Autumn Term Social League Review: Underdogs Victorious

By Joshua Chapman

It has been an intriguing first season for the Hampton Social League. An uneventful group stage saw PST (Paris Saint Taran) make it 5 wins from 5, a stark contrast to the misfortunes of This is Why We Ball, who failed to pick up a single win in the group stages. The second place spot, which would have secured a bypass to the semi-finals, was won by Ball Busters, following a single defeat in a tight game against PST in the opening week of the campaign.

With PST and Ball Busters having secured semi-final spots, attention turned to the qualifiers. Ding FC overcame the Fortnite Fighters in a one-sided first half, but found themselves on the back foot in the second half against a rejuvenated attack led by Steffan Hilmy. Despite this, Ding pulled through, booking their spot in the last 4. In the other qualifier, Kick It Out FC beat This Is Why We Ball in a game that matched the intensity seen during the group stages between the two sides – 4-3 the final score.

Semi-finals ensued, resulting in a 4-2 win for Kick It Out over Ding FC. Ball Busters vs PST had very little on show, but PST finally fell prey to a strong attack led by Jessa up front, who led the goal scoring charts throughout the season, as Busters ultimately ran out 3-2 winners.

It was a time for what was sure to be a hotly-contested final, as Kick It Out FC, a lower-sixth squad playing in their first term of social league, would come up against a formidable Ball Busters side who had beaten them 11-2 earlier in the season. Tensions were raised further by the decision to play the match across the whole length of the 3G, with 11 players on the field for each team rather than the usual nine.

Kick It Out fell behind in the possession game early on, but undoubtedly had the better share of chances, narrowly going wide of the far left post after cutting in from the wing. Following a close shave, where Kick It Out striker Chukwu was beaten to a ball played through, Ball Busters took the lead following an Alisdair Mcintosh header against the run of play – opposition goalkeeper Ameya Mathur was able to get a glove to it but was powerless to stop the ball entering the net. Kick It Out winger Alex Sleeman consequently shot narrowly wide during a passage of sustained pressure. Goalscorer McIntosh then left Mathur stranded but proceeded to strike the post. Following the recommencement of the second half, chances were large and frequent, and Sleeman finished a cross from Ben Fairbairn, eliminating the deficit. Shortly after, Kick It Out FC seized on a defensive error – Daniel Bathula, signed exclusively for the final, took advantage and fired into the bottom right corner to give his side a decisive lead. Another error at the back mere minutes later gave Alex Sleeman an empty net to tap into. The game finished 3-1, with a joyous Gianluca Cohen (Kick It Out skipper) lifting the trophy aloft surrounded by teammates following its conclusion.