We Are The Champions

 

Methven 4 V Christchurch United Presidents 1

 

They say that learning from your defeats builds strength and bouncing back shows great character, for nothing can taste so sweet without enduring the bitter first.

Out of the darkness, heroes will rise, and legends will be born. To dare is to do…

 

Methven entered last week’s game with every expectation of being crowned champions, having topped the table from day one, but it wasn't to be. Thoughts turned to how this talented team would react to adversity, can they look it in the face with a smile and bounce back, or with a grimace and fail?

This was the final hurdle, but these eleven players were determined to find it no barrier. 

Sun and strong winds welcomed the teams onto the pitch as a large, expectant crowd, hunched and huddled together in nervous anticipation. 

The mountaineers began as they had done all season playing clever possession football, chances were created but not taken. Patience often brings its own rewards however and with thirty minutes on the clock something magical happened. 

The game had been controlled from central midfield with Smith the conductor, orchestrating everything with his typical Hugo, I go pass and move formula. He created the opportunity and touched the ball deftly into the path of Peneycad, moving intelligently into space to latch onto the ball and complete this perfect play by riffling a glorious shot low to the keepers left. The ‘Governor’ could not have hit it any sweeter as the deadlock was well and truly broken, 1-0, time for the cheering to begin, or was it? 

 

Methven had more chances to double their lead but could not complete the approach work, despite Peneycad even having a shot cleared off the line, striking from a tight angle as the interval approached. Now the question was would Methven rue the missed chances to put the game to bed, or would the opposition cause them a nightmare in the second forty-five minutes? 

 

The second half started, and the weather changed dramatically for the worse, with stronger winds, accompanied with slight sleet as if it was brushed off the mountain top. The sun had disappeared and so too had Methven’s hopes of glory when disaster struck as a speculative effort from distance caught the wind and flew into the top corner, leaving the veteran keeper, Wasley with no chance, 1-1. This was classic football and Methven were punished for not putting the game out of sight.

Time passed and once again some were asking would heads drop, but this team are made of strong stuff and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty; when the man giant, Liam Hett was fouled in the box. The cool-headed Jan Luccini stepped up and calmly placed his shot to the other side of the already committed goalkeeper, 2-1. From that point Methven had the eye of the tiger and the heart of a lion as they roared on. Luccini was to add set piece specialist to his already generously skilled resumé. A freekick from the right side was whipped in by the Czech, into the box it zoomed. Many tried but none could get any purchase on the cross, it was not necessary though as it was on target anyway and didn’t need a helping hand as it nestled into the back of the net; leaving the keeper with egg on his face, Methven had cracked it, their opponents were fried, 3-1.

Dynamo was in town the previous evening and in his honour the keeper was tricked a third time by Luccini. This time his in swinging corner was met by the defender’s foot as he despairingly put the ball beyond his keeper, disillusioned by the wand of a left foot from the talisman, 4-1.

The final whistle sounded, and Methven were crowned champions of the league. History has been made with the sealing of their first title ever, since their establishment back in 2008. However, they won’t rest there, marking this day as a stepping stone to achieve greater things. The mountaineers will now look forward to a cup run with the potential of winning the double. Methven football club would like to thank everyone who attended our match on Saturday and hope you were thoroughly entertained.

 

Other Scores:

Methven Reserves 3 V University Magiesterials 5

St. Bedes 0 V Methven 15th grade 12

Hurunui Rangers F.C Hurricanes 8 V Methven 13th grade 2