Vatican City Rovers A Catholic football team playing in the  Christchurch Christian Soccer League Match Reports (a.k.a. "The View from the Back")

Match Report: 15 June 2002 - Vatican City Rovers vs Lamb of God Crusaders

Result: 3 - 0 to VCR

This game was played in very cold and wet conditions, but VCR were able to again put their passing game together and struck in the first few minutes through Nigel M.  The next 100 minutes were scoreless, although VCR had the better possession and more opportunities.  Eventually Nigel scored again, followed by a great strike from Nick in the closing minutes of the game to wrap things up at 3-0.

Match Report: 1 June 2002 - Vatican City Rovers vs Dad's Army

Result: 3-0 to VCR
Match Report Pending.

Match Report: 18 May 2002 - Vatican City Rovers vs Reformed

"The Game in the Eyes of Ru"

10am Kick off. We started with the breeze behind us only to regret this in the second half having to run into the driving rain. The Reformed Church had come from two wins and were eager to extend their winning streak, but within the first 20 mins Dean lashed out to slot an excellent goal. There answer was devastating as they slipped pass our defenders to even the score. With a few changes in the ranks we where able through Mike to take the lead once again. To the reformed Church credit they evened the score before half time.

Our Captain/Coach's speech at half time increased our intensity both in defence and attack enabling us to hold off the opposition, while taking advantage of a hand ball in the penalty box for Dean to bang home the winning goal. The win was made more rewarding by knowing that Snip had referred without any undue leniency to either party  - irrespective of any comments made.

Final Score: VCR 3, RC 2

Match Report: 4 May 2002 - Vatican City Rovers vs Avonhead Angels

Result: 3-1

Match Report by Mike F

Like sands through the hour glass so were the minutes of our match. Like crystal clear water searching for the sea so was the progress of our second game.Water comes to us from the heavens and so we turned to the vaults of heaven for our inspiration. We began like  the mighty Waimak pouring through the hapless gravelly defence of Avonhead. Such a quiet friendly stream is no match for the North Canterbury river. So we poured through and with the Avon failing to produce enough strength we breached the banks and easily slotted our first goal.
 
However, once more tributaries were added  to the Avon the mighty Waimak had to work harder. It appeared that as the sun beat mercilessly down the Waimak began drying up and lost course and attempted to head north, south, east and west all at the same time.This of course resulted in severe confusion and a great inability to get our ..... together. A much needed replenishing was called for. Water from the heavens would have been gratefully received. None came so we battled on in the tropical conditions.
 
After what only seemed  a few minutes Michael almost required intravenous water  and breathing apparatus. Needless to say he is working on his air filter and intake and the system should be cleaned out before the next round. However, he did recover suitably to score our third goal. The goal of the match though goes to Dean of the strikers who finished a well worked move with precision and power. It was comforting that at a time when the river had almost dried up we could call on our underground artesian wells and follow the river to its goal - the great ocean of life. Well, the sea.
 
Unfortunately the river had almost run its course by the end of the game and our defence had turned to gravell. The Avon came flowing through and netted a consolation goal.

It is here that I  finally turn to metaphor. A team is  a river. For it to flow smoothly it must know where it is going - to the sea. And it must know how to get there. It is vital that the river be constantly fed with springs of life and if some tributary or little way is drying up a bit then that way needs to have a little rest and watch the farmers go by in their 4wds. Then it can continue its journey. Also sometimes a river needs to be helped about how to be river. A river can't just be a river; it learns and matures as it flows along. So we need to learn where we want to go and how to get there and how to turn gravel into concrete to stop the other rivers trying to get through.
 
All up, not a bad result eh!  Player of the day goes to Graeme for his stirling work in midfield. Other fine contributions came from Dean of the strikers and Dean of the defence.
In our next game may we with joy sing as a mighty river that wonderful hymn
" There's a river of life flowing out through me. Makes the ball to move and my feet to run. Goes through others goals, gives us lots of points. There's a river of life flowing out through me"!
 
GO VATICAN CITY ROVERS!!!!!!!!!!.
 

Match Report, 20th April 2002

Weather: Cloudly about 14 degrees with small breeze
Against: Hornby United
Outcome: Loss 5-3
Goals: Nick(2), Danny
Assists: Dean M(cross)
Great Plays: Two goals saved off the line, excellent use of Subs, no
injuries, Brendan locking himself out of his car.
Details: In the first half Hornby got away to a two goal lead due to
unfamilarity with teammates and the handball rule. 3-1 at halftime. We
dominated the second half with all round good play to come back to 3
all with minutes on the clock. Unfortunate to concede two late goals.

