FGFC started the night in Division 4 after midweek impromptu meetups didn't quite pan out as we'd have hoped. Still, we were raring to go and eager to change our slow 'warm-up' starts and it paid off with a gruelling 1-0 over vanssssssss (I was tempted to carry on there for a moment...). A tremendous defence-splitting pass by Rodman @Lurch in his commanding CDM role found Crunchy Connor @JamaicanSteve to go through 1-on-1 to score the solitary goal.
The FG train was on a roll and swiftly made the next team quit, obtaining a default 3-0 win. Needing one more win to go up, we turned up against a better side in Team Taunt UK. A goal a piece in the first half meant it was a tight affair but early in the second half a lovely worked play down the left ended up Forlan @ChaosGladiator putting a sweeping cross in, for what was to be the biggest salmon jump we've seen so far playing FIFA...or so we thought!
Division 3 carried on where we left off with a sublime 2-0 win; a brace from Rodman just showing how much of a utility player he is for FGFC, like the stellar Aaron Mokoena was back in the day for Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth. Memorable, right? 😎 After such a good start, we got to the end of the first Third of the night (although we didn't know this at that point in time).
The next phase of the night started with a 3-3 banger, all goals coming within 30 minutes of the first half. The Tennis match was soon over though with a cagey 2nd half of constant defending, not all because of the opposition mind you... 😄
A horrible patch followed with 3 back-to-back defeats. Some goals the back 4 couldn't do much about, whereas others we just kept on losing the ball in dangerous positions outside of the box. I think most teams will seem to have these spells through a night (I can hear Tom @LordBaguette screaming in his sleep something beginning with S...) but i'd say we weren't flat throughout that period. Just on the wrong side of luck. Our 2-1 loss Jakes U15s could've been different if Gin & Tronic @tronic44 had expected the penalty to be passed to him, although it was still a cracking save.
Near the end of the bad middle spell, we were doing everything we could against some good, skillful sides but perhaps also having a ton of luck against us. 2-0 down at H/T to TTN GaMiNg, we battled to stop further goals coming through. Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 , Roberto Barlos @Findmartin and makeshift centreback @jordie1892 were pulling out all the stops keeping them to just one extra goal, going into the last 10 mins 3-1 down. Sensing we'd had enough of getting the wrong side of this luck, @Macca89 hot a screamer against the bar with Mulletov @G_dub52 crucially following in to force an headed own goal. It set up a tense finish, with TTFN getting a corner on 89 minutes and unusually it was FGFC that managed to break away, a side-splitting pass from Torpedo Tony allowed Mulletov and Sensual Chocolate @jordie1892 to play a one-two with Mulletov smashing the equaliser home.
You wouldn't believe that last minute winners aren't our specialism. However, when one last minute goal comes, another soon follows, as the saying goes. Toronto Rabbits put up a strong fight and we were deadlocked at 1-1. We thought we lost our chance - twice - but the following 30 seconds were truly incredible stuff. FIFA at his best. They still must be screwing over that since Monday.
Unfortunately, the damage was already done early doors in Season 46 resulting in FGFC bouncing back down to Division 4.
The last minute winners and desire from those games though did give us some heart at the end of the night as the third phase kicked off, we became more dominant in overall play. Sensual Chocolate found his shooting boots, alongside MaccaNoHairMan. Rodman went back up top and his found some form with his head, alongside Mulletov and Roberto Barlos that finished some lovely team goals. 9 goals in 3 games and a lovely 3 winning game streak to end the night on.
Moment of the night went to good ol' Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 . It does have awful trouble with his WiFi at the best of times due to his Washing Machine being on 🙈🤣but this week's excuse for missing a 2 yarder was more down to some food stuck inside his controller. Don't ever change, Tony.
Overall, its clear to see we play better with 3 halves to the night 😎 GGFG all @Lurch @Macca89 @JamaicanSteve @jordie1892 @LordBaguette @Findmartin @ChaosGladiator @G_dub52 @TonyAE86 @tronic44 @GazzaGarratt
Could we? I mean, how dare we? Try and stay in Division 2 and mount a challenge to the promised land? Nah, you're alright thanks 🤣
An incredible start to the night had us thinking the impossible of keeping ourselves in the mighty Championship and then mounting a challenge to get up to Division 1 for the first time in our FGFC FIFA 21 existence. A mighty battle started with FG going 1-0 down after half an hour. The main contributing factor went to Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 having lag, but not by the conventional issues we usually find. This time out it was the...Washing Machine. Yep, apparently all of the spins impact his WiFi speeds these days. Having said that though, we immediately sprung into life with a bullet from Gin Tronic @tronic44 at the near post.
The positivity was growing, and with a goal from either side in a matter of minutes to make it 2-2, we found ourselves with a corner. Tony looking for our headshot king, Dennis Rodman @Lurch ...but we didn't expect the following at all.
Mulletov @G_dub52 rounded off a 4-3 win in our first match and we were pumped for what was to come. Forgetting the unfortunate blip straight after where we went unfortunately down 3-1, even though we dominated the play througout, the momentum was took forward to the third game of the night where it was a near perfect performance. The assist king @Macca89 got his shooting boots on and rounded up the Man of the Match perfect 10 performance with a sublime hatrick from some amazing assists and team play throughout a 6-0 riot. Tom @LordBaguette was notching the penalties early doors and the back 4 of Club Tropicana @GazzaGarratt, Sensual Choc @jordie1892 , Dennis Rodman @Lurch and Torpedo Tony @TonyAE86 had a stormer. Unfortunately, previous days results alongside the second game blip left FGFC needing yet another win just to survive relegation to Division 3. A stellar performance with yet another @Macca89 goal set us up nicely but an equaliser shortly followed and for all the tea in Rich's house, we just couldn't push a winner past the keeper. It was worth mentioning though James yet again kept us in the game again with some fine defending. A quick highlight reel below was a delight to clip.
So Season 44 was upon us and after a short break and a swap around of all our positions, we commenced another season in Division 3. When all the positions change up somewhat, we always struggle to find the momentum again and it hurt us badly at the start, going down heavily in a 3-0 loss. We dug deep to then take a 4-1 lead in the next game to nearly throw it away with two late goals...apparently something about James making a rare mistake had to to be noted down on the stats. I'm not that harsh though, so i'll just write about for everyone to see rather than stick on the infographic below 😎
Inconsistency was definitely showing again though with another 2-0 defeat hitting us hard, we then tried to buck the trend of losing too many matches early doors. With the game poised at 2-2 and battling extremely hard into the closing stages, GD Pontevel broke forward after another chance for FGFC was saved. The rest was history. Can somebody lend us a spare FIFA script when they get chance please?
A successful 3-1 win followed this stinging defeat, but we couldn't keep up the levels we had started out at the beginning of the night and aptly ended the evening in a goal crazy 5-4 defeat.
Not a night we expected and I think the results were extremely harsh on us all, especially when there was some lovely football being played and a few belters that went in. @Macca89 showed his worth this week topping the Goals and Assists columns with Connor @JamaicanSteve starting to slot in nicely after his loan deal was made permanent when Chill Ya Beans United accepted FGFC's bid of 2 baked beans tins and a packet of Uncle Ben's Golden Rice. We're still fortunate they didn't check the Use By Date in advance.
Superb night of banter and laughs along the way as always. GGFG
G_dub52 reacted to GazzaGarratt for an article, Monday Night Football Match Report - 1st Feb 2021