Cup Final Magic

It was a wonderful day in heaven and the angels were busy singing hymns and worshipping God . Today a special event was taking place with the local Saints playing the visitors in a football match . God always looked forward to the game and loved to see all the crowd having fun .

A happy crowd of Mums and Dads stood together in the Stadium as the sunshine of a fine Saturday beamed down on the manicured playing surface .
The media crew walked around with cameras and microphones hanging around their necks . It was one of the rare times when God permitted to be interviewed . As God made his way to the stadium a man with a microphone rushed over to God and began to ask questions .

“ Well indeed aren’t we blessed here in heaven today because God is here to watch the game . Tell me God have you time to answer a few questions ?“

God smiled and said ,
“Time I have infinite time . What would you like to know ?

The interviewer replied ,
“What’s it that attracts you about football God”

“I love to see people become children again . Playing together as innocently as when they were young . Passing the ball to one another in harmony . ”

The interviewer continued ,
“God are most people glad to have died and gone to heaven ?

God leaned over the microphone and said ,
“ I have known many people who have never lived and died and I have known
may people who have died and said they never lived , but most of the people I know are those who have loved and lived and died and now are here with me eternally . Yes all these people are happy to have died and gone to heaven.“

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About a dozen or more security guards chased a dog from the field. The dog was dressed up with red and white ribbons.
Eventually one of the security guards managed to collar the stray.
Supporters from both sides began bursting out in cheers as the dog was removed from the field.
The excitement was intense and song after song was played through the stadiums PA System.
A huge roar erupted from the stadium as the Goners and the Saints in their red and white striped rigs took to the field.

This young Saints side were a much tighter side now with recent victories in high level games. The confidence in their strikers was growing and quite able to take on the solid experience and skill of the Real Goners defence.
The Real Goners recently had some changes to their side through injury and the stress of losing their crown to Nirvana United who were regarded by many as heavens champions in the big league .
Another telling blow to the Real Goners was their early exit from the very rich celestial series soccer competition.
So the pressure was really on to win todays game .

The Saints came with everything to play for and nothing to loose.
They seemed much more at ease than the Real Goners and it showed as both teams warmed up on the playing field.

The Saints final games in the championship had been comfortable wins for them and still rolling with the momentum they had a lot going for them .
The Saints had found a hunger for the ball and it was clear that they were not going to become an easy prey for the Real Goners attack.

Yes indeed this had all the makings for a great game .
The Saints were now ready to take on The Goners and they had the resolution to keep out an early attack that The Goners would no doubt
throw at them.

Final words of encouragement were being passed on coaches and orders were handed out .

God took his seat and silence fell as both teams lay down before God to receive his blessing before the match began .
The Goners were told to bow down and did so to a huge roar .
The Saints followed and received a similar appreciation from their supporters.

The referee called both captains to the centre of the field and they exchanged pennants and a coin was tossed. It never took long to change ends and both teams were eagre for the action to begin.
The Saints keeper put the gloves on like a warrior ready to do battle he spat on the ground and stomped back and forth along the goal line.
At the other end of the field the Goners goalkeeper drank water from
a plastic bottle that he tossed into the back of his net . Then he jumped up and down and punched the surround woodwork of the framework of his goals He looked confident and in control in nets.

The referee called the three Saints players over to the centre spot and the ball was kicked off. The Saints went straight into attack with a well-timed shot from half way almost catching the Real Goners keeper off his line.
The ball was pushed over the bar for the first corner of the game.
The corner was a short one with Saint Patrick linking up well with Saint Jude,
then a nice dummy saw Saint Jude continue his run as the ball was left stranded and still in the centre of the pitch where Saint Patrick had a right foot dig into the Real Goners goals .
The Real Goners were at a loose end as the Saints picked up the pace and pushed the ball about with great urgency and confidence .

The pressure was growing and the Real Goners were in trouble .
Saint Peter who was having his first game with the Saints was proving himself to be a powerful addition to both sweepers and added his weight with a powerful shot that just missed the Goners left hand goal post by inches .

The Saints made a solid statement in the first five minutes of the game that took the Real Goners by surprise and made them take a few steps back into defence .

The goal kick was taken and the Goners returned into the game with an electric strike that now put The Saints under extreme pressure for five minutes The Real Goners hit hard in a counter attack but The Saints soaked up the pressure and were able to keep the ball out of their net .
Although ball possession was spread evenly the difference between the two sides at this stage was a mental edge that gave a slight advantage to the Saints as the Real Goners were being contained and restrained .
The pressure for them to score was building . The Real Goners needed to win to boost their confidence and this need seemed to become the negative thing about their play and it into a hindrance for them in their playing style .
The game so far saw the Real Goners fumble a few chances that they normally would have put away .
The clinical finishing was just not there today for the Real Goners on the field .
The Saints meanwhile were continuing to grow in confidence .

The referee did well to keep the game flowing with some fine decisions and had ignored some of the antics off the actors on stage . During the first twenty minutes he had been getting advice from his linesmen in relation to incidents off the ball . It was a fact that certain players were on edge and nerves had played a big part on the game . A soccer referee needs to have a human side and it was nice to see him smile .