Report by Dean S.

The Ansvar Cup is an annual end-of-season 7-a-side tournament, where each team plays several games, each with 7-minute halves.  Vatican City Rovers had a fairly laid-back approach to this tournament, and the games were played in a good spirit and were very enjoyable.  Our heroes scored only one goal in their 5 games, but it was a very classy one, scored, fittingly enough, by Brendan, the team's mastermind, driving force, and dynamic vocal powerhouse.  It came from a throw-in to Jacques, played nicely back to Dean (one touch), passed nicely across the top of the penalty area to Brendan (one touch) and then slammed home into the goal (one touch again!) from just inside the 18-yard box.  A suitable end to a great first season!

And now, the team retires to its summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo, to train and rebuild for next season.
 

Goals (Assists)	Brendan (Dean)
MVP1 Points
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 1
Lamb of God Crusaders: 1

Your normal reporter was sadly absent from this final match of the season (due to a conflicting commitment to another sport).  However, we do have a reliable second-hand account of events.  Our heroes were largely in control of the game, and had a significant number of chances to score, but were consistently denied by the LOG goalkeeper, who had a sublime game.  VCR's single goal came courtesy of Mike F, in what was a good last game of the season for the team.
 

Goals (Assists)	Mike F
MVP1 Points
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 4
Avonhead Angels: 1

This game was played in fairly wintry conditions.  Things did not look too good for the VCR team right from the start, as the team was short by three players two minutes from kick-off.  The last-minute arrival of Chris, Nigel and Matt Y was greeted with relief but also the odd cry of derision from the rest of the team.

Avonhead Angels played with their usual somewhat unpredictable style, making it difficult for the Rovers to settle in to a standard offensive pattern, but persistence up the front paid off when Roo mis-kicked a cross from the right wing and sent it into the goal.  This was the first of three rather unconvincing goals from our heroes: Mike put away a loose ball that bobbled his way in the penalty area, and Jacques got the telling final touch to a goal mouth scramble.  In the meantime, Avonhead had scored a quality goal when one of their forwards took on two hapless VCR defenders and beat them both on his way to scoring.  The final goal of the game came from Mike, a classy goal where he latched on to a through ball and was able to take on the Avonhead keeper one-on-one.
 

Goals (Assists)	Mike F (2); Roo; Jacques
MVP1 Points
MVP2 Points	Chris, -5; Matt Y, -5; Nigel, -5 (all for lateness)
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 1
Hornby United: 2

This was a very physical but fair game, and closely-contested between teams that were quite evenly-matched.  Both of Hornby's goals had an element of luck (or possibly sublime skill) to them, but Hornby deserved the win nonetheless (although not by much!).  Hornby scored first, from a cross near the top of the penalty area that resulted in a chipped shot over the head of the VCR keeper (Kieran, filling in for Snip for the remainder of the season), who was standing forward of his line anticipating a more direct shot.  The goal was partly the result of some patchy marking from the VCR defence.

The second goal of the game went to VCR, when Dean retrieved the ball off a Hornby goal kick.  He played it to Karen, who delivered it back for a nice 1-2, setting Dean up for a power strike from well outside the Hornby penalty area.  Half-time score: 1-1.

The second half was particularly hard-fought, but Hornby managed to score toward the end of the game, with a shot very similar to their first goal.  Final score 2-1 to Hornby; again a fair result from an enjoyable game.

Offensive MVP points go to Brendon, who distinguished himself with a consistent series of intelligent one-offs and through balls from the right wing.  Brendon was also the target of a lot of throws from Kieran, the VCR goalkeeper.  When asked why this was the case, Kieran pointed out that Brendon was the only one calling for the ball!  So the other reason he gets MVP points is for his unflagging (yet not uncharacteristic) vocalism.

Defensive MVP points go to Marty, who had possibly his best game of the season to date, with a solid defensive performance and, if the ashen cast of his face at half-time was anything to go by, a considerable level of commitment and effort.  Marty also "volunteered" to referee part of the second half, quite a contribution given the very close game and the fact that this is his first season of soccer and his knowledge of the rules leaves something to be desired.  His refereeing was extremely consistent nonetheless, and much appreciated.
 

