Last minute goal seals championship game for 100th CES

  • Published
  • By Gary Rogers
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Darren Odey scored in the last minute to give the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron a narrow 3-2 victory over the 727th Air Mobility Squadron in the intramural soccer championship at the Northside gym, June 22.

CE fielded a team with only one player under the age of 30; one could be mistaken for watching Masters Football on TV.

Nevertheless, they got off to the best possible start when after three minutes Geoff Gough used some nice footwork to create some space in front of the goal to tuck the ball away.

With neither team able to dominate the early stages, it was a mistake from 61-year-old goalie, Keith Ginifer that gifted 727th an equalizer. Ginifer failed to hold on to a fierce shot, which allowed Pete Webb unmarked on the edge of the D to score.

This lifted the 727th as they began to stamp their authority on the game. Then, 14 minutes in, a great diagonal pass by Chris Reeves gave Mike Dedousis space on the left to score giving his team the first-half lead.

Half time:
727th AMS 2
100th CES 1

Both teams pushed hard at the start of the second half to gain control of the match, but the defenses held firm. Then eight minutes in, a bizarre own goal leveled the score. Another goalkeeping error - this time from 727th player James Brown - was when a shot rebounded off the wall, hit the back of the goalie's legs and trickled over the line.

The game continued to ebb and flow with CE coming close on two occasions near the end. Then with time running out and the game heading for extra time, Martin Parker found room on the right wing and played an inch-perfect pass to Darren Odey to score the winner in the last minute.

With no time for 727th AMS to come back, the final whistle blew, and it was time for the old boys to celebrate.

As Keith Houghton said, "You can't beat experience, even at this fast-paced game." It was a fitting retirement for veteran goalie Ginifer as he warmly accepted the trophy from Dwayne Robinson, 100th Services Squadron, intramural sports director.

As CE wearily left the field, I just wonder how many players will be back next year to defend the trophy.

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