Friday 16th January. As it happened.15:00 Further to yet another back breaking day on site, Mr. Alex (the head of the school board) proposes to the team that a Friday night football match should be played. Quest Overseas was to provide a team of Volunteers both male and female to challenge the might of the local community team.
Einstein trying to climb Everest – is that a suitable enough analogy for the Quest Overseas teams task tonight?
15:31 The Quest Overseas Team line up. James “second mouse”, “Occasionally” Mike, Charlotte “the lynch pin”, Sophie “I will stomp me feet and throw a tantrum if you tackle me”, Victoria “not in the face”, Tom “the engine”, Lilly “the wild card”, Freddie “the Roaming detective”, Hannah “chopper”, Dixon “El Capitan”, Kate “the fox”, Sarah “the butcher” and Simon “the Dream weaver”
16:00 The teams line up for the national anthems it is obvious from the start that both parties are nervous. It is worthy of note that Dixon in particular is unsure of the words of the British National Anthem (he is American).
16:03 Quest Overseas get us under way as they seek to cause one of the biggest upsets in the history of African cup football. Oh come on, it would be.
16:05 Not quite the furious start that the quest team were looking for, with the debutant goal keeper Simon Tierney relieved to see the flag go up for off side against one of the rapid African wingers.
16:10 Tom send the Wanang’waria defense the wrong way down the right, but his cross is a fraction too far ahead of his team-mates lining up in the six-yard box.
16:11 Wananga’rai 1-0 Quest. An unorthodox move from the bench results in a change in goal keeper. Oh no it looks like the wheels are coming off! Quest just don’t do normal goalkeepers, do they? A free-kick from 35 yards around the wall and into the corner of the Quest net, with James giving him a lot of the goal to aim at. James was even moving the other way – he was expecting a cross, wasn’t he?
16:12 Waanga’rai 2-0 Quest. A mix up in defense between the two peaks of Lilly and Hannah results in a breakaway Goal nothing can be done to prevent the strike as it sails into the top corner.
16:13 Waanga’rai 2-1 Quest. A war cry is heard from James and the rest of the team are heard to be chanting “2nd Mouse” Something changes, with nothing to lose Quest start to move the ball around spreading it effortlessly from one side of the pitch to the other. This isn’t football this is magic and a slight mix up in the Wanang’waria defense sees Freddie with the ball at his feet he looks almost as confused as the defenders and with the slightest of touches he lifts the ball over the keeper into the back of the net… The crowd go wild!
16:14 This is by no means over!
16:16 A slight break in the game brings welcome relief as a herd of cows move from to the lower field to pasture.
16:18 GAME ON
16:19 Waanga’rai 3-1 Quest. They score again nothing could be done a great strike from the right wing flies into the bottom corner.
16: 23 Waana’rai 3-2 Quest. The ball is moved effortlessly to Kate and Sophie who really are starting to make the left wing their own, a nasty tackle results in Sophie stomping both her feet on the floor and threatening to leave the field unless people start playing nicely. A free kick is awarded the ball flies across the box to be met by a very impressive volley of the right boot of Mike a great GOAL.
16:25 Waanga’rai 4-2 Quest. They score again shocking keeping from Simon (I don’t want to talk about it, no really I don’t)
16:33 Half Time
16:40 Teams come back out for the second half, Julian Page the club coach is heard muttering “this isn’t football this is WAR”
16:41 it appears that the team are reflecting the coaches words little interest in the ball as Charlotte takes both man a ball in a tackle that would of been worthy of a rugby pitch.
16:42 A horrific career ending takle from Victoria on a child that must be no more then 11, The ref is losing control of this game.
16:42 Waanga’rai 5-2 Quest. Some miscomunication and a failed offside attempt result in yet another fine finish from the young African lad. Lilly is going mental at her team mates!
16:44 Waanga’rai 6-3 Quest. The Quest team need to regain focus. Tom and Freddie re-start the game and form a triangle of passes with Dixon. A wonderful fluent move results in the ball ending up at Dixons feet and wham bam thank you ma’am 5-3
16:43 Some interesting celebrations end up with a 10 person bundle on the floor. Hannah is unsure what to do with herself, overcome with emotion she runs to the side of the pitch to take on some water.
The rest of the game is all a bit hazy! I also have a lot of work to do