University Stallions 4 V Stokes Valley 2

An injury ravaged Stallions side hit the jackpot in 'Vegas' with a convincing 4-2 win against the league's cellar dwellers at Delaney Park.

The Stallions were without a number of key players for this fixture with first team regulars: Sawyer, White, Lister and McCleary all out with a variety of lame excuses. Aitofi and Rafa Walker were both carrying niggles, however the Stallions were able to draw on their reserve side and call up Logan Mead, Dan 'the man', and Hamish from the Cricket Stallions academy. The club's youth programme clearly bearing some fruit.

To cut a long story short (because let's face it, these reports are getting unnecessarily long) the Stallions were on top from the start and had the better of play for about 83% of the match. Mead opened the scoring in the 5th min with a 'Nanny' (you know, the Man Utd player) like chip from inside the box, wide right. Lloyd "Lamp's" Davies doubled the lead on 15mins after a mazy Mann run down the left wing. Mann beat four defenders who were blinded by his bright green boots and stood it up for Davies who timed his run perfectly and placed a shot past the keeper from the top of the box.

A goal mouth scramble and a rare defensive lapse from Aitofi gifted the home side a lifeline on 35mins, and the Stallions went to the break at 2-1. The lead should've been much more however, the Stallions wasteful infront of goal at times....unacceptable really.

Stallions piled on the pressure after the break and were rewarded in the 60th min when midfielder Panda (not his real name...) curled a low shot to the right of the keeper for another trademark goal. You just cannot keep this man out of the game!

The Stallions 4th came shortly after from a corner which the Valley keeper called for, came for, and missed completely, leaving Davies a simple nod in for his second of the game.

Stokes Valley pulled another back after a 'pull back' took a deflection and fell nicely for the striker who finished well, placing a shot through the legs of: Aitofi (not his fault), Fogarty (partly responsible), and Kilford (poor positioning.)

4-2 final score which flattered the home side somewhat. Stallions remain second on the table, still in touch with the leaders, and once again boasting the league's tightest defence.

Attendance 10 (Thanks to the Stallions "Bring yer babies day")

Stallions Fantasy vs Stokes Valley

In the absence of Aaron and Corey I've decided to take on the role of fantasy points this week as third best in the EPL fantasy (what an honour). I also took the liberty of allocating the bonus points. I thought 3 and 2 was pretty simple, but struggled between the goal and assist of Gus, the all day running and work of Dan, and the solid D of Tangihaere and Joe. In the end I went for Gus, as he would have a had a few more assists if I had a better touch and finish. I also decided not to allocate assists for Gus' and Panda's goals as A) I forgot who gave them, and B) like Panda's goal last week I considered them individual goals and so assists never really came into it.

Paul 1 (60+ min, 2 goals conceded)
Joe 1
Tangihaere 1
Jason 1
Dan 2 (60+ min. Even though played in D for a bit, was playing in mid when goals were scored)
Panda 9 (60+ min, midfield goal, 2bp)
Lloyd 15 (60+ min, 2 midfield goals, 3bp)
Rob 2
Spencer 2
Graham 5 (60+ min, assist)
Gus 10 (60+ min, forward goal, assist, 1bp)
Rauru 2
Hamish 1 (playing <60 min)

No idea of the total points but I'm gonna guess Lloyd is probably setting up a nice lead.

Coming soon to a blog near you...

From L-R: Willy, their drunken mate, Jules & Glenn are all but a myth

After the first fine session of the year it was decided that we should put together a family tree in preparation for the Stallions 10 year anniversary in 2011. For the people who check this blog, in order for us to make sure that we have the right information about you, can you comment on this and state what year it was you entered the team for the first time and who it was that was responsible for being you into the team (that way we can beat up whoever it was that brought Hodges into the team...wait...wasn't it Aaron? I guess though without that we wouldn't have such mighty Stallions as Spencer, Paul, Nick, Lloyd and...well...*cough* Paddy *cough*).

Once we get the full list together we will select a Stallions All-Star team ('we' being whoever stays at the pub long enough after the fine session. None of this democratic voting crap) . It's actually mostly been written but we have missed a few gems in amongst all the coal so let us all know.

Heard on the Sidelines # 7

'Willy has become a myth' - Bob Hinckles

A Beautiful Mission - Bringing the world's game to the Coast

Natives kick an inflated takahe stomach around Weka Park


Well,

Difficult to know where to begin.

After 7 seasons doing what i do moderately for the stallions i am now sharing my gifts with the Kapiti Coast United 3rds (just doesn't have the same ring as the Stallions does it?).

OK Initial observations.

Sand glorious sand. Our home ground Weka Park is an absolute peach laid on the sandy soil of the coast its flatter than one of Patrick's crosses, yet has nice lush green grass, and the weather has been brilliant negligible wind and picture perfect weather.

The clubrooms next to the ground(!) are well frequented, stocked with pies and homemade goodies, beer on tap and a great family atmosphere ----


so far all is more than satisfactory.

I don't mention the quality of the football merely because its not really about the football anymore, is it? I mean honest ...its about community, fun and fresh air.


mmmm lets just say that in this league you have more time on the ball yet less options.

Highlight so far taking to the field against the Levin Masters who had an average age of (without exageration) 17. Clearly life is cheap on the Coast.

I said to the lads, i said, "not so much Masters as Prefects!" heck we all laughed.

There is a young chap in our team which makes recovering Nick White look like Mal Meninga.

There is a guy in our team who makes Mal Meninga look like Nick White.

I have scored 1 goal from 2 games in the outfield (yes from my head which when you think about the human body holistically is just an extension of my toe (as in toehacks).

No one could quite work out how i had headered the ball into the goal from such an acute angle.

I just shrugged my shoulders and said "Hey it's a kind of magic"

A Chip off the old block

Ben H's partner on facebook:

'For his first game of football Louis received Best Player of the Day certificate - 4 goals today!!! Not bad for his first time on the pitch...he was wearing his French football gears!!!!'

Cheers Annabel, that made my day.

Whats worse - a Hodges who can score goals or a Hodges in a French strip?

Stallions Fantasy vs Lower Hutt

Well 1-1 may have been a good result for a top of the table clash (but god damn we should have won it), but doesn't do much for fantasy football. A lot of 2 pointers this week, except for stars Panda (storming game, great goal) & Tangihaere (huge game, totally shut down their star player and ran the show - especially for someone who apparently could run but not kick!).

Discussion in the pub about whether there was an assist for Panda's goal, which no one could recall so wasn't allocated. Let us know if you think otherwise ...

Paul 2
Tangihaere 5 (+60, 3bps)
Jason 3 (+60, 1 bp)
Paddy 1 (Doing his boots up)
Corey 2
Joe 2
Graham 2
Lloyd 2
Aaron 2
Spencer 2
Robin 2
Panda 9 (+60, midfield goal, 2 bps)
Rauru 2
Tristin 2

I'm out next week, so Corey, as the second best Fantasy expert in the team, perhaps you should calculate some points. Vs the worst team in the grade - fantasy returns ahoy! Except for me ...