Chew FC: Season III
The Mighty Chew FC is the Chewstick Foundation’s sports program which take place every Sunday morning in the Sunday Breakfast League. Now in our third season, the Team has managed to go from the bottom half of the league to the top, coming second overall last season, and third in the final tournament. The Team has made great strides under the management of Team Captain Najib Chentouf aka Sir Jib and continues to provide a great opportunity to trumpet the Chewstick Pillars of Respect, Freedom Love and Truth in an area that needs positive influences because there are so many young men involved. The Breakfast League offers an ideal opportunity to model the expanding Chewstick sports aspirations as there are no practices, rolling subs and an open-door policy for participation (yes, ladies are welcome) – so if you feel like a kick, or have a youngster in your life that could use some positive male influences, join us on a Sunday morning!
Chew FC 2011-12 Season:
10/9/11 – International vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay | 3-6 WIN
10/16/11 – Chew FC vs Equalizers – BFA | 6-7 LOSS
10/23/11 - Rebelz vs Chew FC – Devonshire Rec | 2-8 WIN
10/30/11 - Chew FC vs West End United – Shelly Bay | 9-5 WIN
11/6/11 - Robin Hood vs Chew FC – Bermuda College | 5-1 WIN
11/13/11 - Chew FC vs SOS – Shelly Bay | 6-2 WIN
11/20/11 - Bermuda Motors vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay | 3-2 LOSS
12/4/11 - Chew FC vs BAA Galaxy – BAA
12/11/11 - Chew FC vs Flanagans Onions – Shelly Bay
12/18/11 - Chew FC vs Young Boyz – Shelly Bay
1/8/12 – NO GAME
1/15/12 - Chew FC vs International – Shelly Bay
1/22/12 - Equalizers vs Chew FC – BFA
2/5/12 - Chew FC vs Rebelz – Somersfield School
2/12/12 - West End United vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay
2/19/12 - Chew FC vs Robin Hood – Bermuda College
3/4/12 - SOS vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay
3/11/12 - Chew FC vs Bermuda Motors – Shelly Bay
3/18/12 - BAA Galaxy vs Chew FC – BAA
3/25/12 - Flanagans Onions vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay
4/1/12 - Young Boyz vs Chew FC – Shelly Bay
4/8/12 - Chew FC vs Devils – Shelly Bay
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Triumphant Return
Chew FC 6
International 3
The quest for Breakfast league glory began on Sunday at Shelly bay with the mighty Chew FC opening their 2011-2012 campaign with a win at Shelly bay. Fresh from a practice match drubbing at the hands of newly named Flanagan’s Onions (oddly enough there were no Bermuda onions on that team) the Chew FC soldiers took to the field in search of their first 3 points. Matches with international have always been highly contested and this day would prove no different despite Chew FC dominating proceedings for much of the match.
Chewstick orange men settled quickly and soon after we started putting passes together we were rewarded. A bizarre goalkeeping error saw a stray cross trickle along the goal line. Chris got to the ball first rounded the keeper and placed the ball on goal only to see Lloyd holder steal in and steal the goal with a quick tap-in. The second goal was equally fortuitous as the keeper scuffed a clearance into Lloyd’s path and he easily slotted home into the open net. Chris added a third and we were unlucky to score more as the International defense had no answer to Cat’s pace and he should have converted one of the many opportunities he had through on the now ‘replacement’ keeper.
At halftime we agreed we needed more of the same attacking spirit and more goals. Despite being 3-0 up, we managed to let Inter back into the game. They definitely brought the game to us, and it wasn’t long until they breached the Chew FC defense. The worked the ball around to the youngest member on the team, he was afforded too much space on the edge of the box and he unleashed a thunderous shot straight at Djata in the Chewstick goal. Despite being well positioned the shot powered through the keepers gloves and into the back of the net. The Inter attack continued and minutes later they were in behind our defense, Djata committed but when he was rounded just inside the box the inter striker passed the ball into the net just inside the near post. The pressure mounted and inter got a third goal with team Stalwart Mike Johnston volleying home at the back post…Where was the Chew FC Left back?
3-3 now and this was becoming the game we expected from Inter, and finally we started to play some football; linking up to put Chris and Hosang into the box. The turning point for the attack came from the defense though, Inter found a through ball to their striker on the counter attack and he dropped like a sack of potatoes when challenged shoulder to shoulder in the box. The referee blew for a penalty, up stepped Kemo Sabe, Lone ranger music played in the background, Djata settled into his position, the ref blew, Sabe approached and tried to cheekily send the keeper the wrong way, but his shot was saved well as Djata got down low to prevent inter taking the lead.
