Play-Off Day

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Morris! England and OMTAFC!”
Jason Kasler, Saturday 14th May 2016

Saturday 14th May 2016 – a day that shall live long in the memory. Two years since the founding of Old Merchant Taylor’s Athletic football Club and here we were, fresh form our triumphs in the Arthur Dunn cup, brimming with confidence as we strode out on to the hallowed turf at Sandy Lodge.

Due to our success in the cup, the Arthurian League Division 5 playoff couldn’t be played on the same day as the other cup finals. Having heard rumour of the sumptuous facilities available in Northwood, league administrator Matthew Barry, aka Dad, requested that we play the final at our place. The travelling OMATFC army do love an away but a home tie in the final was not something to be sniffed at. We duly obliged, proffering one of the finest post-match teas in the land and many a subsidised beer after the game.
It was one of those glorious May cup final days and it pitted two of the Arthurian League’s arch rivals against each other. The game was not to be played between the best from the north and south divisions but between the two best from the north division following some close ties in the playoff semi-finals and some interesting team selections by one set of opponents, mentioning no names (Oundelians). The stage was set: OMTAFC vs. the only undefeated team in all seven Arthurian leagues, Old Bancroftians AFC.
But this was a cup final; we had no fear having played well against them in our league meetings earlier in the season we were confident that we could get a result with a full strength side out, even with Lewis in nets.

The game started as a nervy affair, two teams who knew each other well battling hard and not wanting to be the first to make a mistake. The OMT setup had been effective all season in getting us this far and it didn’t look like being overturned; a solid spine anchored by the gorgeous pairing of Jono and Jizzer (never wanting to be far from each other’s side), was protected by the wall that is Sergio Sanker in the middle while Katz and Mehta broke up play and hounded the opposition when in possession. Kasler ran the channels up top while our wingbacks and wingers stretched the play and ran at their defence whenever the opportunity arose. It was a solid team performance with everyone working for each other and showing the team spirit that had continued to grow throughout the season.
However, the deadlock was not to be broken before the referee blew his halftime whistle. Captain Kas made some changes to keep legs fresh and make sure we still had plenty of pace and energy to worry Bancroft. And for one final time that season he stirred us with one of his most rousing speeches:
“From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Division 5 Playoff Final day.”

Well that’s how I remember it anyway, he may have just said: “Let’s do this, lads.” But I digress.

The second half was much the same as the first, a tight encounter with few notable chances coming and neither team able to really impose themselves on the game heading into the last 10 minutes. OMT continued to try and press down the flanks and in the 83rd minute won themselves a corner on the right hand side.

Keating jogged over to take it; he arched his back, drew back his arm in his Beckham-esque fashion and whipped in the corner. It had a similar effect to a Beckham corner, although not quite as lofted and more along the floor than Becks; but Philips saw his opportunity. Having not scored with a header all season despite a string of close-calls and glorious chances, he knew that this could be his final chance. With the ball rolling along the floor in front of him he dived to the ground and flopped like a fish out of water, a la John Terry for England vs. Slovenia in South Africa 2010. Or that time he got kicked in the head by Diaby in the 2007 Carling Cup Final. Anyway, it looked like a pretty stupid thing to do, but somehow the Gods shined on OMTAFC once more and he managed to loop his header off the floor and over the onrushing goalkeeper’s outstretched leg, over the line and in…one nil OMT! The celebrations followed but there was still work to be done and ten minutes or so to play.

With the end in sight and glory on the horizon once more OMT shut up shop and were solid defensively. There could even have been a chance for another goal but our attacker was hauled down in the final third and nothing was given despite calls for a possible red or at least a yellow from OMT with the last defender making a rash challenge. The second goal would have gone a long way to settling the nerves of the OMT but alas, it was not needed and the final whistle blew.

OMT were double champions! Clear some of those old rugby trophies away in the clubhouse lads, we’re partying tonight!
Bancroft looked dejected; they’d had a great a season and been worthy competition, some had said they almost felt sorry for them, but they were no match for the OMT when it mattered.

Tea followed by Jaegers, pints, sambucca and tequila in the clubhouse and the end of season awards. There were some notable mentions including the big one for Captain Kas: Most Improved Player. All manner of raucous mayhem then ensued to the now familiar tunes of: “Ole, ole, ole, OMT have won the double!” and “I just don’t think you understand, he’s Jason Kasler’s man, he’s better than Zidane, we’ve got (insert legendary OMTAFC double winner’s name here)”.

It was then off to the glamour of Kensington where our table awaited at Bodo Schluss. Suffice to say I don’t remember too much after walking in there but I do know that Kerins is one of the most polite house guests you can have back at 6am. I’m not sure some in Sweden would agree though…