Wandsworth Athletic - Champions!

Match Report: Wandsworth Athletic 9-7 BRNO Athletic

Oh wow! Oh wow!! Wandsworth Athletic were crowned champions last night after a thrilling title decider at Rocks Lane. What a game! There were thrills, there were spills. There was a 6-0 lead, there was a last minute winner, and there was plenty of champagne!

The match against BRNO Athletic couldn’t have been a more fitting end to a magnificent season. Wandsworth were phenomenal, out of this world and thoroughly deserved their inaugural league title.

The men in white started this pivotal fixture in clinical and emphatic style too. Focused, yet relaxed, they were first to every ball. The marking was tight and strong. The passing sharp and controlled. The movement swift and intelligent. The attitude first class. Wandsworth defended immaculately, simultaneously ripping through BRNO with incisive counter attacks. After a dubiously ruled out opener, Michel gave Wandsworth the lead. Then he doubled it. Then he trebled it. So fantastic was Wandsworth’s play that BRNO had no answer. Snelling repelled every shot with outstanding goalkeeping. Rickard was a strong as an ox, snapping into, and winning, every challenge. Lewis was of course a relentless engine, and combined this with composed ball playing. Alex Platt was a lion in defence, throwing his body on the line to make block after block. Molaie was everywhere, winning challenges and carrying the ball with aplomb. James Platt was superb in possession, moving the play accurately and driving the team forward. Michel was immovable, holding off the opposition at will whilst firing in unstoppable drives. What a team performance!

And my word BRNO were rattled. They couldn’t handle such a spirited opponent. They began arguing amongst each other and became involved in petty disputes. BRNO’s number 2 was alarmingly flustered by an innocuous trip from Michel, Angry words were shouted. Wandsworth simply smiled and increased the lead, Michel brushing off an attempted foul before smashing home. Molaie brilliantly finished a trademark flurry down the left wing. Then James Platt latched onto a through ball and buried the finish. It was 6-0! The title was heading to Wandsworth!

But BRNO responded, and Wandworth tired. Suddenly it was 6-2. A minute later it was 6-3. Michel made an error. Michel made up for it with another goal. Rickard slotted home emphatically for one more. BRNO kept coming forward. Snelling kept making magnificent save after magnificent save. Alex Platt threw his body in front of another goal-bound effort. The pressure mounted though and nerves set in. Wandsworth were so close, but the clock went so slowly. There were anxious faces and the score became 8-6. Then it was 8-7. All the momentum was with BRNO, who only needed the draw to secure the championship.

Then it happened; the moment of the season. The most fitting climax one could imagine. Wandsworth, physically and emotionally exhausted to a man, launched the move of the game. Oh what football! Cool, calm possession between all the players, frustrating BRNO, before the attacked moved forward. Lewis played the ball to Michel. Michel fed it back to Lewis – there was an opening! But Lewis unselfishly checked back, returning possession to Michel. It looked like Michel would shoot, but he opened his body up tremendously, a la Teddy Sheringham in Euro 96. Everyone looked to the right. James Platt was running onto the pass. Rocks Lane held its breath. Platt checked the angles. Platt crisply side footed the ball towards the bottom left hand corner. The net rippled.

Jubilation. Ecstasy. Victory. Wandworth were champions of Rocks Lane…