Sunday 26th March 2006
Semi Final – Dave Baister Cup
Long after the game had finished, the crowds had left, and the only signs of the battle between Hibs and Norwich was Gareth's 4 empty cigarette packets blowing across the hallowed turf, were people left to wonder on two questions; how do you get an indirect free kick in the penalty box from being scissor kicked in the head, and secondly how is it possible to miss from 4 yards in the last minute?
The afternoon had begun with much hype and anticipation. Such was the expectation that another year would bring another semi final success for the boys in yellow, that Harris had put all his clients in Lucozade stock, producing 20 free bottles. The changing room was under instruction from the boss to wait until he arrived before warming up, but after finishing 3 litres each of this unethical insider traded lemon power up – the lads were bouncing off the walls. The normal pre-match conversion competition followed.
Norwich had 3 key players missing, but showed why they were the current form team in the league with ample strength in depth. Callum (slight migraine)and Bennett (runny nose) both produced doctors notes to excuse them from crowd watching duties. Utting however showed complete lack of regard for his teammates by holidaying in Budapest for the weekend.
The boss gathered the squad together prior to kick off to announce the line up and deliver his rousing Henry V oration. Nervous glances from the boys followed Higgins' production of a clip board and the claim that he had been working on his speech all week. The shock however was that AH left himself on the bench, with Barney filling his size 6's at sweeper.
The game kicked off with Hibs having the better of the opening exchanges. Gallagher looked lively upfront, with some neat early touches, confounding the changing room doomsayers that he had flouted the 10pm Higgins curfew the night before. Apparently identified by Hibs as a danger man, Gallagher was then schythed down repeatedly from behind. The referee and lines-people somehow conspired to miss the offences. This culminated in the obligatory red mist (purple haze?!) descending on the striker who was inevitably yellow carded for his troubles.
The eagle eyed officials, however did not miss any of City's minor indiscretions. Parling continued where he left off in previous encounters with Hibs, stalking the mid-field and dispensing his own form of justice. Harris was also unlucky to be booked.
It was Gallagher though, that created the best of Norwich's openings, with a surging run into the box. The Hibs defender then mistook Gallagher's head for the ball and brutally hacked him down inside the box. Thankfully the referee was well positioned, and gave the only decision that he could, an indirect free kick in side the box.
That let off spurred Hibs into life. Hibs created several good chances, brilliantly saved by Semple. The fact that Matt was not available to play in the final, for similar reasons as the disgraced Utting, did not distract him from turning in a superb display.
The defence was being consistently pressed, and Harris and Barney were over-heard discussing the depth of City's back line. Only minutes later Hibs scored, following a break through the midfield, a slip from Danno, and a one two that lead to Hibs side footing the ball through Barney's legs. Claims for offside from Slater and Davies were surely a cunning plan to see whether the goal would be disallowed, and the correct decision given instead - an free kick in side the box.
Norwich upped the tempo but created few clear cut opportunities for the remainder of the half.
Half time.
The break allowed the boys to re-group and re-organise. The boss delivered an impassioned plea for the team to remain focused, to play with cool heads, to leave the whingeing, moaning and diving to Hibs, and concentrate on playing football.
The second half started with Parling now on the left and Higgins in his usual sweeping role. It took only 10 seconds before the boss was involved in an ugly off the ball incident. His own half time words long forgotten.
The game duly opened up as Norwich pressed for the equalizer. Norwich created two good second half chances, one falling to Davies, whose shot went well wide. Davies claimed later that the cross, following Slater's good work down the right, took a bobble. The second chance came from a pin point cross from Boucher landing on Danno's head Danno put the header just wide. The make shift centre forward at this stage was inexplicably carrying Bennett's unwashed left sock wrapped around his big thumb. Some were questioning whether Bennett's absence and the wrapped big thumb were in fact linked?!
After a number of Hibernian break away chances, the final minute saw a free kick awarded to Norwich 35 yards out. A floated ball from Slater saw Boucher make a well timed run from deep to find himself in the clear with only the keeper to beat. The level of technical skill required to bury the ball as it came over his left shoulder, swirling in the wind, with a notorious sex addict bearing down on him was all too much, and the ball went just wide. Game over, and Norwich's dream died.
The post mortem ensued in the bar. No blame was apportioned (apart from the holidaying Utting). Even the referee was absolved, as he is used to refereeing at a much higher level, where apparently in-direct free kicks in the box are more often given.
On a more positive note, Seech presented the boss with enough dodgy sports-ware for a week in Liverpool , for the 151 games Andy has played for the club. Andy was over-heard mumbling that next year will be Norwich's year for both the league and cup. Andy - make mine a double. Oh and by the way, Andy had a baby.
Hibs 1 Norwich 0
Man of the Match: Boucher
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