Classics v Burnaby
James Hill
15th. Dec. 2019

Conditions: Fine but cold

Players on duty: Chris Arcari, Jimmy Butler, Jason Clegg, Gene Crowley, Jeff Dickson, Brian Griffiths, Wayne Ferguson, Sherman Foster, Daryl Lawrie, Gordie Macklin, Alan Massender, Dave Moore, Pat O’Krane, Jerry Szakun

Coaches on duty: Brian Griffiths & Sherman Foster

A game to remember...
The Classics took to the field in their unfamiliar yellow shirts as Burnaby clashed with the regular white tops. The first three throw-ins were awarded to the opposition and Brian Griffiths showed his consistency by throwing them all to the opposiing players - someone forget to tell him we were in yellow! The line up featured Pat O'Krane in the unfamiliar role of left back - the coaches logic was that he would be too far away to argue with the referee. However, he did confess after the game that he didn't shout at the ref as he was 'our' ref. The first shot of the game came in the tenth minute from a Burnaby player but it was way over the bar. Jeff Dickson lost the ball just outside the penalty box and a grateful attacker struck a well placed shot just inside the post which Jason Clegg could not reach; it gave the visitors an unexpected early lead. On the quarter hour mark Jerry Szakun chipped a through ball which ricocheted off the keeper onto a defender and was heading for the line. Quick as a flash, Jimmy Butler was there to prod the ball over the line for the equaliser. It was one of the easiest goals to score. Minutes later, Gordie "Escobar" Macklin, still strutting his fake tan and Columbian mustache, was involved in a tackle in the centre circle which resulted in a perfect impersonation of Anna Pavlova in the dying swan ballet - only in slow motion!

Macklin made amends with a long range shot which brought out the best from the visiting keeper, who had to dive full stretch to divert the ball for a corner. Butler rose to reach a centre from the left but the keeper scrambled down to gather the ball at the near post and stop the Classics from taking the lead. In the 25th, Butler struck a shot through a ruck of players and, again, the keeper punched the ball away for another corner. Sherman Foster (Stitch) met the resulting corner but it was headed off the line and then cleared after a pin-ball moment in the Burnaby defence. Foster conceded a free kick on the touch line to thwart a right wing attack but, from the resulting kick, a Burnaby attacker stole in to flick the ball past Clegg to give the visitors the lead. On the half hour mark, Szakun chipped a delightful ball through for Butler to latch on to, which he did to perfection to level the scores with a tap to the left of the keeper. Just before the half time whistle, Gene Crowley handled the ball and conceded a free kick. The Classics formed a wall and the first shot hit Dave Moore who, according to some, screamed like a little girl. The ball bounced back to a Burnaby man who fired goalwards. The ball deflected off the wall and past a befuddled Clegg. The Classics left the field at half time wondering if another seven goals against were on the cards.

In a second half, resembling last weeks debacle, the goals began to flow again - at both ends. The Classics smartened up their game and played an intelligent formation which did not allow the Burnaby players to exert any authority on the game. The visitors were trying to outmuscle the Classics but they held their strength and were resilient enough to soak up any rough housing dished out by the visitors. Clegg was playing a great sweeper/keeper role and he was first to many through balls to snuff out any chance of 'route-one' football aspirations that the visitors might have had. Wayne Freguson pulled the Classics back on level terms minutes into the second half. Macklin then put Butler through who stroked home his hat-trick goal to take the lead at 4-3. The match winner was scored by Ferguson, his second of the game, when he headed home from a right wing cross by Butler, after a move started by Macklin. Burnaby pulled back a consolation goal near the end of the match but it was too little, too late as the Classics held on for a very useful victory. It was a great game to be involved in by two very good sides.

Final Score: Classics 5 Burnaby 4 (2-3)

Stats
Crap Award: Jerry Szakun