Murder on the Pitch

The Cup Part 3

 The match was equal coming into the half. Added time was 3 minutes when Defensive midfielder Xander Rivas snatched the ball from Essen Swedish Midfielder Evert Ahlman.

Rivas just 24 played lackluster during the beginning of the season however a last-minute position change from Fullback to Center Midfield awoke a wall when he partnered with defensive midfielder the 27-year-old Irishman Rory Collins.

Rivas dribbled the ball 20 yards up from the brim of the penalty arc and darted to the left toward the sideline to hopefully make a cross pass to chasing attackman 21-year-old rookie Terrance Donnaghy.

After evading Essen defenseman Humphery Luxon Rivas looked to his left to see a box packed in both Rowland and Essen–Mulheim players. Yet with the clock ticking to half with his left foot, he arced the ball almost 30 feet in the air with precision.

As Rivas kicked it Gregory looked to Darren and said "Why doesn't he do that at practice?"

Darren just shrugged. His eyes fixated on the path of the black and white octagon patterned ball when he noticed his replacement Isaac Shaw out of position but in the right place. Isaac is considered the person with the strongest legs and best stamina on the team.

At just 23 years old and a lifelong player in the Rowland F.C. youth system he is the poster child of Rowlands youth team success and transition to Premier League level. Isaac jumped over the exhausted and aging 33-year-old center back, once known as "The Great Dane of Essen" Nikolai Friis.

As the crowd behind the goal watched what transpired in front of them with fated breath Isaac headed Rivas' well-placed ball in the back right corner of the net its path lust below Essen goalie Daniel Scholz's midsection.

Isaac ran to the many Rowland supporters seated in the stand on the right side of the pitch. Full speed he slid on the fresh sod with both knees and glided as if he was flying in the clear skies above.

"To think that could've been you," Gregory said smiling at Darren

"Shut it Gaffer. Let the kid have this one. I'll take the next."

"You got it," Gregory said smiling as he turned back to the pitch clapping his hands and yelling out order before the whistle blew three times signaling the half.

Outside of the stadium, a young man was listening to the game on his handheld radio when the halftime pundit came on. He promptly turned the radio off and walked to the security officer at the front of the gate in his high yellowish green barf-colored high visibility vest who immediately turned him away saying:

"No fans beyond this point without a ticket," 

The man fumbled in his pockets until he took out his rectangular ticket 

"Holy. What are you on about man? The game is at half and you got here now?" the officer said stunned

Exacerbated the fan replied "I know. I know. But the tube was delayed by 45 minutes because of some Bull repairs on the Marylebone section."

"Alright. Alright. Just scan the ticket. Honestly, you're better off going to a pub to watch the game."

"Probably but I paid good money for this and I'm not wasting it."

After a brief scan for no metallic objects and a body pat search by another officer, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The man was dressed in jeans and a burgundy fleece and as the inspectors checked off the radio noticing no abnormalities they allowed the man through with no underlying issues.