The Franklin Match: Coasting

The second half starts out with a bang. True to their style, the Franklin team quickly wins possession and storms into your half, ready to give their strategy another go in the second half. Well prepared for this strategy, you play compact at the back, shutting down their attack, while Daphne and Jack at the front are constantly weaving between the lines of their defense, ready to make a run the moment an opportunity arises.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Franklin team picked up a thing or two during halftime. When Jason spots an opportunity to go long, both Jack and Daphne are ready to sprint after it. Daphne, ever experienced, keeps her eyes on the defenders, timing her run precisely, but Jack’s overeager. He jumps the gun, sprinting down the pitch before the ball’s left Jason’s feet, and though he beats the defender to the ball, it’s not long before the ref calls offside. Your next attempt is foiled as their defense drops even further back, making it harder to execute your attack.

On the throw-in, they assemble a lightning quick attack down the wing. You try stopping the winger, closing down on her fast, but she makes a fast move to the side, faking you out. She tries to cross the ball right into the box, but you manage to pivot just in time, sticking a foot out to block the pass. Surprised, she stumbles, and you manage to win back possession, getting the ball to Valentine.

The next ten minutes pass by without a goal. Both teams are hungry for more goals, but the game ends up looking like the keepers and defenders lobbing long balls into the other half, trying to find a striker for a quick goal. Unsurprisingly, neither team is able to quite make it work. It’s hard to have such precision at range, and with enough defenders at the back against a lone striker, the odds of a goal materializing was always going to be long.

There’s no chance to relax. With your midfield and strikers spread more spacey over the pitch, you’re leaving gaps that they can exploit. Not five minutes later, and a thunderous shot from one of their midfielders is barely stopped by Keegan. The ball goes out for a corner. They play it short, transitioning into the kind of gameplay that they’ve been practicing all game long. It’s unexpected, and you half-flinch as you see the ball making its way to an unmarked striker. Though it’s too late to stop the pass from completing, you hurl your body in front of the striker, your back to the ball. He tries to volley it, but you get yourself there just in time, and the ball miraculously deflects off your ass. It rebounds into Valentine’s feet, and she hurriedly clears the ball, ending the play there.

“I didn’t know you were such a beefcake,” Val quips, as the other team takes a second to get their throw-in together.

“Glad to know my workouts are paying off,” you laugh, giving your butt a good rub. That’s going to be sore tomorrow, you already know. Such is the cost of glory.

You’re up two, and the clock is beginning to dwindle. You could play it slow and win the game with space to spare, you’re pretty sure, but that’s not what Daphne told you to do during the half-time talk. While you’ve got gas in the tank, you’re going to try to make something happen. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be smart in how you do it. You drop back slightly, slowing down your runs and feigning fatigue, giving the striker that you’re marking a bit more space to work with. He calls for the ball the next time he’s open, and he’s given a pass aimed straight for his legs. It would be a beautiful pass, except for the fact that you’ve suddenly cut in, taking all your forward momentum with you as you press ahead with the stolen ball. You manage to beat one of the midfielders with a bit of clever footwork, and then get the ball to Mars. You all know the plan at this point. Daphne and Jack sprint the moment Mars finds the angle, kicking the ball deep. Their defense, wise to your tricks, are ready for the move too. They keep pace with your attackers, and so though Jack manages to win the ball in a quick aerial duel, he has to head it backwards. It ends up at Katie’s feet. She passes it across the pitch to Khloe, who has miles of open space to work with, and the second twin manages to take the ball into the box. The Franklin defense has regrouped, somewhat, with three of them in the box now. Khloe takes a shot anyways. It’s a good effort, looking like it’s going to curl in just under the crossbar, but the keeper gets a hand on it, sending it back out. There’s a tangle of limbs in the ensuing chaos, everyone trying to get their foot on the ball. One of their defenders manages to send the ball back out, but it’s a **** clearance, one that Katie easily receives. She takes a shot, and this time, it’s golden. The goal is a low and fast winner that the keeper couldn’t quite see between all the surprised defenders.

There are cheers all around as the team celebrates. With only minutes left on the clock, that surely seals the deal. And sure enough, after a tense passage of play, the ref blows the final whistle, and you pump your fist in victory. 3-0 to Stonewall. Sweet, sweet victory, and a clean sheet to boot.

Daphne +5
Katie +5
Khloe +5
Jack +5
Keegan +5
Charlie +5
Jason +5
Javier +5
Mars +5
Valentine +5