March 18, 2009
Atlantic Star 5 Paramount All Stars 2
Coen
Maguire 2
Marler
Dickens
Holian
Coen
Heffernan
Fraser
Thorburn
Doherty
Dickens
Coyne
Leach
Maguire
Marler
Jack
Glasgow
With second place confirmed that it was settled by head to head rather than goal difference, Star had the advantage going into this game in the knowledge that the result didn’t matter. However somebody should have informed the Stars players that as they were in no mood to allow their five match winning streak crumble to dust.
Holian, in management again, decided to rotate the squad and started with himself in goal, Coen and Heffernan at the back, Thorburn and Fraser in midfield and Doherty up front. But Star proved that their squad is as much an equal of the usual staring five when they dominated proceedings and deservedly went ahead through a great strike from Coen.
It didn’t start too promising when Holian cleared under pressure straight against the air conditioning unit and a yellow card was automatically shown. Doherty had to make much to the bemusement of him and the amusement of the on looking supporters, Doherty clearly thinking that his announcement to part ways with Harry’s FC having bearing on the situation. However the players on the park held firm and they were to go unpunished. In fact it was Doherty’s reappearance that pulled away a defender which allowed Coen his opportunity to give Star the lead.
Paramount had decided to drop their female contingent for this rematch and were to prove that they were nobody’s mugs as they set their stall out to play physical. Neutrals may have been tempted to say that with the defence of a Kings referee included in their ranks (albeit on crutches) they were to test their fortune with some over the top challenges in a combat to their much better opposition.
Star raced into a three goal lead, to be extended to four after the break with goals from Maguire, Marler and Dickens.
The more the game wore on the more ill feeling broke into Paramount’s play, but in a cruel twist of fate it was Star getting the wrath from the referees and seeing the cards and offences ruled against them. Murmurings had it the week before that Paramount had used similar tactics against Brickhouse Devils which had almost led to combat outside of Kings after the match.
If Star were to remain unphased unfortunately it wasn’t to show as with the advantage of numbers Paramount pulled a deflected goal back. Incensed Heffernan, the youth team coach, lost his head and saw the first ever blue card to be shown to a Harry’s FC player.
Paramount struck again, a second deflected goal beating Coen who had taken over the number one responsibilities at half time. Skipper Glasgow quickly called a time out to relieve the pressure, in the knowledge that too often Star can lose games firmly in their grip.
With a tightening up Star again took control and Maguire secured a three goal lead with another convincing finish. It was the goal that killed off the opposition and Atlantic Star saw the remaining minutes through safely.
An excellent finish to a much better second season for the Harry’s FC indoor side means that they finish second and will face either PWC or Transformers in the top flight play offs. Whatever happens now is in the lap of the goods but nobody can take away the endeavour and enthusiasm of this team.
