Collingwood City 0 – 1 Middle Park

A pulsating Provisional 3 season came to a conclusion with a blockbuster fixture at second placed Collingwood. Just one point separated the teams with the Parkers starting the day on the top of the ladder.

Disgraced former skipper Ally ‘Somerville’ Cook missed the game due to holiday, but Chris Stevenson returned after a knee injury sustained in the T&G by Nigel’s missus and Brian Donlevy reclaimed his place in goal following a foot injury and the purchase of an orthopedic Puma King.

Newly qualified with Stratos Xynas Head Coach, armed with new drills and certificates, revved the boys up at training the week prior. Strati now boasts and impressive CV- S/E Metro League Champions 2010, C License, B License, Jedi, Food Safety Level 1. However he does have some black marks against his name- 11 points on his driving license and a suspended prison sentence for crimes against fashion. The team were instructed to arrive at the ground at 1pm, but other than that, prepare as normal. 6 pints in the Half Moon pub it was then!

Fantastic highlights of the game can be viewed here, courtesy of Football Chaos; http://www.footballchaos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=509:2011-prov-3-se-rd-22-collingwood-city-v-middle-park-fc&catid=66:ffv&Itemid=282

A special mention has to go to one man, whose bravery and commitment epitomised the effort of the Parkers. Midway through the second half, left back Wayne Helena fell awkwardly and his shoulder popped out. The game was stopped for a few minutes and it seemed to all that Lofty was due to come on in his place. The players were dismayed to see him running back on to the pitch after Wayno popped his shoulder back in so he could finish the game.

But the champagne moment in this tale came with about eight minutes to go. All the players were tiring and with Collingwood pushing on, Wayno- running in pretty much a straight line, tackled four players consecutively from his own half deep into Collingwood’s like a bull running through the streets of Pamplona. This brought huge cheers from the massive, fantastic MPFC support and gave the Parker’s the lift they needed to see out the rest of the game.

The final whistle brought relief and scenes of jubilation as all of the Middle Park FC sang together, celebrated and sprayed champagne.

It was a nervy, high intensity game but played in a great spirit by both teams. The Parker’s look forward to resuming rivalries with Collingwood next season as we take on Provisional S/E 2 in 2012.

Season 2011, over & out.

MPFC: “Big Bad’ Brian Donlevy, ‘Unbreakable’ Helena, Nigel Buckfast Mullen, ‘The Don’ Donlevy, Gavelaaar Cremming, Natahan ‘the Mediator’ Meade, ‘Magical’ Mickey Furness, Chris ‘the Hoff’ Stevenson, Kevin ‘the Hulk’ Hogan, ‘Fluffer” Pinto, ‘His Shot Went’ Miles ‘Wide’ Tidd. SUBS: ‘Big Dick’ Lativy, ‘Angry Man’ Loftus, ‘Prince’ Barron. COACHES: Jose Xynas, Mad Dog Alston, Cut-off McLoughlin

Goals: M Donlevy 64 (pen)

Yellow cards: Furness- stopping a quick play of the ball, Mullen- foul, Meade- time wasting, Stevenson- good looks.