LOST POST: One More Win

The below post was written and saved, but never finished or published, prior to our final game of 2016, away at Tokushima.

Before I post for posterity the notes I'd made prior to that day, here's the highlights of what was an incredible afternoon. I watched with thousands of others at Higashi Shizuoka's public viewing. I must dig out those pics. For now, here's the highlights:

HAPPY DAYS!!

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BARRY WRITES... 

After game 24, we sat in 7th, wondering if we'd make the play offs. The next match saw us turn around a 3-2 scoreline in stoppage time. Including that game, since the end of July we've played 17, lost 2, drawn 1, and won 14.

We've Come a Long Way, Baby

Who saw that coming? Not many, and I'd be lying if I claimed different of myself. Sure the 8-0 against Gunma was a once-in-an-era never-to-be-forgotten type of an afternoon, but it wasn't until that crazy game in Chiba that our season really got going. 

The only two we lost since then were against the highest of high flyers; 1st and 2nd placed Sapporo and Matsumoto. Sapporo I missed, being in England at the time, but the Matsumoto game was hard to argue with. They neutralised the deadliest strike force in the division, scored one, and defended well.

Service was resumed following that game, and our eight wins on the bounce (the best S-Pulse run since 1999) took place as those around us dropped points here and there, ultimately whittling Matsumoto's 7 point lead away to nothing, and Sapporo, who were 12 ahead of us at one stage, to within touching distance.  

On Saturday we finally moved up to 2nd by dint of that humongous goal difference we've been steadily building up. 83 goals tells it's own story, but it's the addition of the third best defence in the division that gives us a +15 better differential than anyone else. 

Now with one game left we could be champions. If Sapporo lose and we win, it's ours. Consadole haven't lost many this season, but they've been wobbling like nobody's business. They won last week to put them a point from the title, but who do they have to face? Kanazawa, a side who absolutely need to win to avoid either instant demotion, or a relegation play off.