The JP Followers

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On Sunday the 19th of January there was a 5-a-side tournament, a small matter of The Tresham Mini World Cup at KLV

D-Lax's C Team were entered, The JP Followers, fans of the man, The Legend, John Proctor.

Finding fellow fans of John was not a hard task, however, finding people, that could play football was not so easy.  And seen's as Grant was being a 'Go-off ' there was just enough to make a team. 

So The JP Followers were;

After arriving with a minute to spare Chris, Owen and Andy joined the rest of the team just as we were about to go on for our first game.   It was a tense game with both teams unable to really get going, until a few minutes from the end when Mark was body checked, sexually assaulted and sumo-slammed.  The ref gave free kick which Mark took, squaring it to Ben who whipped out a left foot curler into the bottom corner to beat the keeper at his near post.

It didn't take the Followers too long getting into their groove against their second opponents.  After a fairly rough opening few minutes with 'wrestling challenges' and all sorts We thought we were in for a rough game.  But moments later the opening goal came from Ben to settle the side down.  Followed by two more from Mark, both after Great work by Chris down the left.  Even after an over excited pleb came on as sub and scored (albeit inside the area) past Owen, The Followers never really looked threatened, and soon extended the lead with another goal from Ben.

The third group game was against a familiar opponent.  The Followers were quietly confident, but weary as Grant's boys had had a good result against our toughest challengers in the group earlier.  However, from centre, Chris took the ball off Jon Arne Riise, and with a Maradona style turn evaded three more tackles, before sliding a cheeky back- heel through to Mark 1-0.  A second goal followed shortly, Ben scoring for the third game in a row.  Mark carried on the rout scoring before and twice after Chris' first goal the tournament.  Also getting his first in the tournament was Andy who made it 7-0 after the keeper threw the ball out, only to see it hit Andy and go in.  Not down beat, Grant picked up the ball, raced past Chris and Andy to score a consolation.  But it was soon forgotten when Ben stole the show with a top corner beast to wrap the game up at 8-1. 

The last game of the group stage was against who we thought would be the toughest team, both physically and in ability, however it turned out to be a lot easier.  As expected they were a rough team, but were not the fittest, and it seemed like they had spend all their energy in the previous games.  After 5 minutes The Followers were 3-0 up. Chris put the league leaders infront, and straight from the re-start, won the ball and set Mark up to make it 2-0.  Still expecting a close match The followers played it safe, but found space all over the pitch, and soon Chris and Mark made it 4-0.  The win was complete when Andy journeyed up field playing a one-two with Mark and slotting home, a goal Jamie Scowcroft would have been proud of. 

The Semi Final

Due to our group only having 5 teams, there was a gap of about an hour before our semi final game.  Which probably explains why we started so poorly.  In the first few minutes there was an own goal from Ben then we conceded again, to make it 2-0 and it was looking very bad.  But in a matter of minutes, Chris scored either side of Mark to make it 3-2.  After some tense defending, the game ebbed and flowed until Ben stretched the lead with a goal in the right net.  The Followers were assured of a place in the final when a few minutes from time Andy came from the back to rocket a volley right in the top corner.

The Final

The Final was unsurprisingly tense.  The Reccy Hard Boys had won this trophy the last time around, and seemed determined to win it again.  Having watched them surround the ref, complaining of a poor decision in the final group game, and almost starting a fight after the Semi Final, the Followers were not looking forward to this game.  Most of the followers were half the size and we were all half the age of the opposing team, but that didn't seem to bother the Hard Boys.  However after a bit of rough and tumble, the smug goalkeeper was picking the ball out of his net, after Mark eventually got out of Chris' way, his low left foot shot put the Followers 1-0 up.  The Hard Boys were not very good football wise which lead to the Followers having plenty of shots, Chris, Mark and Ben all missing good opportunities.  However, eventually the Followers went 2-0 up, Mark was again involved to set up another goal from Chris' magic right foot.  The Hard Boys pulled one back, scoring from a quickly taken free kick, catching Owen off his line, but as the Hard Boys looked for an equaliser, Chris the fans player of the tournament set up Mark to make it 3-1.