Buffs FC (Scottish Team) - server 112

[Buffs Mad]

Yo-yo Buffs FC continue to take the crowd on a roller coaster ride.

Today's league visitors were 10th placed Indonesian side who had suffered a dip in form lately. The away team had set up aggressively looking to take the game to the Buffs. And they achieved that in an opening spell which saw pressure exerted in the home end. Two corners then a free-kick in quick succession. Buffs packed the wall but the long run up was a diversion as Jailiashvili neatly flicked the dead ball to Toba and the marauding AMC curled it in at the back post. Would Buffs' temperament hold up to the pressure? The midfield was like no-mans land with the ball constantly popping over or around Buffs' centres. Clearly the frustration got the better of Buffs' Nicolson when he needlessly caught the heels of the away team's winger as he cut inside and saw yellow. Strangely that seemed to cause the home side to take stock and they visibly settled: no longer chasing but opting to put their foot on the ball and exert control. The equaliser came in 17 mins with Paraibabo coming inside, stooping and diving to head home Kalkoul's in-swinging cross. Buffs stroked the ball around and appeared relaxed on the pitch. The second came just before half-time with the advanced Nicolson picking up on a defensive mistake - a short pass back - and he rounded the keeper to prod home.

Half-time came and although the the home team led, Buffs Mad paced up and down huddling with his staff, notebooks twitching. The visiting manager meanwhile seemed relaxed. Did he have a masterplan or was this the pressure of expectatation being played out in front of our eyes? As the second half got underway the Buffs engine room purred into action - control was the watchword. A flurry of goals came with Kalkoul volleying home a Savage corner in 56; Butler splitting the defence and chipping the keeper on 64 mins; and this time Paraibabo converting another pinpoint corner from Savage. The visitors had not been devoid of threat - the composure of Buffs' defence just made it seem that way.

A 5-1 win at home seems comforting enough but the nervousness of the pitch was palpable and celebrations seemed muted.

In a after match comment Buffs Mad said "I'm not quite sure what game these league reporters were watching but clearly from their ratings they don't know what a commanding midfield display looks like."