MATCH REPORT        Pingtong vs Kaohsiung  

So as a small crowd slowly thinned into the ground, Jungshan Stadium became a buzz as the opening ceremonies for the First Annual Pingtong Kaohsiung Inter-squad Derby, kicked off.  This was also the testimonial game for a well-respected Pacer named Iain Castle.  So fitting an occasion to bring together these two teams and pay tribute to dear Pacer.  Prior to start of the warm-ups it was clear that the previous evening had taken a hard toll on some of these seasoned footballers.  After a few pats on the backs and memories of empty bottles the teams took to the field, to play the beautiful game.  The City boys dawned the Pacer black, with the home side Dongers, wowing the crowd in crimson red tops.  Just as things seemed ready to proceed a young decaying cat lay by the halfway line.  As if under a spell, the Prince of Prague in his muster summoned a bucket and shovel, and to the delight of spectators and players, promptly disposed of the creature.  Dry heaving, a then gutted Nick took to the field and the first of the scheduled three, thirty minute periods was underway.
　

By ten minutes in, it became clear that the heat would play a factor in the game.  The Dongers created a couple of good scoring chances with no reward in first five minutes.  The Siungers seemed to respond to this with several wing plays that stretched the backline of the boys in red.  The Ginger bapped Irishman swerved a routine cross into the Dongers Six yard area.  After a crash of humanity and a claim of contact by a hair follicle, the round thing was in the net Siung 1 Dongers 0.  Both teams jostled evenly through the first twenty minutes, with some creative mid-play and teasing crosses.  It appeared as though things might not pick up for either side in the opener, then a quick run behind a surprised defense left Junior to parry the first shot, but JJ was all over the rebound.  Siung 1 Dongers 1 after the first.
　

The second got underway, right were the teams left off; battling for the upper hand.  It was clear that the City boys had decided to step it up a notch and take the game to the Dongers.  With the rural boys having no previous playing experience together, some cracks were beginning to appear.  Against the run of play, Gourley takes the ball at half and packs a lunch.  Four defenders later, sending the goalie the wrong way the Home team takes a stunning 2-1 lead.  Several fans take of the shirts and bookmakers open cell phones.  But as quickly as the moment came it was stolen away by wise playmaking in Cory, Euan and Mike, whose command of the midfield rewarded the Siungers with a retaliatory strike less than five minutes later from Baldy, 2-2.  With almost an hour played the heat and pressure cost the reds one more, 3-2 Siungers, end of two.  It was going to be settled in the third period of play.  Both teams seemed very optimistic, especially the Dongers, who with limited numbers and team experience, had kept it close.
　

It had been said that the game of football is never ugly, it is pure sport.  Given the Dongers complete collapse in the third, despite a rousing speech from Iain Castle, the Honorary Captain of the Dongers, it was hard to watch. As the City Boys wore down the battered defences of an exhausted Pingtong squad, the goals began to trickle in.  3-2. The Dongers pushed it up when they could, it didn't matter, 4-2.  The fat lady was singing and Adi's back line never let him down.  Hooton Picked Euan.  He picked out Mike; couple more passes slashing through the red defense, 5-2.  No more fight in the red dog, 6-2.  Euan blasts from thirty yards out; Junior doesn't seem to care, 7-2.  Its all over.  A close contest in the early stages, the boys showed depth, creative play and dedication to the job at hand.  A show of hands for the retiring Iain Castle, and some group photos for posterity sake. 
　

 Kaohsiung 7 Pingtong 2. 

 Andrew Gourley