Carnage 3 - 2 Recreio B

Goalscorers: Kenzo (2) Posh

Champions!

It wasn’t pretty but Carnage finally completed the job with a scrappy 3-2 victory over Recreio B. It is the first time since the handover that a Valley side has won a league title (the last being Valley B when they won the 4th Div title in 1997). The three points earned today take Carnage to an unassailable 46 points and the 2nd Division title with a game in hand.
The game day didn’t start well with two pullouts but fortunately Coach Mark was able to round up Whacker and Mofo at short notice to give us a spare on the hottest day of the year so far. Carnage started brightly and were soon 1 up thanks to a well executed short corner routine to get Kenzo on the score sheet. Recreio had not read the script though and fought hard to stay in the match. Pumpy and his defence were often surprised by their lone attacker but managed to keep him out via fair means or occasionally foul! There were plenty of chances for both sides and Posh narrowly failed to connect with one on the post. Poppet was clearly struggling to shake off the rust after 5 months off and both Rob and Josh had half chances that eluded them.With the last play of the half Recreio scored a short of their own which looped gently over Pumpy’s log and onto the backboard. 1-1.

Coach Mark’s wise words at half time took effect and Carnage were soon stringing together some great sequences. One of these saw Job pick out Josh unmarked in the D. He steadied himself and expected the keeper to log so tried to lob him. Unfortunately the keeper stayed upright and the shot was straight at him. His luck ended there though as the rebound fell to Posh whose ‘death or glory’ dive cum reverse stick shot found the roof of the net to regain the lead. 2-1.

The heat was getting to us and tempers were starting to flare at the ineptitude of some of the umpiring decisions and cards were flying. We earned at least 6 green cards for various misdemeanours and Arse also took some time behind the goal for his trouble.
Recreio earned a number of short corners and it was only a matter of time before the odds would fall in their favour. As so often happens, a slip and a mispass led to their second goal and it was all square again.

Carnage picked themselves up again and pushed forward. Another short corner and this time the Valley crowd went wild as Kenzo slotted number 2 from an identical routine to his first. Carnage ahead 3-2 and so it eventually stayed. When the final whistle blew the arms went up in a combination of relief and elation. We had done it!

Next up is First Division Recreio A for the HKHA cup next Sunday.

Go Carnage!

Capt Poppet