Alongside our client, Neovia, we recently organised a football match for our employees. It wasn’t extravagant, it wasn’t costly and it certainly wasn’t tantalising to watch – but it didn’t need to be…
For the 40 or so players and spectators involved, it was an opportunity to integrate with various levels of management and teams within the business, compete for bragging rights, and quite simply, enjoy a 90 minute game of football in the sun after work.
The result: 3-2 to the Rovers.
The REAL result:
Increased morale and banter in the workplace, increased integration and respect between colleagues and subordinates, whose paths have not, and probably never will have crossed otherwise, and strengthened loyalty to their employer who organised the day for them. (pictured left to right: Carr Craddock, Adam Martin)
Match report:
On the evening of Thursday 27th, The Neovia World Cup Final 2019 was played at the famous Caterpillar Park, bringing IPO Rovers and PS Wilson together for a 5-goal thriller in the sizzling heat!
The first 20 minutes of the first half saw a number of chances squandered by PS Wilson, due to some wayward attempts around the 18-yard box and some steady hands from the IPO Rover’s reserve keeper.
Some exciting passages of play from the PS Wilson midfield saw Beazely and Turner linking up with promise, including an ambitious bicycle kick that sailed just wide and a goal-bound cross that forced Rovers keeper, Martin, to parry in the direction of his left back, Craddock, who then headed away to clear the danger. More clinical finishing in the first half from PS Wilson could have put them 3 or 4 goals in front and victory within reach.
The deadlock was then broken soon after, by IPO Rovers, following a deflected shot from outside that box from Barton that looped over the helpless PS Wilson keeper. Though against the run of play, this goal was exactly what the game needed and both sides seemed to shift gears immediately after – However, neither team could take their opportunities, and the first half finished at 1-0 to IPO Rovers.
Both teams went in at half time looking slightly jaded from the heat and disappointed with chances missed – but with shop floor bragging rights only 45 minutes away, it was time to quickly recover, reorganise and look to capitalise in the second half.
No sooner had Mr Appleby’s whistle been blown to restart, PS Wilson found themselves bagging two early goals to push them narrowly into the lead, with 40 minutes to play. IPO Rover’s had swapped keepers and reshuffled their formation at half time, which Rovers’ manager John Bills, was now paying the price for. Things just got interesting!
The well worked goals from Newman and Dowell changed the dynamics of the game for PS Wilson somewhat for the next 10-15 minutes, until up-stepped Rovers’ Matt Angell with an emphatic equaliser – a screamer from the edge of the 18-yard box that the keeper would have been happy to have avoided.
PS Wilson responded well considering the late wounding and went all out to break the deadlock and clinch the win, with some good chances made but ultimately none that found the back of the net.
To add further insult to injury, with 5 minutes remaining, Rovers’ midfield maestro, Spicer, embarked on a sensational solo run, beating several of PS Wilson’s dilapidated midfield and defence before selflessly assisting Jarvis to slot the ball in the bottom left hand corner to make it 3-2 and a win for IPO Rovers.
Siamo and Neovia would like to thank all the players who participated in playing and organising the game and look forward to the next fixture, which has been pencilled in for October.
