PEPSI SHOOTERS 0 v 1 HONG KONG REDS

21 October 2006, KO 1pm, Wu Shan Recreation Ground, Tuen Mun

Team: Jolley, Dave Oh, Ian McAlan, James Bullen, Simon Forder, Stanley, John Harvey, Andrew Creber, Dave Navin, Alfie Yeung, Dennis, Mike Wrigley, Tony Stringer & Tony Chan.


Match Report by Dave Oh


On the way there
Like a bunch of Liquorice All Sorts, OLSC met at the Queen’s Pier, Central. Departing @ 11.30am for Tuen Mun we got as far as Wan Chai when we received a call from Wrigley, who had apparently been out drinking on Thursday night and forgot he was playing with us on Saturday!

And so we waited...and waited...and waited...

Eventually, Wrigley did grace us with his presence and we were our way to Wembley...oops sorry I mean Wu Shan Recreation Ground.

Tactics were banned on the coach as Duncan Micallef from Pepsi Shooters
was there. Seriously though, we didn’t have any tactics to begin with.

Jolley provided us with our new, exclusive kits (we were like little children at Xmas unwrapping our pressies).

Team news
The atmosphere was relaxed on the coach despite last month’s mauling from the Germany Supporters’ Club.

We seemed to be in confident mood and rightly so! Among the
new team members we had James Bullen - a Watford supporter (you can can’t have everything) - and Dave ’lookalikey Carragher’ Navin!

Without the retired Roger Shuttleworth in centre midfield, who would fill his role?



Up stepped Tony ‘Alonso’ Stringer and what a replacement! He was spraying balls left, right and centre and that’s not all he sprayed!

Jolley decided to go in goal. It was forced upon him really, seeing as how he had been out until 6am larging it up with Dave Navin! Dave Oh, usually the keeper, had a suspected sprained finger from 10 years ago. Tony Chan had his pre match fag before the game, Creber was already having his banana fetish, Wriggles was doing his ballet warm-up exercises and Ian ’Smicer’ McAlan did his best to follow suit with a pirouette So the formation - well it was 4-4-2, then it was 4-4-1-1, and finally 3-5-2..but who cares?

The Match
Straight from the kick off, Pepsi were at OLSC like a shot. Jolley made a superb save, diving to his left hand post! Had that gone in our heads would have dropped! At least we did not concede inside 15 seconds this time!

It was a scorcher of a day and heat was playing its part! Gradually, OLSC took control and Wriggles soon had the Pepsi defence on the back-foot! Running like a madman down the wing, he was brought down. There were shouts of “Penalty!” but only a free-kick was awarded!



The majority of the possession was with OLSC but they couldn’t find a way through! Tony Stringer’s groin went and he departed play nursing his injury! (He was holding it very gingerly.) On came Dave Oh and he made his big presence felt immediately, winning a corner and losing his astro turf boot in the process! The Pepsi Shooters’ keeper was erratic to say the least! Navin forced a brilliant save from the keepers’ disastrous goal kick! John Harvey remained solid at left back despite a dodgy throw in and James Bullen showed his willingness to run at the Pepsi defence. Tony Chan showed real skill on the right and twisted up the Pepsi defenders! Our defence remained solid because of Simon swearing at everyone to get organized! Even Creber, who usually hoofs the ball, started playing with some finesse! Little Stanley terrorized them down the wings!

There were more shouts for a penalty as Dave Oh went down under a blatant challenge! Nothing given! F**k off, you cheating bastards! Wriggles hit the post! Aiyah! It didn’t look like it was going to be OLSC’s day!

Half time
“C’mon lads! We can beat this lot!” shouted everyone! “Torment that Englebert and Micallef!”
Simon issued a rallying cry: "Lads, if we beat them today then I’ll buy everyone a beer!”
That was the defining moment...forget Rafa’s Istanbul team-talk, this was better!

Second Half
We began the second half where we left off! Attack, attack, attack! A momentary lapse from the OLSC defence allowed a rare shot on goal but Pepsi’s striker skied it. Reinforcements arrived in the form of midfield dynamo Alfie Yeung and Dennis the Looker!

Within minutes Alfie showed why he is world class...he blatantly body checked a Pepsi winger! Get stuck in there lad! Dennis, showing his good looks on the pitch, combined well upfront but lacked the cutting edge! Dave Navin was making good runs down the right and McAlan nearly got us the breakthrough with a half chance!

So down to the last 10 mins and with possession comfortable, Simon decided to take it upon himself to go up front! A tactical gamble? Did he really want to buy us a beer or did he want us to lose the game!

Simon shouted to Creber: “Don’t worry, mate! You’ve got their striker in your pocket!” Creber was quietly confident though! So, with a re-organized defence and new formation, it was time for the kill!



The ball was played in from the right by Wrigley. As Simon went to head the ball with Pepsi defender Steve Milner, it came off the defenders head and looped over the Pepsi keeper into the empty net. GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Get in lads!

The last 5 mins seemed like 5 hours but OLSC held on and deserved their 1-0 victory!

Victory in the new Supporters’ Club tops! Well done lads!

Man of Match
Simon Forder’s inspirational half time team talk (“...the beer’s on me if we win...”), solidity at the heart of defence and his astute tactical awareness to push himself up front with 10 mins to go earned him the award!

 To view more photos of the game click this link - HK Reds v Pepsi Shooters
Previous match reports
HK Reds v Spartans Vets
HK Supporters’ 6s 2009
HK Reds v USRC
HK Reds KL Tour 2007
HK Reds v Savills (II)
HK Reds v AIG (II)
HK Reds v AIG (I)
HK Reds v Savills (I)
Dynasty v HK Reds (II)
Dynasty v HK Reds (I)
Manarise v HK Reds
Sandy Bay Strollers v HK Reds
Pepsi Shooters vs HK Reds

Want to play for the Hong Kong Reds football team?
11-a-side-team please email: dave@hongkongreds.com


Hong Kong Reds Magazine







Click magazines for large view