March 9, 2008
The Scholars Cup
YC&AC Over 35s 2 v Yokohama International School Teachers 0
Guess who’s holding the Scholars Cup…
In the inaugural Scholars Cup match, played at the end of last season, the Yokohama International School (YIS) teachers rather out-classed the Over 35s on the smooth green artificial grass at Shin-Yoko Football Park. We wondered then whether the bumpy brown real dirt at YC&AC might prove to be a leveller when next we met.
Who is to say what role the pitch played in the Fives’ comfortable victory this time around, but on a day when Premiership leaders Arsenal could only manage a draw at lowly Wigan, whose pitch was described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as “a disaster”, it’s worth considering.
Other factors to consider would be the absence from the YIS squad of the excellent Simon Lorimer and of course Neil Richards, the early injury to the equally excellent David Noon (unlucky fella, get well soon), and frankly I’m afraid a relative lack of fire in the belly of the Dragons on this occasion.
And then of course you’d have to consider us.
I don’t think we’ve seen a better team goal this season than the one Marc Bailey tucked away to set us on our way here. Captain Sada Hosogai, plainly relishing the freedom to get forward that his new position (?) at left back affords, started the move deep in our own half. Playing toward the Paul Blamire Shed End, Sada carried the ball to the halfway line at speed before neatly squaring it inside. Our midfielders then switched the play out to the right, providing Alan Plater (I think) with the opportunity to cross from deep in Dragons’ territory. This he did superbly, picking out the onjogging Marc Bailey near the penalty spot who fired emphatically past their keeper first time. Great, great goal.
[Update: Jan Broere provided the cross from which Marc Bailey headed home. It's another contender for goal of the season.]
So great was it indeed that I can’t remember how Marc struck the second. Or really very much else at all about this one.
Why can’t I remember? Here’s a clue:
Captain Sada’s holding the Cup!
And here’s another clue:
Peter Yang’s holding the cup!
By Alex Hendy
Squad: Picture on the Squad page
Goals: Marc Bailey (2)
Man of the match: Stephane Martin. Influential throughout, the big man deserved better than to see his raking drive from twenty yards skim the crossbar late on.
Referees: Good again.
Card Count: None
Attendance: It’s fair to say YIS brought more than we did.
