Record Breaking Rowe Inspires Fever to Victory
The last league meeting between these 2 teams saw Fever, then known as Groove hit double figues as James Merritt's 4 goals inspiring a 10-1 victory. With Merritt gone and Groove long gone, Fever fans couldn't be wrong to hope for a similar score against the division 2 new boys who unconvincingly sealed the 3rd division title in the Spring 2013 season. Dennis Byrne would be hoping for his men to fly straight out of the blocks if they are to improve on last seasons 3rd place, and a pre season which saw 14 get put past INT's, HBC reduced to pieces and a convincing loss vs Phoenix, it would be correct to say that the boys are already on form.
A new season wouldn't be complete without new additions to the side with Japanese ex under 18's international, Naoto Oishi coming into the side looking to add more to the Fever flanks. Younes Er Rajfi, a defensive centre midfielder was brought in, along with Koreans Yeong Hyeon Lee and Chan Sung, who is more than expected to give long serving Goalkeeper Andrew Ritchie a run for his money this season. Captain Pusnik is still around despite a proposed transfer overseas still being on the cards to an unknown club, and Danny Kempson who made such a massive impact at right back last season was playing in his last game for the club, and was handed the captains armband.
With a squad of 20 players, and an issue of shirt clashes, the men in black became the men in orange having to wear training bibs, with many Fever playing still fearing a clash with the black and orange of the bulkers. Referee Craig Branch got the game away with Pusnik getting the first touch of the new season and the first 30 minutes were more than uneventful with very little to report on. Fever guilty of missing countless chances and looking more desperate than anything. A lack of composure seemed to be getting the better of them on the small pitch at SNU and almost all the half was spent inside the Bulkers half, with the hosts struggling to get anywhere near the ball.
It appeared that at 0-0, the Bulkers fancied their chances, especially after Dan Lappin was forced off injured after 13 minutes, which will almost certainly rule him out of the Hammer game next weekend. Words were had by Byrne, and changes were threatened. Carl Garthwaite had looked the most alive of all 11 men on the pitch, the real animal coming out in him battling all over the field and being unimpressed by some of the motivational communication going on on the pitch.
It appeared that at 0-0, the Bulkers fancied their chances, especially after Dan Lappin was forced off injured after 13 minutes, which will almost certainly rule him out of the Hammer game next weekend. Words were had by Byrne, and changes were threatened. Carl Garthwaite had looked the most alive of all 11 men on the pitch, the real animal coming out in him battling all over the field and being unimpressed by some of the motivational communication going on on the pitch.
As soon as the second got under, Fever looked more alive, but it was a chance by manager Byrne that changed the whole dynamics of the game. Japanese superstar, Oishi was to make his debut, making way for Andrew Muir who had injured himself in the warm up vs Phoenix last week, and the old niggle came back to haunt him. Wilding was forced to play at left back, a position in which he thrived, with Fever having 2 creative wide men on the pitch in both Oishi and Pina to inflict damage onto the hosts. Straight away Oishi looked alive, being found on the left flank where he beat his man and marked his debut with a fine finish to put Fever ahead and to etch his name in Fever folklore.
Within minutes, Fever were straight at Bulkers and won a clear cut penalty for handball in the box. Fannin was the brave man to step up with penalties having gone horribly wrong for Fever at the end of last season, and he buried it with a well taken penalty. That was to be his last action for the half as another new boy, catching the attention of so many in the warm up, Younes Er Rajfi pulling on the black (and orange) of Fever to cap his debut in centre midfield. Danny Kempson and Richard Pina linked up well with each other, more so as the game went on ripping the right side of Bulkers to pieces at time, Kempson beating 3 men and attempting to line himself up with a shot to sign off in style.
Alex Rowe who dominated the league goal scoring charts last season found himself getting into the game more and more dropping deeper to help the 5 men in midfield, and it paid off as he continued where he left off last season in fine blistering form making it 3-0 to Fever.
Bulkers, who were so full of hope were falling apart and in danger of getting a real hiding. It wouldn't be a party without the long serving Welshman who had been guilty of a couple of misses earlier on, but soon got himself on the score sheet with a fine run by Garthwaite to the byline, squaring it across the area and his right foot buried the ball past the helpless Bulkers keeper, 4-0, 3 points in the bag.
Minutes later, Rowe found himself in possession, bring the ball in the air, taking another touch, and a 20 yard half volley sent the bench absolutely wild. An absolutely stunning finish and at 5-0, there would be no way back for any team in the world with the way Fever were playing. Simon Williamson was absolutely solid at the back, with Chan Sung behind him putting in a great league debut. David Pegg in his favoured holding midfield role was guilty of some reckless passing across his own area, with Sung saving him from the hair dryer from Byrne. With Garthwaite still dominating the game, it was the 2 new boys who were making the best impression on the fans, with Oishi beating players for fun and displaying some subliminal touches, and Er Rajfi dinking the ball over players heads time and time again, dying to get on the score sheet. He saw a rocket of an effort superbly saved by the Bulkers keeper, with Pusnik's perfectly directed diving header, destined to his the back of the net, producing a Banksesque save from the keeper who tipped it out for a corner.
