OTFC Is vs South Bank Cuaco Reserves (H)

5th January 2019

OTFC Is 2 - 4 South Bank Cuaco II

2019 – The year of the Tiff? The year of an epic OTFC Is cup run? The year of Steve Goodings? We were about to find out.

The forecast was as expected. Cold. The quality on display during the warm up was as expected. Poor. The appearance of Steve Goodings before KO was as expected. Late. (After 12 hours sleep. More on him later.)

Non-league, South Bank Cuaco Reserves, were OTFC Is opposition for the day and Tiffs started well. Good inter-play up top between MBP and Gorge Al created a chance and VC Forsyth had a wayward shot helpfully deflected on to the bar. The resulting corner led to a strong defensive header, up and over from the VC. Tiffs were generally on top. That was, until a soft free kick decision offered SBC a sniff. With Rory somehow unable to contend with the 7 SBC players he was asked to mark, SBC took advantage. 0-1.

The first half ebbed and flowed, and a set piece of their own led to Tiffs’ equaliser. A gem of a delivery from 7-man Sadler (no reference to the above event) planted the ball on the nugget of Captain Marvel Dicky Bostelmann. Bullet. 1-1.

The second half started slow for OTFC. Tiffs needed an impact player. Someone to step up and take control of the game. Steve G heard the call, saw his moment and gloriously rose to the challenge. 15 minutes of slick link up play between Steve and SBC’s strikers resulted in SBC taking complete control of the game. 1-2, 1-3, 1-4. (the author acknowledges that there may have been other contributing factors leading to each of the listed goals, but is uninterested in the details).

Tiffs did manage to pull one back with 20 minutes to go. A well weighted through ball from Matt H allowed Dave to run on and slot the ball pass the 7 ft 3 goalie. Sadly the comeback ended there and other than a further 33 off side decisions being given against SBC, and the Gavin and Stacey inspired SBC striker channelling his inner-Kanu, the game ended on a whimper.

Seb Rose picked up the MOTM award for his solid performance despite the result: