Rovers' winter training regime has already started in earnest
Despite goals from Nathaniel Golbaniel and professional Norwegian Vegard Nordheim, Melchester were unable to take any points from their final tie before the winter break against free-scoring Galaxy Brno (Conceded 37, scored 915). However, despite finishing the year on a 7-2 defeat, as the Rovers jump into their thermal undies and fluffy slippers before settling down in front of a roaring fire with a hot mug of cocoa and a labrador, they can be pleased with their progress so far in this, the Brnensky Svaz Malá Kopaná Division 2(b) of Death. Indeed, before disappearing off to hibernate with a bucket of fried chicken, 2 litres of Fernet and some specially imported Russian "Adult Interest" magazines, The Rt. Hon. Roy Race was moved to release a statement:
"Let's face it, to reach the midway point in our very first season and find ourselves in the top five, well we've done marvelous. To be fair, its took us probably this first half to get our game together, playing together and adjusting to the pace of the league, and all credit to the lads, they done wonderfully well.
"Its also worth pointing out that so far no team has really dominated yet, up to this point, at this time - the top spot has kept changing hands, which means it anybody's guess who'll finish there, so why not us? I'm not saying it'll happen, but then again its not impossible, nothing's impossible in football - well, some things are impossible of course, you cannot change the laws of physics, but if we could, that would certainly stand us in good stead, but even if we don't, we have to feel we can, and I believe that that kind of belief is what is crucial if we are to believe in our belief that we can do it."
With almost all the '09 fixtures played, Melchester can look forward to beginning the 2nd half of the season from a position of strength
The story of the stats so far:
Goals:
Nordheim Vegard 11
Kimbrell Colin 10
Smith Matt 7
Pagliaro James 4*
Davies Ralph 3
Golban Nathan 2
Smith Robin Melchester Rovers 1
Zschach Christian Melchester Rovers 1
*Controversially, Kimbrell claims two of Pagliaro's goals are actually his, and are therefore under investigation - although many suspect this is just another case of the Americans popping up at the last minute and trying to steal all the glory from the Brits.
Goals from The Corner Spot:
Smith, Matt 1
Yellow Cards:
Costea Iulian 1 (General Dirtiness)
Smith Matt 1 (Over-exuberance)
Zschach Christian 1 (Being a touch too Teutonic)
Měšťánek Martin 1 (Saying pico just a little bit too loudly, a little bit too often)
Holland Paul 1 (Kicking a fat man rather than wasting energy trying to go round him)
Finally, the joy of having reached midpoint without having embarrassed themselves is tinged with sadness for Melchester Rovers with the news that Herr Golden Ball himself, Christian Zschach, has played his last game in the iconic red and gold hoops, just as I've learnt to spell his name. With a shot so hard he could make balls travel through time and score in previous games, a long throw that struck fear into opponent's hearts, and the ability to dance like a chicken, Chris will be genuinely missed by the rest of the team, and we all wish him well.
Once A Rover - Always A Rover