Goals (Assists)	Dean (Karen)
MVP1 Points	Marty, +5, Defensive MVP; Brendon, +5, Offensive MVP
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 0
Dad's Army: 3

This game started very positively for our heroes, as VCR was able to move the ball around well, playing some of their most elegant soccer of the season.  Unfortunately, Dad's Army was able to score against the run of play, and then move on to consolidate their position.  In spite of VCR's best efforts, Dad's Army denied any Catholic goals and went on to win 3-0.  The game was perhaps more even than the score line would indicate, but Dad's Army deserved the win, in a physical game that was nonetheless played in a very good spirit.

Snip was in excellent form in goal, pulling off two particularly stunning saves in the second half, before retiring with an injured ankle.  She also got to see off a penalty, caused by an unfortunate hand-ball from Matt in the penalty area.  Luckily enough the penalty shot bounced off the upright, directly across the face of the goal in front of Snip, and on towards the sideline without being touched.  Thanks are due to Matthew's guardian angel for ensuring his charge stayed clear of any condemnation.
 

Goals (Assists)
MVP1 Points	Monique, +5, Defensive MVP
MVP2 Points	Dean, -5, late arrival (thanks to a Toy Library detour)
Injuries of Note	Snip, aggravation of an old ankle injury, sadly out for the rest of the season (THSMYWITIH**). Must be something about that field or that opposition that leads to damaged ankles (see Match 2).

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 3
(Dean M: 2; Michael F: 1)
Reformed Church: 1

This game was played on the first day of university holdays, and both teams suffered from a shortage of players.  Snip the goalie was still injured, leaving Nigel to bravely assume the role of goalkeeper.  Donning a pair of woolly gloves, he did not even attempt to look the part, but did a great job nonetheless.  VCR started the game with 10 players, but were reduced to 9 once Pete left at half time to catch a plane (as referee, he cut the first half short by a couple of minutes to ensure he was able to make his flight).  The Reformed team, on the other hand, started with 10 but shortly into the first half gained their 11th player.

It was also exceptionally cold, with several players, especially Nigel in goal, scraping themselves on the frost if they happened to hit the ground.

The Reformed were able to score first, pushing forward in numbers and overwhelming the VCR defence.  Michael F equalised thanks to a great through ball from Karen.  Towards the end of the first half, Dean M scored VCR's second goal after carrying the ball up the right flank and, seeing the goalkeeper off his line, slotting it from near the goal line outside the penalty area, in what seems to now be something of a trademark shot.

In the second half the Vatican team played with a lot of heart, absorbing a constant series of Reformed attacks, some more accurate than others.  Nigel got to take an awful lot of goal kicks, and was called upon to make a number of decent saves as well.  VCR were outnumbered 11 to 9, and much of the game was played in the VCR half.  Towards the end of the game however some gaps started to open in the Reformed midfield, and VCR were able to push forward with 3 or 4 players (i.e. half the team).  One of these small counterattacks resulted in Karen bringing the ball over half way towards the left-hand side of the Reformed penalty area.  The defense moved that way in response, but Karen was able to pass across to Michael in support, who then passed it square to Dean, desperately screaming for the ball on the right hand side of the field.  Dean was able to step and shoot, scoring in the top left corner of the goal.

At 3-1 up, VCR had to deal with another series of attacking moves, but there was not enough time for the Reformed team to come back.  Final score: 3-1 to Vatican.
 

Goals (Assists)	Michael F (Karen F); Dean M; Dean M (Michael F)
MVP1 Points	Chris W, + 5, Defensive MVP, for a lot of work defending on the side from which most of the Reformed attacks were mounted.
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 1
(Karen F, 1)
Lamb of God Crusaders: 2

This was an excellent game, very even but with the scoreline representing a fair result.  Brendan, anticipating that some players would be unavailable for the match (due to several reasons, including injury and university exams), cleverly arranged for a number of ring-in players to help out.  His unmatched management skills resulted in 16 players showing up for the game.  A key player out through injury (a sprained ankle caused, not by soccer, but by wrestling with a dog) was Snip, the VCR goalkeeper.  Her position was ably filled by Kieran M, who spent the hour before the game shopping for shinpads and goalkeeper's gloves.

