Dilligaf Down Team WoW in Hard Fought Battle

Team WoW 5 - 6 Dilligaf
(Schaap 2, Thompson, Foster, Bryan)

Team WoW's impressive unbeaten run was brought to an end last night at the hands of an aged Dilligaf. A capacity Aurora crowd watched an explosive encounter in close to 25 degree heat. The game tooed and froed before Dilligaf took the decisive lead close to the end. The drama began, however, before the first ball was kicked, with controversy-prone captain Andy Thompson declaring Wil Darling was "no longer invited" to play for Team WoW after he stood them up yet again. Phil Gale was also missing for the game, citing tiredness amongst the chief causes of his absence. Thompson, on the other hand, shrugged off what he described on Saturday morning as a "deadly illness" to start the match.

Dilligaf drew first blood on the night. Though significantly lacking in pace, the senile striker managed to turn Robbie Schaap to fire a ripsnorter into the bottom corner of Riske's goal. Team WoW responded with a flurry of attacks, with most of them fizzling out at the "just passed to Jordan" phase. Scott's efforts, however, did pay rich, if unbelievably indirect dividends eventually. A decent half-volley effort was put behind by the goalkeeper. The subsequent corner kick was taken quickly by Scott and bounced off a few defenders out to a ravenous Thompson, who smashed the ball deep into the left hand side of the goal; unstoppable. Schaap grabbed Team WoW's second in characteristic style; putting his laces through it from range to beat the keeper. The game looked as if it might be a repeat of last week, where Team WoW struggled in the opening stages before running away with the game. Dilligaf, however, had other ideas. They bounced back with a quickfire goal (a double nutmeg I believe) to make it two apiece.

Pat Foley was on hand at half-time to provide one of his trademark inspiring team talks. "These guys have kids your age." (Actually he said that before the game but I think it's better placed here.) Riske deviated from his usual speech featuring phrases such as "play your own game" to offer some actual insight, suggesting Team WoW should use pace to beat Dilligaf. With the words of Riske and Foley (but not really Foley because he didn't really say anything) ringing in their ears, Team WoW took the field for the second half.

They didn't have to wait long for their first goal of the period. After just minutes, Schaap pulled off a sleek move to nutmeg the defender with a pass through to Sol Foster. Foster decided for a bobbling left-footed finish to beat the keeper rather than the conventional rocket; 3-2. Again Dilligaf got straight back in it with a blistering effort. Meanwhile, Team WoW began to fight fire with fire physically on the court. Scott wrestled to win the ball in the attack and took on a tight angled strike from range. It struck a defender and the ball fell kindly for an unmarked Bryan, who finished coolly to restore Team WoW's lead. At this point the spectators were thinking that was surely the winner; but it wasn't to be. The rollercoaster continued - and now it was time for the loop de loop. Within a no more than a minute (while Scott was off the field I might add) Dilligaf had made it 5-4. The last goal was particularly notable - an absolute ripper from halfway to beat Riske. Team WoW gave it all they had at the end, but the score remained 5-4. For a team named Dilligaf, they certainly seemed to gaf at the end, with some rowdy post game celebrations.

Andy Thompson was not available for his usual interview after the game. He trudged of the field straight after the game and refused to shake hands with the other team or the ref, at whom he appeared to explicitly gesture at the close of the game. The FFA are investigating the incident presently.

With that result Team WoW have probably been knocked off the top of the ladder but it cannot be confirmed until results are released later this week. See them again same place, same time next Sunday.