Price Is Right For Balo-King!
⚽ Result
Myddleton Arms 0
Magical Vegas FC 1
🏆 Competition
Islington Midweek Football League Premier Division
Away league match
📅 When
Tuesday, 23 April 2019
📍 Venue
Market Road Astroturf Pitch 2 (Away)
Perry Price and Abiola Baloqun combined for the final, and most crucial, time this year in what was a priceless victory for Magical Vegas against a stubborn and strong minded Myddleton Arms side.
Vegas knew going into the game that they needed to win to put the pressure on White City to HAVE to beat SYFC in their last league game of the season in order to seal the Premiership title.
After two abysmal performances in cup games in which they conceded 3 goals in each they set out their stall will a gritty determination not seen for a few games.
The opening 20 minutes where tight fought but Vegas started to exert their authority on the game as they grew in confidence. Defensively the team was heavily changes from the loss against Dover with Shane McNamara joining Chad King in centre of defence and with Deondre Dewar and Alby Miller flanking either side.
It was the performance of Dewar particularly that galvanised the side with every contested ball being won and possession kept in key areas. In the hole behind lone striker Baloqun, Price was equally impressive with his work rate, often chasing back, winning possession and keeping the ball in tight areas.
After some excellent chances where missed towards the end of the first half Vegas came in knowing they would have to battle very hard for the win they needed.
Their attitude and work ethic was second to none after the break with the key moment coming in the 66th minute. Price turned in space in the centre circle moving the ball onto his weaker right foot, he dug out a perfect lofted pass for the powerful Baloqun to chase. The goalie had made a rash charge for the ball which Baloqun just got to first, he toe-poked it past the keeper and ran on to the ball to pass into an empty net.
The team needed calmness on the ball and some good game management. As the game moved towards its conclusion the stress of the pressure began to tell with Vegas dropping deeper and deeper. But the side held firm, McNamara and King won every header with Tre Thompson and Jacob Bond mopping up the ball almost every time. Dewar still had the energy to make a last-ditch, possibly goal-saving, tackle in the box when the ball broke for a Myddleton play after a corner was flicked on towards the end.
But in the end, Vegas held strong and ended the season with their highest every points tally (36), the greatest goal difference (+37), least loses (2) AND boasts the meanest defence in the league. If they don't win the league this year, they will be very strong contenders for the league next year, the team is young, the team is talented, they just need to stay HUNGRY!
