04.09.00
Small Girls, Jumpers for Goalposts…
Lucy Condon at the Power League Stadium, Colney Hatch
It may have been a far cry from the Stade de France but England’s draw with France on Saturday night paled into insignificance on Sunday afternoon as the MediaTel women’s five-a-side team lifted the much coveted NABS/Mediaweek Football Challenge Cup. There was dancing on the streets of Colney Hatch (and Highgate, and Camden…) when the novice side beat off stiff competition to win the championship in a breathtaking penalty shoot out against a much-touted BMP DDB side.
Whilst the boys side exited the competition after the group games, their matches were not without drama and controversy. Simon “Razor” Martin intimidating one News International striker to such an extent that the poor boy had to leave the pitch, fearing for his life, whilst veteran midfielder Derek Jones outran a tight Loot defence to power home a winning goal.
In the girls championship, super-sub Alison Chadwick’s metamorphosis into a master of the midfield coupled with the defensive finesse of Emily Penny laid waste to JC Decaux and, in a series of high scoring games, MediaTel proved their mettle to secure a place in the next round. In the semi-final against CIA Medianetwork, Jo Brind created a series of valuable crosses helping Jillian Morrison to find the back of the net in a match which saw the MediaTel defence untroubled.
MediaTel captain Punam Vohra was confident going into the final, despite her team having previously lost two earlier games against BMP. Victory looked uncertain though as BMP cut through the MediaTel defence to score after just a few minutes but in a move reminiscent of Michael Owen’s dash through the Argentinian defence in St Etienne, Jenny Milton smashed home an equaliser in the dying minutes forcing the game to a nail-biting penalty shoot out. Vohra had insisted on penalty practise back at the training ground so the MediaTel girls had few problems finding the back of the net. The real hero of the hour though was ‘keeper Lisa Butcher, overcoming injury to deny BMP vital shots and take the penalties to sudden death. Victory was within MediaTel’s grasp as Butcher dived valiantly and got a glove to the BMP shot leaving Penny to casually slot in the winner, much to the delight of MediaTel’s many loyal fans.
It was a long and exhausting day for all those involved, from the pre-match vodka and cokes to the victory celebrations which will no doubt continue for several days to come. MediaTel MD Derek Jones was heard to comment “I’m so pleased with the team, they’ve really done us proud…erm, Lisa – could you just move to the left a bit, your logo is partially obscured by Lucy’s arm”
