Announcement
Malone's Shooters Win Manila International Tournament!!
Posted by John Jofre on
Nov 26 2002
at
04:00PM PST
The Malone's Shooters became the first ever team from China to win the Nomads Manila International 6's, and join the list of elite Asian Amateur teams to win this very difficult tournament. Please read Ian Lee's tournament report by clicking on the headline:
Manila Squad
Manager: John 'Tactical Masterstroke' Jofre
Team: Steve 'Packet of sweets' Brierley
Larry 'Man of Sound' Langdon
Andy 'Kaiser' Kilby
John 'Mr. Reliable' Vinnai
Brian 'Leetch' Wallace
Bruce 'Did rather be a Shooter...' Aitken
Rodney 'Red Card' Bolls
Jing 'Lightning' Shen
Ian 'Pressbox' Lee
Matt 'Traitor' Sutton
Nick 'Heelsnapper' Rose
John 'Grantona' Grant
Supporters: Various riff-raff from all 4 corners of the globe
Day 1
This years Shooters squad was deprived the respective talents of Mackay,
Allen and Compton, but support came in the form of seasoned campaigner Bruce
Aitken - A 'Gary Mcallister' figure for this young (looking) Shooters team.
Manila 2002 kicked off with a game against an Athletico de Wanchai side
containing two very shifty but familiar looking characters - Steve 'the
Judge' Watson and Mike 'Playing time' Tselmelis. No trade secrets were given
away however and our heros romped to a 4 - 0 victory.
Game 2 was against Beijing Sexy and again the well-drilled machine that is
the Shooters rolled out another impressive 4 - 0 victory. The bookies were
starting to take note and the odds on the Shooters were slashed. The
Shooters supporters were merely sloshed.
Game 3 was against the the tour hosts, the Manila Nomads, seemingly all on
day release from Wandsworth especially for this game. Having seen the skills
on display from a defensively solid but rapier sharp Shooters team, the
Nomads decided that the best option would be to try to kill them. This they
attempted to do through GBH, intimidation, shouting abusive language in
front of children, extortion, bribery, and any other nefarious means at
their disposal. Pantomime villains in fitting with the season. A very tough
game ended in a 1 - 1 draw but only due to Langdon's irrational fear of
leaving the ground.
Nevermind though, our hotshot heroes had done a good days work and had
qualified for the next day whence the competition would start in earnest.
All that remained was for the Shooters and their entourage to retire back to
the hotel for a cup of cocoa and an early night.
Day 2
As the Sun broke across the beautiful cityscape of Manila, all of the
Shooters were in their beds sleeping peacefully and dreaming of what
excitement there was in the day to come...
Game 4 and the tournament had reached the knockout stages. Fresh from a good
nights sleep the Shooters took to the field and played arguably their best
football of the two days, beating Nomad Braves 3 - 1. This set up
the tie of the tournament so far, the all Shanghai derby - Lions vs.
Shooters.
Game 5 Both teams had brought their strongest squads. Both teams had gotten
this far. Both teams had come here to win it. One team was going to go out.
Always a spicy game, the shock signing of Matt from the Lions added an extra
edge. A typically frenetic opening and challenges were flying in, but
chances were few and far between. At half time it was 0 - 0. In the second
half the game exploded as the pace and persistence of the Shooters, started
to take its toll on a weakening Lions side. Constant rotation of the subs
was the key to this game. Suddenly from a quick corner Granty burys one in
the bottom right hand corner. The Shooter bench erupts, but not as much as
the Lions bench does a minute or two later when a filthy tackle from Bolls
results in a red card for him and a broken foot for an unfortunate Lions
player. In truth a horrible incident and Rodney 'Keano' Bolls should be
hauled in front of the F.A. pending video evidence.
However, final score, Shooters 1 - Lions 0. The Shooters make the semis.
Semi Final
An odd game. A Vikings team clearly unwilling to win a game nor test an
ever-improving Shooters team. A wall of men leads to a stalemate and the
drama of the penalty shoot out. Could Langdon prove that the finger injury
he picked up in a bizzare geranium trimming incident had fully healed? Jofre
asks for penalty takers and 3 step forward. Vinnai and Kilby are asked to
step back and 2 different takers are chosen. Granty calmly slots the first.
All eyes on Langdon and he delivers, with the immaculate timing of a
seasoned comic, a full stretch save. All we needed to to was convert our
other two pens and we would make Shooter history and be in the final. Matt
and 'Packet of sweets' Brierley dispatch them safely and it's a Shooter -
Taipei Dragons final.
The Final
There had been murmers that this could be the Shooters year amongst the
press box the previous day but now it was time for the Shooters squad of
2002 to prove their mettle. We had gotten further than any other previous
Shooters team before us. The whisle blows and it's the Shooters out of the
block quickest. But make no mistake, this was a tough game between two
heavyweights. Chance are few and far between, the most noticeable effort
coming from 'Kaiser' Kilby as he charges up the field and unleahes a rocket
from twenty five yards. It's flying in but a wonder save denies Kilbs a
wondergoal. Langdon is called upon to make a couple of saves but the game
looks increasingly like it's going to be a stalemate.
No goals in normal time but a hard, hard pulsating final and it's golden
goal time. Joff throws caution to the wind and plays Rose and Grant in the
same line up. The game is being played out until Granty recieves the ball on
the halfway line. He spins his marker and summoning up the last of his
strength races down the field getting closer and closer to the goal. The
keeper rushes out, narrowing the angle but the Grantonator does not miss and
before anybody realises what has just happened the Shooters are charging up
the field in ecstasy. Shooters 2002 had done it!!! Shooters 2002 are the
Champions of the Manila tournament. Shooters 2002 are the Champions!!!
Now all that remained was for the Shooters and their entourage to retire
back to the hotel for a cup of cocoa and an early night.
Note: Jon Grant also walked away with the Player of the Tournament award.
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