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 | Fixture Details | |  | | |
Home | Return to Division Fixtures
| Nom | Home Player | Nom | Away Player | Result | Games |
| 4 | Guy Olby | 1 | Ben Ford | 2 | 3 | 7/9 9/6 6/9 9/6 0/9 | | 5 | Marc Aldridge | 2 | Duane Harrison | 3 | 1 | 2/9 9/6 10/8 9/6 | | 6 | Tony Webb | 3 | Mark Steeden | 0 | 3 | 1/9 0/9 2/9 | | 7 | Alex Martin | 4 | Matt Green | 3 | 0 | 9/6 9/5 9/3 | | 8 | Paul James | 5 | Matt Badger | 3 | 2 | 4/9 8/10 10/8 9/6 10/9 | | | | | | | | | | | Games: | 11 | 9 | |
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| | | Bonus: | 5 | 0 | |
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| | | Result: | 16 | 9 | |
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| Report: | Marc v Duane
This was the first match to start - as per usual '5-pints Marc' wanted to get off court and straight to the bar. But nobody wanted to mark this for fear of narcolepsy or having a severe drowsy-like effect on their own performance later. The thought of a 100 shot rally ending in a let was too much to bear but in the end I got the short straw. The first game went to Duane who was moving well despite his bout of shin splits late in the summer. He dominated with great width and delicate drops and kept Marc scurrying at the back. It continued for much of the second with Marc making too many errors but ever so gradually a shift occured. Duane began to look tired, huffing a little every time he went to the back to dig out yet another length, whilst Marc kept ticking over like an old Toyota that's been discarded in England but now finds use as a taxi in New Delhi. This proved to be enough as Marc pressed home his advantage in less time than we ever thought possible.
Our Leader v Matt Green
After a nasty back injury (caused by trying to get out of a chair carrying a bag of chips, kebab and pizza), Our Leader (Alex Martin) had not stepped on court for 2 months (it's what he claimed anyway). However, no amount of pizza stuck in his vertebrae could ever take away Our Leader's shot making skills. He proved yet again that when he's feel relaxed and fresh - he lets his racket do the texting. Matt, had had his fair share of time off during the summer and it has to be said he probably came into this match short on games. Although Our Leader won 3-0 it was a tight and sometimes scappy affair and I'm sure Matt will have more to say next time. However, Our Leader has to be pleased with his performance - he should take more time off to top up his tan and buy more purple racket bags.
OTT v Steeden
After two matches Amida were 2-0 and it was time for Welsh Tony (aka Tony the Whippet, Lexus Tony, Only the Tony(OTT)) to make it 3-0.
However it was room 102 for OTT with Steeden putting in a commanding performance, winning 9-1, 9-0, 9-2. What was billed as clash of the tight ones (OTT beat Steeden 9-7 in the fifth in their last encounter after Our Leader forgot how to count and messed up the scoring) we expected a long, closely fought an exhausting affair. Instead it seems that OTT's Commando exercise at the weekend (can the boy actually lift a machine gun?) had drained him of energy. Instead of preparing for this important fixture, OTT would rather crawl through sheep dip and be pushed through a tube full of gunk by two Top Gun cadets. Is there a question mark over his commitment? Steeden though, has clearly learned from the master Peter Nicol, after playing him at an exhibition match and making the great man almost sweat (although it needs to be said that Peter had been on court for about four hours already)! He gave Tony very little to work with, he was tight, quick and dominated the T, and his fitness did not get in the way (he has complained of being too quick and getting to the ball too early)! If only we could all get to the ball too early.
Disco v Badger
This was expected to be a tight affair - but maybe just in the author's mind! Badger had time off over the summer for some plastic surgery to his face (to get rid of ...well most of it.....er no hang on it was to his leg. That's it, some veins I believe). And there was a possibility that his overdose on San Miguel's in Spain and surgery might affect his speed on court. But he started off like he'd never been away from the game. Dominating from the back and when in position either dropping tight or crunching low winners. Disco spent most of the time at the back, retrieving and trying to relieve pressure. But this had limited effect in the first as Badger marched (do badgers march?) to a 1-0 lead. The second was much the same although Disco managed retain a little bit more control, eventually forcing it to 8-8, which Badger took. 2-0 down and Disco looked like he might as well take up disco dancing as a hobby instead. With nothing to lose Disco relaxed a little and began to look to volley more and hit drops where possible. Whilst Badger took an early lead, Disco's policy paid off in the end, taking the fourth 10-8. With momentum slightly in Disco's favour he tried to press. Badger began making a lot of mistakes and suddenly looked very tired. With the match all square Disco took easy points in the fifth and surged to a commanding lead as Badger looked like he might be falling apart. However Disco tightened and played some loose shots resulting in several strokes. Badger regained composure - getting a second wind and came back from 7-2 down to 8-8. With the whole team match most likely riding on the next two points Disco saved one match point managed to take it 10-9. The crowd went wild. Well no they didnt, but they did clap. An engrossing contest for all - I'm sure Badger will be up for revenge in the return!
Ben v Guy
After the shenanigans of Disco Badger this match was a dead rubber (anyone ever seen a live one?), which was a shame. Guy looked his usual mean self on court - no doubt ingrained from years of chasing time wasters out of his bathroom shop in Lewisham - and put in a performance to match. Ben sprang about the court like a gazelle on speed and took the ball very early, volley boasting 50% of his shots. Guy had to do some work to keep up and although he lost the first, he managed to make it all square at 1-1. Ben took the third, once again depriving Guy time on the ball and making him twist, turn and jump (yes even Guy has to jump every now and then). He looked tired coming off court, muttering away to himself. But he dug in in the fourth and Ben's springiness just ever so slightly levelled off (oh and yes, his shirt looked really sweaty)! With some fine retrieving and delicate drops into the nick Guy once again pulled it back to 2-2. It's a shame this was not the deciding match of the evening as it would have been fitting. With some inspiring squash on show, we were treated to a display of how the game should be played. Ben ran out winner in the final game with Guy tiring. Very enjoyable.
Although we have now lost our name 'Team Amida' to David Lloyd, which is a shame because it reminds me of the film Team America, we have not lost the spirit of that movie: 'Team Amida! f*** yeah!' |
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| Author: | DISCO |
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