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In a fitting finale for two F&O legends; 12 men laid it all on the line in a throwback match of the ages.
With caps, age and weight being bolstered to an all time high, could these warriors go to the well one more time. The answer was an emphatic yes; as all hell broke out at King Alfred on a windy and wet evening. With a liquid spillage from the squash game making an area near halfway precarious , it took just 2 minutes for Beebee to turn and fall. Seconds later when the game stopped for White to use his towel, the retiring Bahrami enquired whether it was slippery! With Blues starting slightly better, it was a goal we've seen countless times over the past 7+ years, with Brenchley rolling his man and firing in bottom corner. Blues were now starting to play well and Brench went agonisingly close to doubling the lead, by hitting the post on two separate occasions. Ambers were struggling, but Virgo pulled his team back into it with a lung busting run and smart finish. The game turned at this point and now Ambers held the advantage with some good build up play. 1-1 become 3-1 very quickly, with a disputed Beebee effort which looked like the side netting, but was actually top corner past Brench in goal. As we neared half time Ambers continued to dominate and from memory we went in with the scoreline at 5-2; Matt Green scoring his first of three to reduce arrears. Chaz took on the Ridley role of taking his time to reappear for half time as Ambers looked to see out the game. Hope sprung eternal as blues got the first second half goal for 5-3, but fell for the sucker punch when White fired across the goal for 6-3. Ambers continued to assert their advantage and hit the post on no fewer than two occasions. Blues looked down and out but managed to claw their way back into the game and suddenly we were back at 6-6; Brenchley turning provider this time laying in Curry, Mitchell & Eason to notch. At the other end Beebee was creator supreme with an energetic and classy display upfront. From here the lead went back and forth with knockout blows exchanged as we went into the final keeper changes. Both Brenchley & Bahrami had shot their bolt, so needed a second stint in goal. With 5 to go and the score at 8-8 Brench decided he wanted one final hurrah on pitch and Prosser replaced him between the sticks. With one last effort, the leading scorer in F&O history summoned up one final piece of brilliance, as he again got himself half a yard and thrashed one in past a despairing Bahrami in goal. With around 3 minutes to go it was a case of Blues hanging on as Ambers laid siege. Last ditch challenges and blocks were going in, but finally in the 3rd minute of injury time, Virgo found room on the right hand side of the area and calmly slotted in bottom corner for his forth or possibly fifth and a twenty second MOTM award. That signalled the end of the game and both teams were happy to accept a draw. A brilliant match on a special occasion. MOTM - Kev Virgo - with four votes joins Mark Brenchley on 22 MOTM's - An action packed display from 300 cap+ veteran
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