Quinine too cool in Indian summer
Quinine 4 PFFC 1 (cup)
The Red Men returned to Wormwood Scrubs seven days after beating Quinine 7-0, a win which had taken the goal tally between PFFC and Quinine to 49. However, this Sunday, a very different and full-strength Quinine arrived. They had a squad of 15; PFFC were without Damian, James and Will, but welcomed back Ally, Khan and a new player, Ingmar.
The temperature is around 20°C at kick-off, and getting warmer by the minute. Philosophy start in their now familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, and score early on: Matt crosses from the left to Ally, who calmly places the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. The game is fairly tight for the next 20 minutes with PFFC having more of the play, but with Quinine looking dangerous on counter-attacks. Matt doesn’t get the support he needs up-front. Then Quinine introduce a quick right winger who immediately bursts down the wing and slots the ball into the left-hand corner.
At half-time the scores are level. PFFC make a triple substitution and rejig the formation to 3-4-1-2. The reds keep creating chances, but the Quinine keeper is in fine form and denies them any more goals. Then Laurence is injured on the hour – replaced by Andy – and the game changes in the space of five minutes. Quinine attack, the ball breaks outside the area and a shot is deflected off Andrea, leaving Kadeem no chance. Philosophy attack immediately and the Quinine keeper makes the save of the game to keep the scores at 1-2. Quinine push forward once again, Owen tackles their lively number 20 in the area and the referee awards a penalty. Kadeem saves it, but the referee orders a retake as he hadn’t blown his whistle! Number 20 picks himself up and retakes the penalty; once again, Kadeem manages to get a hand to it, but this time the ball goes in. PFFC are now 1-3 down, and players are starting to wilt in the heat while the opposition are rotating their subs to rest players. The number 20 keeps causing problems and, with five minutes to go, he beats two players and scores again.
This was a strange match and didn’t seem like a 1-4 defeat. The heat, a cruel deflection and a twice-taken penalty all took their toll. We played well but didn’t score when it really mattered, which proved to be the difference.
PFFC (4-2-3-1): Kadeem: Andy (Michele 45'), Ingmar, Andrea (c), Owen; Simon, Ally (1); Lawrence, Leandro (Khan 45'), Rob (Henry 45'); Matt.
Subs: Khan, Michele, Henry