Matchstick Men
Xpert League, Xpert League
Manager: TonyBrazil
Panic in the streets of Matchstick
Eric Renton trots off with a quizzical look in his eye as he is subbed at the start of the second half. Tom Adair then casts daggers at his manager as he too is subbed off for the mighty Ebbe Egeris. At the post-match press conference Matchstick Men manager Tony Brazil explains what was going through his mind at the time of those substitutions, "pure panic my friends, pure panic.
 
"We'd just been beaten here at the Estadio Lucifer in the league by Weekend, which shocked everyone associated with the club. Three days later we were due to face Bucuresti again here but this time in the cup, knowing two losses in a week could emotionally destroy us.
 
"The cup game started with us peppering Bucuresti's goalmouth but unable to make our attempts pay off so at half-time it was still 0-0 with our slender lead from the first leg looking even, um, slenderer. With a heavy heart, I sacrificed the kids and risked the big guns getting injured in order to make it through to the next round of the cup with some sort of soul-satisfying win."
 
Brazil spits contently, "the match trickled away to a 0-0 conclusion as my 'run riot' tactics fell flat; they even allowed Bucuresti two late goal attempts. Those weren't pleasant viewing I can tell you, but the result means we progress to the next round. More importantly we didn't lose. Panic over. For today."

2019-08-04 19:17 1299 Views Reporter: Sayan44

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