HOLMES CUP
3rd And Final Leg
VERSUS
Venue: Plough Lane and most of Suffolk!
Date: Sunday 23rd October 09:00
Team News – VCB field an unchanged side and both sides welcome Ladies to the
fixture, in Adele and Nicki, (unlike the premiership) , whilst current cup Holders
GYCC Team manager ‘Big Norm’
, resplendent in his customary
‘Sheepskin and Fedora’, struck Telling changes in the Yarmouth Line up. A mix of
youth and experience was the day’s ‘tactic’, a trial for the youngster Patrick Manning
alongside the inexperienced Josh Carr and young Rob Harlow, was backed up by
the old guard of Ray, Larry and Clive J, to ensure that the ‘Bar’ would not be left
uncovered or exposed after the event. Big Norm’s decision to leave the Yarmouth’s
Top riders, namely Homes, Sandall and ‘Tevez-Turner’
at home, caused
mutterings
through the assembled ranks of supporters, hastily gathered, who
hoped that the Maestro’s Tactics would pay off???
Late changes to the playing surface, caused the VCB grounds man, a late night to
ensure the surface was top notch and easy to dribble round for those fleet of foot,
along with those not as blessed and having to slog round.
Match Day – Both Teams gathered and stepped out to a warm and pleasant pitch,
with slight dampness the only concern. As both Teams lined up, it became evident
that Yarmouth’s superior numbers would play a part in the day’s proceedings
As both teams huddled for the all important pre-match Team talk, it
was quickly noted that the Energy Gels were making an early appearance, ‘this was
going to be no walk in the park’
As Yarmouth gathered
for the hypnotic words of wisdom, the chant of
‘Tactics – Tactics’ rippled through the team (Message to self No.1- Listen when Big
Norm is talking Tactics!)
First Half – The game commenced and VCB’s tactics of putting two upfront and
filling the midfield, quickly became evident, GYCC took time to settle and were happy
to cover the rest of the pitch, Club Stalwarts Clive 1 sweeping up at the back, VCB
playing into the wind, with the league’s top scorers being closely marked, the game
proceeded at a ferocious pace deep into the Suffolk territory. Tellingly the pace was
too hot for some and GYCC’s Match Day ball sponsor Gareth
was lost to an
early bath
Suddenly, attrition within the Yarmouth ranks, needed to be factored in to Big Norms
Tactic’s..........................................
The game ebbed and flowed, and Bungay was the scene for ‘Sweeper Butchers’
finest moment, a glorious mechanical repair ensured that one fellow rider would
continue on, albeit with a few less gears than he left with.
Half Time – Yarmouth’s tactic of allowing VCB to play into the wind worked
well, frustration was starting to show in the VCB front pairing and limited
service had restricted them to a solo effort from Liam. Yarmouth would
hopefully have an easy ride with the wind in the second half and pushed more
troops to the front to marshal the line
Half Time Score – VCB 1 - GYCC 0
Second Half – With Big Norms words ringing in their ear, relayed through their radio
earpieces, Yarmouth came out with a new hunger and threw men up the road, the
two pronged Tactic of keeping the pace high to thwart any breakaway goals was
cunningly matched by leading the opposition in the wrong direction, (a ploy also
being used by the match organiser in the midfield pack !!)
(Message to self No.2- Don’t tune in to Kiss FM and Listen when Big Norm is talking
Tactics!)
The fixture, with an injection of Tempo started to open out and the Yarmouth ‘Sprint
Weapon Tactic’ was starting to unfurl in front of our eyes
(Message to self No.3- Tell the sprint weapons when they are supposed to unfurl!)
And fortunately a late equaliser ensured that the game would be played out to the
final whistle, would extra time be needed past the regulatory 4.5 hours allocated????
A scoring draw was on the cards, VCB having nothing to lose went for the win and
ensured that the game was played out at breakneck speed, with Yarmouth
effectively snuffing out the famed two pronged attack, it was left to lone mazy runs
down the wing from deep midfield by VCB’s Duncan Lines. Yarmouth countered and
from out of the pack stepped forward the ‘Big Guns’
Lewis, to which the home side had no response !!!
Clive B, Jules and
The Yarmouth side ensured that the game was played out and the final whilst blew
after some 2 hours and twenty odd minutes of exhilarating game play, culminating at
the Plough end of the ground.
Yarmouth winning by the away goal rule !
They think it’s all over – it is now !!!, with
Players from both sides trudged wearily from the playing field to do fresh battle at the
in the players’ Lounge
.
Full Time Score – VCB 1 - GYCC 1( Yarmouth win on away goals rule)
We now eagerly await the Gt Yarmouth Borough’s Recognition of the clubs
achievement and the open Topped bus
tour and ‘Big Norm’ bringing the
cup back home!
The Final Words should go to ‘Big Norm’ a moral victory for the
Underdogs, but a crushing victory for the current Cup Holders