Race St. Are 2005 BVFC Cup Champions!

As always, when Race St wins, Conrad has a word or two...
"Race Street came into this final game in the same frame of mind thatwe had before every other one played this season, determined to win.We wanted to stop all of the gloating coming from the FC STUN squadwho never missed an opportunity to remind us that because they wonour first match they were the better team. Winning the regularseason crown must have counted for something, we thought! But weonly had ourselves to blame for letting them escape with a win inthat first match because we were clearly the better team! In ouropinion this match would only have one outcome: A win for RaceStreet which would confirm the outstanding team play that we showedthrough the season! We started with the following formation: Kenji Julian Conrad Jerry Q Alan Omar Mike G Jason Eddy Max

We started the game nervously as we had difficulty keeping the ballon the ground due to the field's lumpy condition. But after thefirst five to ten minutes we settled down and started to take thegame to STUN, creating a few clear goal opportunities in theprocess. Despite being determined not to allow them to score first,we got sucker-punched by a controversial goal. We did not panic asthis seemed to have been the norm from our most recent games. Butto our surprise, STUN scored a well-worked second goal not too longafter in the first half! Coming back from a one-nil score in a finalis one thing, but two-nil is a very different story.But for some reason, the Racers kept playing their usual game ofquick passing and attacking down the flanks. We knew that the gamewould not be over until after the final whistle (I know…cliché, butso true!). At half time we received another blow! Eddy our standout right backthrough the season had been playing on badly strained right quad anddid not know whether he would be able to continue. Despite his hugecontribution to our presence in the final game, we would have to winthe game without him if we had to. That turned out to be the case, ashe had to be substituted early in the second half. He wascompetently replaced by Mike Park.The second half was a little bit different, as FC STUN, sensing thatthey may be able to claim the first BVFC cup, started matching ourintensity and were creating goal opportunities.

Our defense, which Ibelieve was the best in the league (I know that the stats don'tnecessarily back me on that claim) was as solid as ever; alwayssticking a foot at the last moment to deny the STUN strikers thatlast control or shot.In the middle of the second half, a sense of urgency started to cometo us; we had twenty minutes or so to turn this thing around or allof our pre-game party preparations would have been for nothing, One could feel that a goal from either side could change the balance ofthe game!And it came right after the referee had indicated that there werethirteen minutes left. It started with Omar on the left side,through Julian in the center then to Q on the right who beautifullydropped the ball on Kenji's chest on the left side of the STUNeighteen. In textbook fashion (this is how kids should be taught tochest-trap a ball while redirecting it into their path for a volley)Kenji put the ball on that surgical left foot of his and just likethat, momentum swung in our favor!Just a couple of lines to describe that surgically deadly weapon that Kenji calls his left foot. That thing can snap so quickly and whenit does, beware! Just ask the STUN goalie as they again gotreacquainted two minutes later from that same angle with the samepredictable result. Within three minutes, we were leveled and feltthat we could take the game. Within five minutes of the ref'indicating the 77 minute mark, we took the lead from a goal comingonce again from a left to right to left play which saw Marco make afinal pass that emphasized the level of confidence that the Racerswere playing with at that moment. 3-2!As anyone who's ever been involved in the game will tell you, teamsare usually at their most vulnerable point after scoring. And true enough despite Jason's screams to maintain our defensive focus, werelaxed too much and STUN quickly capitalized on that moment ofweakness. They were truly worthy opponents!Wow! Four goals in less than seven minutes! Great game!In extra time we came so close to end the game in storybook fashion!But it wasn't to be! As Julian's dad said to me:"You guys like tomake it difficult on yourselves!"However, we were not to be denied, FC STUN's nerves betrayed them inthe end in the penalty shoot-outs. RACE STREET wins! Despite STUN'sinitial advantage in the league for having played together as a teamfor a few years, we never believed that they were better than us andwe showed it both in the regular season's standings and by winning itall in the end!I am glad to say that all the BVFC teams did a wonderful job.

We were all assigned to a squad at the beginning of the season and werefaced with the challenge of turning ourselves into teams quickly.For the most part, we were close to being equal talent-wise, but thedifference came from how successful we were at molding the squad intoa team. Despite it all, there were no undefeated teams and we eachhad at least one victory.I think we all have to agree that as a result of winning the BVFCcup, the Racers did a wonderful job and have earned the right todefend their title next season!"

"It went to penalties and we didn't have the luck as Race Street won it with the final penalty. Full match report will follow (probably monday). It was a GREAT game, with ebb and flow, drama, and good football all around. Truly a fitting final, just a shame it had to be settled on penalties as both sides could have won it in extra time with chances at both ends." - Richard

"A fitting end to a fabulous season. One of the best games played this year, and in excellent spirits!! Congratulations to Conrad for leading a good team to a great win, and Stun for helping the rest of us become competitive. Walter and Frank are simply fantastic! They have organized a very successful first season." - Bula