Office FC 6-3 Factory FC
(Lloyd 4’, 12’; Aylmer 9’; Hobart 38’; Thorpe 40’, 46’), (Price 2’, Dicken 13’, 15’)
Office FC Claim Victory in Close-Fought Match
Now into its third iteration, the Office v Factory series is generating a bit of a reputation. Each game is seemingly harder-fought, keener in its contest, and significant in its result.
With one win apiece to their name, the build-up to last Friday’s game was bigger than ever with both sides desperate to claim bragging rights in not only the game, but in the series as well.
Capturing the attention and imagination of the footballing world (probably), the spotlight was firmly on the two teams and the pressure was ramping up nicely: who would cope with the attention, and who would crumble?
With an immaculate Harborough Town FC pitch providing the stage, the time for talk, was over.
Calm before the storm.
Given the importance of the game, both Managers (Archie Willis and Joe Duval) had put in significantly greater preparation to ensure their sides’ readiness. Formations had been set, a fairly rudimentary tactics board had even appeared in the office, and incredibly, both sides took part in an actual warm-up on this occasion, both squads had clearly learned lessons from the previous games.
Given that fact, would the approaches differ this time around? Or would we see another similarly structured chapter in this particular story? Previous matches had been a great example of energetic youth vs more reserved experience, with keenly contested games decided by moments of real quality, what was to follow would be anyone’s guess.
Best laid plans.
A high press about to be sprung…
Willis had hoped to see a tight game, in an attempt to nullify the running threat of the Factory ‘Falcons’, but what he saw in the first 10 minutes was anything but.
In fact, the first 15 minutes saw 6 goals, with the opener only taking two minutes to arrive in somewhat bizarre circumstances.
This arose when defender Richard Moore chose a fairly baffling time to alter his footwear. Baffling because at the time, Alex Price had been intelligently played into space by Duval, and Moore at this point was the last line of defence. Given that Price was top scorer in these games with four goals in his two previous encounters, the outcome was inevitable, with a rasping finish giving the onrushing Richard Watts no chance in goal.
This goal was the first in a frenetic period, with Joe Lloyd the next to get in on the act. After winning a throw just inside the opposition half, Jamie Thorpe spotted a run in behind by the loping Lloyd (not hard given he is 6 foot 6), and duly delivered a long-throw that was expertly guided into the bottom corner.
Shortly after, Seb Aylmer fired a hopeful but accurate effort toward goal from a tight angle, where goalkeeper Quaid Rimmington delivered his best impression of having “cat-flap-ankles”, and could only watch as the ball sailed into his far corner.
The Office team then extended their lead to 3-1, when the effervescent Lloyd beat the keeper to delectable dink over the defence by Chris Whittle to roll into an empty net.
This stung the Factory team into action. In the centre Price and Nye Dicken were exerting their influence, combining nicely with Harley Gibson to move the ball quickly and effectively, leaving the Office team chasing shadows. This sustained pressure resulted in two goals in as many minutes for Dicken, who finished with aplomb on both occasions after being put into space by Duval and Reece Wilson respectively.
Only 15 minutes gone and the score was already 3-3, with the momentum swinging many times for the remainder of the half.
Managing momentum.
Half-time, when it came, was a relief to players and managers alike. The game had at this point been played at an unforgiving pace, with both sides working extremely hard to create a foothold in proceedings.
The managers’ team-talks were polar opposites to each other.
Duval was pleased to see an open game, suiting his side’s high-energy approach. Willis on the other hand wanted more control from his side.
It was the decision to alter the shape in the Office side that would prove to have a telling impact on the end result.
Whittle had spent a majority of the game stretching the game as centre-forward, with numerous runs in behind providing an outlet for his side and these were interspersed with a number of efforts on goal from quite literally anywhere on the pitch. He was moved into defence to partner club stalwart Simon Hobart, and together they provided a solid foundation for their side upon which their forward players could rely and build.
This benefitted the likes of Scott Imlay perfectly, who began to exert a greater influence upon the game, threading passes and moving their opposition neatly. Both Paul Spencer and Rich Moore were beneficiaries, with shots on goal well saved by Jamie Paterson. This pressure culminated in a wonder-strike effort from Imlay, who, apparently not dissuaded by his teammates’ shouts of “don’t shoot”, met a floated cross perfectly on the volley from well outside the area and saw his effort saved, but only just. This clearly inspired Youri Tielemans to try something similarly spectacular for Leicester City the next day!
This is not to say that the Falcons were out of it, far from it. In fact, they responded by somehow increasing their work rate, Reece Wilson and Quaid Rimmington, in particular, covering huge amounts of ground, meaning the dangerous Price, Dicken and Duval could offer a severe test to the Owl’s defensive unit, who benefitted from a couple of strong saves by goalkeeper Watts.
A late flurry.
It seemed that no side could break the deadlock, with nearly 20 minutes passing without a goal, and it took a moment of real quality to change the complexion of the match.
Hobart burst from defence, carrying the ball like a significantly taller Lionel Messi, playing a smart one-two with Imlay, before beating the defender to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper. In a display of composure that I would not have believed had I not witnessed with my own eyes, Hobart rounded the beleaguered keeper, before finishing calmly off the post with his weaker foot and wheeling away in celebration, his arm windmilling furiously like a throwback Mick Channon.
With 38 of the 50 minutes passed the Falcons needed a reaction, and threw everything at the Owls. But with a solid defensive unit screened by the ever-combative Tim Sneath, they stood firm, restricting their opponents to long-shots, with Jamie Paterson trying his best to drag his side back level from increasingly unlikely positions.
This all-out attack policy lead to gaps on the counter attack, and with the game drawing to a close, these were exploited. Firstly Jamie Thorpe rushed from midfield for Joe Lloyd to return the favour with a long-throw in behind the covering defence, before tucking into the far corner, before scoring a solo effort a few minutes later, beating the last defender and placing a shot into the keeper’s near post.
6-3, final score.
All for a good cause.
As always, this game was played in fantastic spirits with players, managers and spectators from all across the business coming together to toast the winners, commiserate the losers, and raise funds for patron charity Wishes4Kids.