It was a high energy game.  The LoG team coped with this by having players who were reasonably fit.  VCR coped by substituting nearly half the team every twenty minutes.  The game was scoreless at half time, but in the second half LoG opened the scoring with a good running shot from outside the penalty area.  VCR responded through Karen F, with a solid first time strike after a VCR cross was poorly cleared by the LoG defence.  Toward the end of the game LoG scored again, pushing through in numbers and feeding to an unmarked player just inside the penalty area.

Final score: 2-1 to Lamb of God Crusaders.
 

Goals (Assists)	Karen F
MVP1 Points
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 7
(Nigel M: 3; Michael F: 2; Mike M: 1; Dean M: 1)
Avonhead Angels: 3

The Vatican team should have been able to control this game fairly well, but it was not until the second half that things really started coming together, after a few issues were discussed during half time.  It was an unusual game in that VCR had no goal kicks.  The Avonhead team had an extremely high strike rate with their attempts at goal, scoring 3 goals off only 5 or 6 genuine attacking chances.  VCR on the other hand, although scoring more goals, had far more opportunities.

Avonhead scored all their goals in the first half, each one off a fast break.  VCR also scored 3 times in the first half.  The first was from Michael F, carrying the ball down the middle into the Avonhead penalty area and dispatching it past the keeper.  The second goal was from Mike M, a similar move but this time from the right.  Nigel M also scored in the first half.

In the seond half, Nigel managed to complete a hat trick, including one beautiful strike from a turn outside the penalty area.  Michael F was able to put the ball past the keeper again, this time from only a couple of metres out after some slick passing up front.  And Dean M scored after carrying the ball almost the length of the field down the right wing, seeing the Avonhead keeper was off his line, and slotting it past the goalie from outside the penalty area, near the goal line.

There was unfortunately a little bit of needling during the game, and VCR midfielder Peter D was given a (thoroughly deserved) yellow card after a dangerous slide tackle.  But on the whole the game was played in good spirits.  Final score: 7 - 3 to Vatican.
 

Goals (Assists)	Nigel M: 3; Michael F (Karen F); Michael F; Mike M; Dean M
MVP1 Points	Mike M, + 5, Offensive MVP
MVP2 Points	Jacques, -10 for language (double the usual points because it happened at the sideline in front of all the spectators); Snip, -10 for language (after a particular noxious goal was scored by Avonhead); Pete D, - 10 for a yellow card.
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 2
(Michael F: 2)
Hornby United: 5

Another fine day for kicking a bladder about.  Unfortunately for our heroes, a promising start degenerated into a less-than-flattering scoreline.  VCR scored first through a delicate feed from Karen to Michael inside the Hornby penalty area.  Michael professionally dispatched the ball, giving VCR the lead.  Hornby struck back with two goals, one from a shot outside the penalty area that deflected off a defender's hip and into the goal just inside the upright.  VCR scored a second time through a largely solo effort from Michael, driving to a shooting position and again making no mistake.  A good goal tally for Mike so far: three goals from only two games.

In the second half, in spite of possession being shared fairly evenly, Hornby were able to make better use of their chances.  The goal of the game came from a Hornby free kick from several metres outside the VCR penalty area.  The ball went through the goal just beneath the crossbar, and Snip, the five-foot-nothing Vatican goalkeeper, could do nothing in spite of a valiant leap.

As the second half wore on and players started to tire, more and more space became available, particularly in the midfield, but VCR were unable to make effective use of the increasing freedom.  Hornby United came away with a well-deserved victory from a game that was played in good spirit and happily without injury.

Final score: 2-5.
Lesson for the game:  (1) A lack of fitness became apparent, particularly towards the end of the game.  Team members are encouraged to work on this over the next two weeks.  Do some running to improve base aerobic fitness, and check out the fitness page for links to some more detailed fitness opportunities, if you can muster the enthusiasm.  (2) Also need to improve communication with respect to substitutions.
 

Goals (Assists)	Michael (Karen); Michael
MVP1 Points	Dean M, +5, Defensive MVP; Michael F,  +5, Offensive MVP
MVP2 Points
Injuries of Note	None (PTL!*)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 1
(Graham H: 1)
Dad's Army: 5

In contrast to the previous week's summery conditions, this game was played in near-constant drizzle.  VCR had four players away for this game, most of them mid-fielders, and they were somewhat missed.  Vatican City Rovers had a very poor start, watching 3 goals go past them in the first 20 minutes.  Two of these goals were skilfully done, but the third was scored from a cross that was surreptitiously taken while the defenders were waiting for a throw-in to be called.  Bit of a mixup there.  Play the whistle, lads.  The defence, although somewhat slow learners, were fortunately not completely stupid, and eventually hit upon the appropriate defensive strategy, which basically involved shutting down the two chief Dad's Army attacking players.  This put an end to the opposition's scoring spree.  It was hard work throughout the game though as Dad's Army had overall better control of the midfield.

