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Lewes Bridge View tournament

Lewes Bridge View tournament

Gavin Shepherd15 Jul 2015 - 07:07
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The new TK Max; why substance wins over style; and the banning of trampolines.


A wet day in Lewes in mid-July. 8:15am to 1:46pm to be precise. Summer football tournaments are meant to be all about the picnic rugs, suncream or sunburn, ice cream and hotdogs.
This one was different, but no less fun. OK, slightly less fun, but the players loved it nonetheless. What's not to love about group stages, mini-leagues, knockout rounds and cup finals all in the space of a morning.
The drama started the night before when James Nally lost a fight with a trampoline and ankle-twang meant he was out of the tournament before it had begun. Jim suggested post-natal skin cream might help but a sprained ankle doesn't heal (!) overnight, so it was Thomas Klyne to the rescue. With less than 12 hours notice, our new keeper was in Lewes, kitted up and ready for battle.
This was also to be Ezra's last day with us, as he goes to join a new team, and we wish him all the best of luck.
The group stage had 6 teams, some new to us, and some old friends too. We started with the confidence of a team used to winning games, and won 2 then drew 1 of our opening 3 games. Ezra playing as striker for the day getting goals in the 1-0 wins against Monty Villa and Saltdean and Olly snatching a late equaliser in the game against LBV Pumas. With Bear and Thomas S rampaging down the flanks, and Barney controlling the middle like someone that controls things quite well; we had balance, flair and pace to spare. Thomas Kilmartin and Olly alternating at the back gave us a solid base, and with neither having to take a turn in goal we could sometimes push Olly into midfield. Lex provided the deft passing and increasingly tough tackles that were needed to beat teams from higher divisions.
Looking good and top of the group, we went into the big derby game with LBV Orange with lots in our favour. A 9-3 win for us in the last game of the season was probably all the LBV manager needed to motivate his boys in their team talk. Despite a strong start from us, we were hit by 3 breakaway goals and our run of zero defeats since 7th December was over. In truth we looked like a team not used to losing, and not used to another team getting some sweet revenge over us. A few heads needed lifting for the final group game against the classy division 1 team of Hollingbury Hawks, who were playing just the sort of effortless pass and move game that we like to see. We were back to our best, and leading 1-0 with the clock ticking down. A win would see us into the cup knockout and a draw see us into the plate semi. Hollingbury got themselves an equaliser, and had it not been for Thomas Sherlock making 3 super tackles and blocks late on, we may have lost.
So a semi-final against Style Soccer, and a chance to mix it against the swaggering, apparently stylish division one team.
Within 2 minutes it appears their style is "robust". There are other words for it, but let's just say the referee got plenty of whistle practice. With the clock ticking down to a penalty shoot out, Bear was hooked before penalties and Lex got back onto the pitch to put in a wickedly powerful far post cross that Thomas S bundled into the net. 1-0 to the Hawks and justice was done. Into the final, bruised but smiling.
Sally H, on her birthday and sporting full waterproofs was quite literally living the dream that is youth football.
Saltdean, who we had beaten in the group stage, had made it to the final as well, and when the boys found out, well let's just say they were extremely confident of lifting the trophy. You know what's coming next don't you? Despite assurances from coach and parents that this is a different game and it won't be easy, we looked like we expected to win. We did dominate proceedings for 7 or 8 minutes, but couldn't find the breakthrough and when Saltdean counter-attacked in numbers we were sunk. a 3-0 loss and we picked up our runners-up medals and applauded Saltdean, who were in fairness a good sporting bunch.
To sum up, lot's of highlights of this brief summer tournament season, but for me Thomas Kilmartin's defensive dominance has been a joy to watch. He is full of the sort of grit and commitment that makes a good defender. But he can play too, and never concedes possession cheaply. He's taken some hard knocks form frustrated strikers who just can't get past him, and yesterday a concussion from a bang to the head meant he missed half of the final.
He, along with the emerging Thomas Klyne in goal will be hereafter known as TK Max, a strong defensive wall that very few will fancy their chances against.
Enjoy the summer, see you again when it all kicks off in September.
Gav
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