The Classics invited Giant Panda from the south western section of the league for a friendly game. Chilliwack had cancelled out the league game and as Panda had a bye they gracefully accepted the challenge to visit Denny Ross. The game was delayed for 12 minutes due to the Panda players getting lost on the journey from Richmond. Dean Herbert volunteered to don a white shirt and face his team-mates until the opposition were up to full quota. Herbert entered the field and resembled Peter Crouch when he first signed for and made his debut for Liverpool (see attached photo). John Parker was making his debut in the nets for the Classics due to the continued absence of Garry Hackel.It didn't take the hosts long to find the net as they took the lead in the second minute. The Panda keeper was taking his first dead ball kick of the match and it was a bad one. The kick barely exited the penalty box and Robbie Keam was on hand to pick up the ball who subsequently squared it for Gordie Macklin for a routine tap in to put the Classics ahead. Two minutes later it was 2-0 after a right wing cross from Pat Rohla found Alan Massender on the back post. The Black Highlander headed the ball intelligently across the goal straight to the feet of Keam who had enough time to wait an hour until Fisher Crockett arrived (he didn't know that the clocks had changed) and almost walk the ball into the net. He had that much time that he didn't even need to think so he couldn't blast the ball over the bar from two yards out like he achieved last week. The Panda keeper never even moved and after the goal he walked out of the nets and took an outfield position.
In the 18th. minute a right wing run from Mackin set up Massender with an easy tap in at the far post but he blasted the ball high and wide. He was obviously taking note of the several attempts that Danny Jensen had previously had and he simply followed suit. Four minutes later the score was 3-0 after a right wing cross onto the head of Bill McAuley has headed forward. The ball should have nestled in the net directly from the header but McAuley wanted to prolong the excitement so he headed it onto a defender who subsequently deflected the ball over the line past his own keeper for an own goal.
Rohla made it 4-0 with a low drive beyond the keeper and soon after the Classics went nap. Massender got the ball rolling and a clever dummy by Jensen released Gene Crowley who finished in fine style. Panda scored a consolation goal after the referee inexplicably allowed play on from an obvious off-side position and the forward drilled a low shot to the right of the despairing dive from Parker.
The second half was a non entity with little to mention as players tried to fulfil their boyhood dreams of being superstar attackers or defenders, none of which came to fruition. Herbert played the second half in goal for the Panda and became their man-of-the-match with some impressive saves. New Classics keeper Parker showed some classy handling and distribution when required and looked to be a very useful addition to the squad.
Final Score: 5-1 (5-1)
Stats:
GK: J. Parker
Your Were Crap Award: D. Jensen