At the other end of the paddock the offence were making their presence felt with a number of good attempts at goal, in particular with a couple of solid strikes from Nigel which were only kept out by some excellent Dad's Army goalkeeping.  Nigel also received a solid strike; a firmly-struck ball to the nose which put him out of commission for the last part of the first half.  Fortunately the team, which until that time had only 11 eleven players, was boosted by the arrival of Jacques, who had courageously roused himself from bed and been transported to the park by team truancy officer Julie Casey just in time for Nigel and his nose to temporarily retire.

The score was 0-3 at half time, although VCR now felt they had the measure of the opposition.  This confidence was borne out by the next goal, scored by Graham one-on-one against the keeper after a brilliant turn and through-ball from Karen.  Dad's Army scored again though when they managed to press an attack in more numbers than VCR could mount a defines against.  They scored a final somewhat lucky goal from a scramble off a corner.

Final score: 1-5.  Dad's army deserved the win, but VCR felt the margin was a bit unjust and are looking forward to the next time the two teams match up.
Lesson for the game: the importance of controlling the midfield.
 

Goals (Assists)	Graham H (Karen F)
MVP1 Points	Reuben R, +5, Defensive MVP; Karen F and Graham H,  +5 each, Offensive MVP; Matt O'C, +8, playing on in spite of injury
MVP2 Points	B Malone, -10, Curious Brumbies/Stevie Wonder Moving Block; Jacques D K, -10, over-cautious weather forecast interpretation
Injuries of Note	Matt O'C, sprained ankle (fortunately it didn't slow him down until after the game). (THSMYWITIH**)

Result:
Vatican City Rovers: 5
(Nick G: 2, Nigel M: 1, Mike F: 1, Jacques K: 1)
Reformed Church: 4

The first game of the season was played on an ashphalt-hard pitch, baked that way by a lengthy Canterbury drought.  Some commentators picked the event would be an epic match in the spirit of the 16th century polemic that sealed the rift between Geneva and Rome.  Others thought it would simply be a fairly average start-of-the-season game of footy.  The latter were more correct.  In unrelenting heat, the two sides battled out what turned into something of a goal-fest.

The first ever Vatican City Rovers goal was provided courtesy of Nigel, who ran on to a long throw-in and slotted the ball past the Reformed keeper.  The second goal came thanks to a cross from Michael on the right wing, knocked home after something of a scramble by token separated brethren representative Nick.

The Reformed Church scored from a well-executed shot (or possibly a mis-cue) that sent both the marking Vatican defender and the goal keeper in the wrong direction.

The half time score was 2-1 to Vatican.  In the second half, with the sun at their backs, Vatican scored twice more, through Mike, running in from the left wing, and through Nick with his second goal, a powerful first-touch strike from a right-wing cross.

Vatican then let through a couple of softer-than-necessary goals, one from a too-delicate pass to the keeper from Karen that was seized upon by a Reformed forward (that pass will be remembered come the end of the season!), and another caused by a lack of communication between Vatican goal keeper Monique, and the two central defenders Matt O and Dean.  Again an opportunistic Reformed forward was on hand to claim the goal.

At 4-3 with the situation less than comfortable, Vatican scored again from a goal kick by Dean that sailed over both half way and the Reformed defensive line, and which Jacques, with a good turn of speed, was able to run on to and put away.

The Reformed team had the last say though, with a well-struck goal from outside the penalty area.

Final score: 5-4 to Vatican.
Lesson for the game: don't mess around at the back.
 

Goals (Assists)	Nigel (Dean); Nick (Mike); Mike; Nick (Matt Y); Jacques (Dean)
MVP1 Points	Dean, +5, Defensive MVP; Nick, +5, Offensive MVP
MVP2 Points	Lateness penalty points were waived for this game, seeing as it was the first game of the season. Brendan, -10, Off-colour language. Karen, -5, Less-than-vigourous pass back to the keeper.
Injuries of Note	Mike, strained quad muscle (THSMYWITIH**)

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