Written by Team Player, Sean Rann
Bees manager: GP Giancovich.
Bees captain: GC Giancovich usually but he was away.
Saturday 15th July 12:30 k.o
The Bees beat Simeone 8-2.
Saturday 15th July 13:30 k.o
The Bees beat Bardon Vectis 1-0 on penalties after a hard fought 5-5 draw in which Sproolsy scored a left footed bicycle kick and a last minute penalty to make it 5-5. Gianpaolo saved the 1st penalty to his right and Steve Porter hammered the back of the net with his.
Sunday 16th July 13:30 k.o
We knew it would be a tough game against Bardon Vectis after Saturdays penalties win. They were also the only team with a chance of catching us at the top of the premiership. With Bees players Giancarlo Giancovich (England captain) and Kieren O’Callaghan away playing for England we had no room for errors and a tough weekend.
The game started with Matt Evans for Bardon Vectis scoring early in the 1st period. The Bees kept there cool and piled on the pressure with international player Mitch Day equalising at the start of the 2nd Period. Bardon scored 2 more to make it 3-1. Mitch Day hit back to make it 3-2 at the end of the 2nd period. Up to this point no one knew who would win.
The 3rd period was raised to a higher level as the Bees brought tricks, movement and flair to the beach once again. A quick throw from England and Bees goalie Gianpaolo Giancovich sent Sean Rann also with international experience down the wing to finish with a toe poke into the bottom right corner, bringing the score to 3-3. Bardon were worried that the Bees had fought their way back into the game, but for the Bees it was common to finish strong even on the hottest days. With Chris Morey, Itchy Parkin and Isle of Wight captain Steve Porter constantly creating chances the Bees looked the stronger team. Wayne Sheath gave them the lead for the first time in the game, with a quick turn off the defender and a clean strike into the left corner. A minute later international Richard Sproolsy controlled the ball from Gianpaolo’s throw, turned sharply and lobbed the goalie to make it 5-3 to the Bees and increase his goal tally to 18 for the season. Now it was coming to the end of the final 3rd, but Bardon still had hope with Scot Eastman scoring to make it 5-4. The Bees kept calm and when Mitch Day got the ball on the half way line he hit a screamer off the inside of the post leaving Lee Davis in goal with no chance, sealing his hat trick and making him Man of the Match. Final score 6-4 to the Bees.
The crowds commented on watching two good teams playing an entertaining and high standard of beach soccer. The win made the Bees champions of the beach soccer premiership for the 3rd consecutive year. We have one game left at the end of the month against old rivals Sociedad but we are 12 points clear at the top.
This weekend the Bees are trying to complete the double by winning the FIFA/FA beach soccer league cup which they have won for the last 3 years and are in fact the only team to ever win it.
Also in August there is the illusive Wightlink cup which we once lost in the finals of on penalties.
The week after that there is the all important Super Finals which we are also the only winners of since it was introduced in 2004.
The Bees B team will also be playing in the Championship cup this weekend and have made the div 3 promotion play offs after a great run of 11 wins in their last 12 games.