The game was turned on a head and what happened next was a stroke of magic. The Chew FC attack pushed and probed and the breakthrough came after the ball bounced around the box a bit and a blocked shot looked to be rebounding beyond Somner who reflexively stuck a leg out and his touch looped the ball into the top left corner with the keeper stunned and the rest of us pretty surprised as well. Our lead now reestablished we began to take control of the match and the front men were getting into good positions. Somner was the catalyst for the 5th goal as he drove into the box. He just pushed the ball beyond the inter defender and he drew just enough contact to drop as the defender extended his leg. On a hattrick now and having already stolen one goal on the day, Lloyd holder stepped up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way to close out his hattrick. Super sub Cat finished off the game running the Inter backline ragged, he scored the sixth goal intercepting a back-pass and duly rounding the replacement replacement inter keeper and slamming the ball home.
This week the boys in orange face another league title contender in Equalisers on the artificial surface at BFA field at 10am.
Caines 2.0
Chew FC 5
Robin Hood 1
Chewstick’s Men in orange romped to another victory on Sunday taking the spoils in blustery conditions at Shelly bay. We won by a 4 goal cushion but the game was much closer than that for the majority of the match. Conditions definitely slowed play, and although robin hoods young team started brightly The Chew FC defense put on a masterful display of defensive play – other than Lou’second half, gift wrapped, backpass. Eventually we began to knock the ball around and possess as best possible and Hosang was unfortunate not to open the scoring after being put through. We did eventually break the deadlock, some neat passing around the box led to Ryan Nesbitt applying the final firm touch placing the ball inside the far post. Hood did fight back and they were rewarded when a scramble in the box ended with one of their players poking the ball through Gavin’s legs. It was an unfortunate blemish on what should’ve been a clean sheet.
It wasn’t until just before the break that our lead was reestablished. Ryan Minors and Lloyd holder stood over a free kick at the edge of the box (kinda like Roberto Carlos and Beckham of the galacticos…except for it was Chew FC) Ryan stepped up and his left footed drive rounded the wall and crashed off the crossbar and bounced (maybe off the line, maybe in the goal, no one knows..we didn’t have a fifth official; we barely had an official at all!) nevertheless the rebound was met by a leaping Dwayne Caines who powered his header home. His celebratory scream announcing his return was heard in St. Georges, although most of us were sure it was for his twin brother Wayne watching from the sidelines.
Lightning may not strike twice but, things do happen in two’s in the Caines’ family; as such the game changing 3rd goal was also scored by Caines…yes Dwayne again. Some great build up play ended with Chris finding Caines in plenty space on the edge of the penalty area. To instructions of ‘one time’ Dwayne struck the ball in full stride with his weaker, right foot, sending it sailing across the goal keeper, bulging the net at the far post. A greatr finish to a well worked team goal. Chris scored one of his own moments later rounding the keeper to slot home easily inot an open net.. And Lloyd finished of the scoring with a classy volley after controlling on the chest at the penalty spot. Holder seemed to think it was quick to claim it as ’goal of the game’ caliber but Caines’ second goal might just have been slightly better. Sincere thanks to Wayne Caines who may have actually scored both goals credited to Dwayne Caines.
We’re back at Shelly bay 1 at 10am again this week against SOS.
Another 3 points
Chew FC 8
Rebels 2
After a slight stumble on October 16th where Chew FC fell to Equalizers 7-6 in a highly contested affair, the Chew FC soldiers got back to winning ways last Sunday seeing off Rebels at Devonshire Rec. On the 16th, Chew FC showed impressive second half resolve to close a 4 goal lead and add some respect to the scoreline which was 5-1 in favor of the bad guys at half time. Last Sunday’s game was also a tale of two halves. We went to the break locked at 1-1 Chew FC having gone ahead through a Lloyd Holder header from a corner. The opposition equalized when they were gifted an opportunity when Flabby played a back-pass directly to the rebels striker. He couldn’t have asked for a better ball, and while Djata did well to get in his way, eventually the striker evaded Djata’s challenge and rolled the ball home. Chew FC were slow to settle into the game and Djata’s efforts were definitely keeping the score line closer than it could’ve been.
After some stern words at halftime the Chewstick Charges took to the field, a save from a Robert Somner shot resulted in a corner delivered by Chris; the ball was played to the back post but long before connection was made, the whole ground heard a scream of ‘RODDY’S!!’ as Roddy bulldozed through the box (through opposition players and his own) to head down and into the goal. The goal was well deserved for all his ball winning and gritty tackles in defense. This was the boost we needed and the goal breathed confidence into the men in orange there were calls to score 6. Who knew we’d finish the game having scored 8. Somner scored the next two a tap in and a cheeky chip from 20 yards, before Cat and Christian got involved, cat scored 2 but he could have easily scored 5 had he just avoided the offside trap . Ryan scored a well worked goal finishing off a sweeping one two which put him thru on the keeper. Chris scored the eighth and final goal of the day after a dubious call awarded Rebels a late penalty.
The next game pits Chew FC against league newcomers West End United at Shelly Bay 2.