Steam’s five a-side team narrowly missed 3 points yesterday in a fast and furious game that ended 3-4.

The 5 minute warm up (5 minutes more than every previous week) proved most beneficial as Steam quickly took the lead with Nick Warry finding the back of the net. Letting the ball do the work, accurate passing and good ball speed meant we were able to pace ourselves’ most necessary given we had no substitutes. Steam had overcome the 1^st mental hurdle; knowing that each player had to play a full 30 minutes on the pitch!

Unfortunately, being in a state of shock that we were in fact in the lead, we conceded a goal pretty quickly making the scores level again. However, our first few minutes had inspired us and another series of calm, calculated passes up the field ended up with a beautiful one-two movement with skipper, Nick Warry, providing an assist almost as good as the goal itself that Mark Woods smashed home. Steam took the lead again. And then it was level.

After some crunching tackles and great blocks from the Graham Granger and Tim Beer to keep the score line level for sometime, Mark Woods decided it was time Steam took the lead again. A great individual run round a couple of players and calmly chipping the ball passed the goalie meant Steam went into half time 3-2 up.

With tensions high at the start of the second half, more crunching tackles went in. One particular tackle which the young, quite incompetent ref, managed not to see left Tim Beer on the floor and claiming “I’m f**king injured” whilst team mate Graham Grange replies “No your not” and immediately passes him the ball and then realized that actually he was.

After holding the lead for quite sometime, the pressure mounted and as the opposition rotated their numerous subs, continuously bringing on fresh legs which fought against our tired ones (which would have been even more tied if it wasn’t for Steam’s team Dextrose eating session in the changing room before the match) there were more and more shots on Steam’s goal. Despite wearing his glasses for the 1^st time this season, Chris Golding still couldn’t seem to see two particular shots as they flew passed his hands and into the goal.

Now the tension was at its highest all game. The ref, having lost all control of the match by this point, decided he ought to send two players into the sin bin, for as long as he felt necessary. Off went Mark Wood and a player from the other team. The game went on regardless, with just 8 players on the pitch.

A minute before the final whistle, 10 players back on the pitch, Steam knew they were running out of time and had to produce something special. Yes! Great work upfront and Steam were awarded a penalty. Having rested his legs (and the fact he is Steam’s best player) Mark Woods steps up to the spot and kicks the ball in the back of the net! 4-4, a draw! No, the whistle blows and the ref wasn’t ready! He demands a re-take. Unfortunately this time Woods finds the post and the final whistle is blown. The final score 3-4.

Steam defeated, but a massive improvement on previous weeks and some real progress made and exciting times ahead if Steam carry this momentum forwards.