Annual Hotel Telemark – Freeride Republic Invitational Football Game

8 April 2008 - Match Report by Ralph Corner

 

Hotel Telemark 2 – The Freeride Republic 2
(Hotel Telemark won 4 – 2 on pens)

 

 
Bragging rights were yet again up for grabs in the now annual end of season football match between The Hotel Telemark and a team of Freeride Republic Representatives.
 
The two sides lined up cheered on by a capacity crowd of wags on the wide expanses of the Bozel pitch which looked in great condition despite a dubious weather forecast. The two sides were led by Kenny ‘I’ve still got it ‘Murtagh and Ralph ‘Bling ‘Corner.
 
After last years controversial 3- 2 result the slightly hung-over Hotel Telemark side faced a highly motivated Freeride side out to avenge last year’s unjust defeat. This year there would be no Russian linesman to help out the Team Telemark with goal line decisions so Team Freeride went into the match confident of avenging last years defeat.
 
Team Telemark despite appearing slightly worse for wear after the Charity Ball came out of the blocks much quicker in the first half with Oz Deano causing the Freeride defence plenty of problems with his Steve Mcmanaman style dribbling. Midfield supremacy was established for the Telemark by the sterling work in midfield by Chef Dean and Kenny Murtagh. Up front Jackos old fashioned centre forward style foraging was also causing the Freeride defence plenty of headaches.
 
The Telemark took a deserved lead when Kenny Mutaugh split the Freeride defence with a Beckham style precision cross and Oz Deano finished coolly to put Telemark one up. This goal seemed to galvanize Team Freeride who fought their way back into the game through the promptings of Phil Badger and Hucksters Franks ‘Jon Barnes ‘style sweeper play.
 
Tom from Ski Magic missed a clear cut chance from a Ralph Corner cutback from the right wing and then almost conjured up an equalizer himself with a Van Basten style swivel and volley which was tipped just over the bar by Rich of Ski Magic. Down the other end Team Telemark missed a succession of gilt edged chances to sew the game up at the end of the first half but Ski Magic DJs Bruce Grobellar style goal keeping kept the Telemark strikers at bay.
 
On the stoke of half time however Phil Badger of the Freeride Republic sporting a Chris Waddle style mullet equalized with a 25 yard curling shot to leave the scores level at 1-1.
 
The second half began brightly for Team Freeride whose superior fitness levels and slicker passing was beginning to tell. However against the run of play Team Telemark took the lead again. Controversy struck this fixture once more when with a strong whiff of handball burly centre forward Jacko brought the ball down a goal mouth scramble to tap the ball home to give the Telemark a 2 -1 lead. Team Freeride then launched a wave of attacks in order to grab an equalizer.
 
The midfield trio of Hucksters Mark, Frank and Tom were proving particularly effective against the tiring Telemark defence. Chance after chance went begging with Ski Magic’s DJ in particular guilty of some glaring misses in front of goal. Tempers began to flare in the middle of the park as Team Freeride skipper Ralph Corner was unjustly booked for a foul on Kenny Murtagh who appeared to make the most of the challenge with a Klinsmann style dive.
 
The game became stretched in the last third of the match as the fitness levels of both sides began to tell. Both Jacko and Kenny Murtagh struck the woodwork for the Telemark before Hucksters Frank struck a richly deserved equalizer for Team Freeride to send the game in a dreaded penalty shoot out. Harry of the Telemark could have won it at the death when he found himself clean through on the break yet somehow managed to put his shot wide with the goal gaping.
 
In the ensuing shoot out early misses by Team Freeride proved decisive as the Team Telemark ran out 4 – 2 winners with skipper Kenny Murtagh converting the winning spot kick. In the end though football ran out the only winner as Team Telemark took the trophy for the second year running but both sides gave 110 per cent in a pulsating clash and clearly this game will go down in the annals as an all time classic.
 
Man of the Match. Chef Dean – As voted for by the wags.
 
Thanks to everybody involved in putting this event together including Ref Yan, Ski Magic, Hucksters, The Freeride Republic, Hotel Telemark and course... The WAGS.

 

Kenny taking the winning penalty

 

 

Chris Waddle alive and well in Bozel

 

 

Kenny holding the trophy aloft

 

 

Winners Hotel Telemark Celebrate

 

 

page last updated 16/04/08

 

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