Unbelievable!

Last Sunday we played the final game of the season. We had little chance of winning as our opponents were the # 2 in our pool. In fact we expected a heavy defeat.

 We had achieved the assignment given to us by the Haackey Bestuur of maintaining a 3rd Klaase Competition standing for season 2010/11, so we could rest on our laurels and just enjoy the final game. Our opponents, however, still had it all to play for as only 3 points were separating the top 3 teams. The pressure on them to beat us was enormous.

Realising that an attacking game would be fruitless I opted for a defensive line up. Attacking play would be opportunistic but not at the cost of creating a hole in our defence. Basic tactic of our game was that if we were in possession of the ball our opponents could not score.

The Haackey Girls picked up their sticks, put in their gum-shields, gave a battle cry that awoke the Gods and presented themselves upon the field of play for the start of the game. To be honest the look of determination on their faces was a little scary. They fought hard, defending multiple short corners but also managed to play a few attacking skirmishes into the opponents defending circle. Play of the 1st half was made by Yara Schoenveld as she made an unbelivable lunge behind our keeper stopping the ball just before it went over the goal line and then cleared it to the sideline.

At the pause the score was 0 - 0 and the Haackey Girls came back to the dugout for refreshment and the half time talk with big grins on their faces. They all knew that they had at the very least played an outstanding 1st half. Could they hold it together in the 2nd half? I gave encouragement and praise plus a few individual pointers but for the rest there was not really much to say other than that we would maintain our defensive approach to the game.

The teams took to the field for the start of the 2nd half and our opponents came at us hard and fast looking to achieve a quick goal but we were ready for them. Again the Haackey Girls defended multiple short corners and fought for every metre of advancement on the field that could be achieved.

An unbelievable miscommunication by the opponents umpires resulted in a goal being disallowed! The ball bounced off of a Haackey girls foot just outside of our defending area onto an opponents stick and she took the ball into the circle and scored a goal HOWEVER ........ Whilst one umpire had given advantage allowing the game to play and awarded the goal  the other umpire had blown for the foot-foul a fraction of a second earlier. The time was stopped whilst the umpires discussed how to proceed. The goal was disallowed and a free hit awarded to the opponent which was defended and cleared. I cannot even begin to understand the frustration of our opponents at this point.

13 minutes left on the clock. The Haackey Girls were beginning to look extremely tired but battled on. The time on the clock ran down very very VERY slowly until eventually the final whistle was blown. End result 0 - 0. There was a stunned silence on the field. Haackey had achieved the unbelievable!

I really felt the disappointment of our opponents as they had fought hard all season but in one 70 minute period had effectively lost their chance of promotion into the National 2nd Class Division. They still have an outside chance but it is in the hands of another team who must lose next weeks game.

Without doubt the "Player of the Match" award must go to the Haackey Keeper, Anne Robertus. She played the game of her life and without her outstanding performance our opponents would have scored multiple goals. She defended her goal area with all the ferocity of a Lioness protecting her cubs.

Now ........ 6 weeks rest and then pre-season training!

Many Thanks to all of our supporters this season and also to all of our 'Mini's of the Week". See you next season!