Super-Subs Sink Tigers to win League Title

London Tigers – 2 Gower Phoenix – 3

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Dan – Dens, Luke, Thompo, Ell – Jake, Lucas, Jon, Miles – Muffdog, Fleshie

The Phoenix are champions of Division Two in their inaugural season as they showed tremendous depths of character, spirit and strength in overcoming 2nd place Tigers away from home. After being 2-0 down ten minutes into the 2nd half a power play from the substitutes ensured an extension to the teams unbeaten run this season with the only 3 cup exits being sudden-death penalties.

The team welcomed back Miles on the right and Muffdog upfront. However traffic issues meant that the starting 11 was slightly altered from the start with Luke Hill stepping into the centre back role that he has developed this season. On a hot and sunny morning playing on a hard and flat surface Phoenix looked the better team right from the off. Decent passing combinations seeing Hanna and Miles both go close with efforts just inside the box. However the team was prone to a degree of drift in the centre of midfield that led to occasions when the Tigers found space to run directly against the untested partnership of Hill and Thompo – both defenders having to make crucial tackles to prevent Tigers running clear.

Indeed the main problem for the Phoenix was lapses in concentration with Ell passing Dan into trouble and misplaced passes allowing Tigers to get into a decent crossing and shooting position – a last ditch Dens challenge pushing the ball against the crossbar. Then with one minute till half time a long-range effort out of nowhere from the Tigers proved too hot to handle and Dan could only block the ball and watch with despair as its wicked spin took it into the net to make it Tigers 1-0 up at half time.

Cue a roll of the dice and a triple substitution with Toby, Bolu and Alex replacing Jake, Fleshie and Luke respectively. Phoenix began to attack with more purpose in the 2nd half with excellent work from Miles seeing his shot crash against the bar. However disaster struck as a Tigers counter-attack and a couple of missed challenges saw the oppo take a 2-0 lead.

Time to step up.

The rest of the half was characterised by some excellent work from Toby and Bolu who proved too much for the Tigers defence. First a Toby free-kick was palmed out by the keeper and turned in by a lurking Bolu; 2-1. Then Toby slipped a pass through the eye of a needle to Bolu who calmly equalised at 2-2. With Miles incapacitated up front with an injury Phoenix were effectively down to ten men – but with 15 minutes to go an Adam Lucas pass was collected and excellently finished by Toby to make it 3-2. The defence held firm with good work in the middle from Muffdog and assured blocking from Thompo and Alex and the game was won.

So Phoenix are Champions and so far the Gower FC club has won 3 out of the 6 possible pieces of silverware this season. Am dead chuffed by the team dynamics and can honestly say that everyone has done their part in the success of this team effort. We have 1 or 2 more games to go, medal presentations date T.B.C and a team dinner is also in the pipeline so watch this space!

Men of the Match – Toby and Bolu: 3 goals and 2 assists between them they changed the face of the game with a strong, skilful and dynamic 45.