Neil (Deadball) has been with Aztec from day one and
has had his ups and downs in the team. He has played in a variety of positions
but usually in midfield (on the right). However, this season Neil has been
switched to the right back position, in which he has excelled himself. Some
pretty solid performances have earned him a regular place for the second part of
the year. Last years most improved player, Neil is Aztec's dead ball specialist
and penalty taker, and has missed only once from the spot in three and a half
years for Aztec (mind you we have only had one penalty — only kidding!).
Neil
has scored some pretty important goals for Aztec in the past, but this season he
has only scored two (probably due to playing at right back. One of the two goals
that he has scored could not have been more dramatic. Aztec were playing Collier
Row F.C. in the penultimate game of the season and the scores were level at 1-1
with only a few minutes left. Aztec needed to win to secure third place for the
season while Collier Row were playing to avoid relegation. With time running
out, Aztec were awarded a penalty for a blatant foul on Uton Tracey. Up steps
Neil to take the penalty that could secure or lose his team third place. With
the comforting thought that his last penalty was the only one he has missed for
Aztec his team-mates looked the other way. The whistle blew, up stepped Neil
against a goalkeeper putting on a superhuman display for the day, and 'wallop',
the ball smashes the back of the net and Aztec are home and dry. Neil's comment
about the pressure afterwards was, 'oh yeah, I didn't realise it was for third
place, I forgot'. Pressure, what pressure?
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