain saw the usual capacity crowd reduced to three penguins and a snowman, and with just 5 players against Huxley's 7 Metrica looked up against it from the start.

Sensing a walkover, Huxley promptly forgot to play for the first 5 minutes and found themselves 3-0 down. Finally getting into the match, Huxley replied with a good effort, then fluked a deflection past Rich "the cat", deputising between the sticks. Tom "I eat marathons for breakfast" Jagger found himself on the wrong end of some rough tackles as Huxley started to impose their brand of footie on the game.

The teams traded goals, with John and Adam capitalising on an inept first half by Huxley's goalie. Tamplin hit the crossbar from the half way line, and at half time it was 5-4 Huxley, everything to play for. But with no substitutes Metrica were beginning to tire, and shortly after the kick off Huxley extended their lead.

Metrica grabbed shovels and dug in, and a combination of disciplined defending from Tom and James and great finishing from the dynamic duo up front took Metrica ahead for the first time since their early salvo. 7-6 against the odds, and for a few minutes it looked like the Daggers were on their way to a deserved win against the odds. But with tiredness creeping in, Benno picked the wrong time to entertain the crowd with some comedy goalkeeping. And as Huxley pulled level and then ahead, Metrica's legs finally went.

10-7 at the end but, as the watching penguins slipped off into the chilly night, the battling manner of the performance warmed our hearts a little.

Match Report: Metrica v IPC

The Daggers were back in action last night looking to banish the memories of last season's poor finish.

The task was not an easy one as they faced the much fancied, reigning champions IPC Marketforce. IPC showed no signs of rustiness and were quickly into their stride with a 3 goal lead. After the first five minutes the daggers shook off the cobwebs of the winter break and somewhere between slipping and landing on his butt, John Fell connected with the ball and opened the Metrica account for the evening.

Honours were even the rest of the first half with Adam scoring, before Rich dazzled the defence with a double spin move (or triple salco if you're so inclined) and drove the ball into the top corner. Adam then coolly slotted home his second of the game, leaving the Daggers trailing 6 - 4 at the half. Half time may not have quite had the razzmatazz of the Superbowl, but hopefully next week the crowd, of one man and his dog, will be more lively.

IPC hit back with a couple of quick goals in the second half. Their slick passing troubling the Metrica defence all game. Then on a rare foray up field, Kenno played a one-two with Fell, before toe-poking home the Daggers' fifth. John Fell hit a second before IPC rounded off the scoring for a final tally of 10 - 6.

So a relatively positive game for the Daggers against the premier division Champions. Next week the Daggers can expect a physical battle against newly promoted Huxley.

Tue 4 Mar, 7:30pm - Huxley v Metrica