Within minutes, Fever were straight at Bulkers and won a clear cut penalty for handball in the box. Fannin was the brave man to step up with penalties having gone horribly wrong for Fever at the end of last season, and he buried it with a well taken penalty. That was to be his last action for the half as another new boy, catching the attention of so many in the warm up, Younes Er Rajfi pulling on the black (and orange) of Fever to cap his debut in centre midfield. Danny Kempson and Richard Pina linked up well with each other, more so as the game went on ripping the right side of Bulkers to pieces at time, Kempson beating 3 men and attempting to line himself up with a shot to sign off in style.
Alex Rowe who dominated the league goal scoring charts last season found himself getting into the game more and more dropping deeper to help the 5 men in midfield, and it paid off as he continued where he left off last season in fine blistering form making it 3-0 to Fever.
Bulkers, who were so full of hope were falling apart and in danger of getting a real hiding. It wouldn't be a party without the long serving Welshman who had been guilty of a couple of misses earlier on, but soon got himself on the score sheet with a fine run by Garthwaite to the byline, squaring it across the area and his right foot buried the ball past the helpless Bulkers keeper, 4-0, 3 points in the bag.
Minutes later, Rowe found himself in possession, bring the ball in the air, taking another touch, and a 20 yard half volley sent the bench absolutely wild. An absolutely stunning finish and at 5-0, there would be no way back for any team in the world with the way Fever were playing. Simon Williamson was absolutely solid at the back, with Chan Sung behind him putting in a great league debut. David Pegg in his favoured holding midfield role was guilty of some reckless passing across his own area, with Sung saving him from the hair dryer from Byrne. With Garthwaite still dominating the game, it was the 2 new boys who were making the best impression on the fans, with Oishi beating players for fun and displaying some subliminal touches, and Er Rajfi dinking the ball over players heads time and time again, dying to get on the score sheet. He saw a rocket of an effort superbly saved by the Bulkers keeper, with Pusnik's perfectly directed diving header, destined to his the back of the net, producing a Banksesque save from the keeper who tipped it out for a corner.
5-0 at half time, and it should've been more. Byrne made the changes with Garthwaite being replaced by , Pallos coming on for Pina, Yeong making his debut, and mystery man, Jeremiah Bae coming on and new boy joining from Ewha, but then sensationally sold after the game having made a transfer request, Han Ben, aiming to make his mark.
A new look Fever couldn't keeper up the tempo of the team who had been at it for 60 minutes, and it took a great corner from 40 year old Hungarian veteran Pallos Levente, which found Bae's head, which then found the back of the net. A well deserved goal by the man who has had to bide his time, and at 6-0 there were no signs of giving up yet.
The scoreline seemed to be pleasing Byrne who decided to get experimental and brought the midfield duo of Fannin and Garthwaite on at centre half, returnin to a 4-4-2 formation. Oishi found himself commanding the midfield and Er Rajfi was getting closer and closer to marking his debut with a goal. It wasn't until when Pusnik came back on partnering Pallos up front that Fever looked like scoring, and somehow, his first touch of the ball since coming back on bounced off the post. Not his day. With the final whistle looming, Bae found Pusnik in the box who expertly turned his man, and guided a perfect rocket of a shot from the outside of his left foot through the keepers legs to round off the game.
A final score of 7-0 sees Fever in second on goals scored with Celtic having punished an understrength Uzbek earlier in the day, but next weekends opponents, Hammer, are not to be taken lightly.
Man of the Match: Carl Garthwaite
A new look Fever couldn't keeper up the tempo of the team who had been at it for 60 minutes, and it took a great corner from 40 year old Hungarian veteran Pallos Levente, which found Bae's head, which then found the back of the net. A well deserved goal by the man who has had to bide his time, and at 6-0 there were no signs of giving up yet.
The scoreline seemed to be pleasing Byrne who decided to get experimental and brought the midfield duo of Fannin and Garthwaite on at centre half, returnin to a 4-4-2 formation. Oishi found himself commanding the midfield and Er Rajfi was getting closer and closer to marking his debut with a goal. It wasn't until when Pusnik came back on partnering Pallos up front that Fever looked like scoring, and somehow, his first touch of the ball since coming back on bounced off the post. Not his day. With the final whistle looming, Bae found Pusnik in the box who expertly turned his man, and guided a perfect rocket of a shot from the outside of his left foot through the keepers legs to round off the game.
A final score of 7-0 sees Fever in second on goals scored with Celtic having punished an understrength Uzbek earlier in the day, but next weekends opponents, Hammer, are not to be taken lightly.
Man of the Match: Carl Garthwaite