The Saints showed great determination to prevent the Real Goners from gaining control in midfield . The game became a battle for the midfield as The Saints were put under continuous pressure from the Real Goners but still the Saints held their ground and were able to hold out the oppositions attack .

In a challenge for a 50/50 ball there was an accidental clash of heads as
Saint Joseph went in to win the ball from a Real Goners striker .
Saint Joseph hit the deck holding his head and immediately the referee blew the whistle and stopped play .
It didn’t look good for The Saints as Saint Joseph was being checked out by the Medic . On the sideline the Saints coach looked worried and concerned .
Suddenly from the Royal Box God stood up and reached out his hand .
As Saint Joseph was being assisted from the field on a stretcher he suddenly jumped off and ran back on to the field to the thunderous applause of the entire stadium .

After a brief stoppage in play resumed with Saint Paul on the ball passing it to the recovered Saint Joseph . There was a definite concerned look on the Realk Goners goalkeepers face as Saint Joseph was heading towards the goalmouth . Weaving in and out through the last lines of the defence Saint Joseph closed in and slammed home the first goal of the game .
It was a cannonball shot fired from the edge of the box . The Real Goners keeper had only just managed to get his fingers to the ball but all he could do was push it into the back of the net .

The Saints supporters went into uncontrollable hysteria . The cheers continued as The Real Goners supporters tried to rally behind their team .
Now the game burst into action .
After the kick off the Real Goners fired in a shot that narrowly missed the Saints goal . The Saints now turned around and applied strong pressure that continued until the half time whistle blew .
So at half time the score was one nil .

In the dressing rooms drinks were handed out with the oranges.
Both team coaches gathered in their players to encourage them with a few well chosen and hopefully inspiring words that they hoped would tilt the balance of this heavenly game .

Outside the dressing rooms prayers were being said and on the field halftime entertainment was keeping the spirit alive .
As both teams made their return to the field the crowd began to sing and jump for joy .

A sharp whistle from the referee summoned the players for the kick off .
The ball was kicked off and suddenly the Saints hit the ground running .
The Real Goners were holding their heads in their hands as The Saints
Scored in the first ten seconds of the game .

The Saints were now two up and The Real Goners began to make substitutions . Pinky a well liked and charismatic individual who once played big time as a mortal put on the gloves for The Real Goners .
Phil the super sub also came on and was fully focused on the game and not concerned about the two nil scoreline .
A large contingent of Karma minded police entered the stadium as the ball was placed on the centre spot for the kick off .

The Saints again came under pressure but were solid as a rock in defence and the Real Goners found no way through .
Saint Paul and Patrick continued to hold out danger and make invaluable space for themselves on the wings .
Angels on the sidelines gathered to hold up the time almost over sign as The Real Goners continued to press for a goal . It fell to the feet of Pinky to pull one back but the shot was blocked by Saint Peter who had the answer .

With the ball cleared up field by Saint Peter , the Saints centre forward Saint Michael ran on to it and hit one into the back of the net for the Saints .
Three nil for the Saints and the crowd went wild .
It was no more than they deserved with their perseverance in midfield and positive play up front .
The Real Goners were now a team in shock and the three goal cushion the Saints had took quick advantage of the game . Tight marking in midfield and flowing passing of the ball gave a beautiful edge to the Saints game .

The ball was now bending and dipping .
The Goners were defending and slipping .
It was a one sided affair and the Saints had found new life and strength in their attack .

With the game now almost at an end the Real Goners mounted a final attempt to pull one back . The greatest danger to the Saints came with a mishit shot that spun its way right across the face of goal but there was no one there to finish the job for the Real Goners . In an mad scramble attempt to clear the ball out of the Saints penalty area the ball was kicked anywhere but rebounded off a Real Goners player and the rebound hit the post .
Again no one was there to finish the job .
It was three nil and that’s the way it remained until the final whistle .

Both teams shook hands and made their way from the field where they were all handed medals . It was now up to the Saints to do a lap of honour .

Cheers went up around the stadium . What a happy result it was for all the followers of the Saints who had come a long way to watch the game .

Saint Thomas received the player of the match award .

For the Real Goners their game and their season was over with many questions needed to be answered .

One of the media again approached God with the microphone and said ,
“Could I have a few words with you God .”

“A few words and more if you want .“
God replied .

The interviewer asked ,
“God what do you think the losers took away from todays game ?

“I guess those who lose for my sake will win and those want to win for themselves will have to be content with being defeated here in heaven .“
God replied .

The interviewer held the microphone a little closer and continued
“God in your opinion how would you compare the strength of both the teams out there today ?”

God smiled and said ,
“Well its not good to compare a team with another because as everyone knows each individual is judged on their own merits and not in a group comparison “

The interviewer said ,
God what advice would you give to the losers today?”

God replied
“Just to practice forgiveness and to learn that no one is lost as long as they believe in me . “

The interviewer smiled and said ,
“Thank you for your time God .“

God laughed and replied ,
“Time . I am always here . Just ask me I’ve got an eternity .”

THE END

By Paul McCann