Hattrick United

In a historic match, the Cyclones have beaten the currently No.1 ranked Oceanian team to progress to the 10th Round (Round of 16) in the Oceanian Cup.

Nat was speechless, “…………” and way too busy picking his jaw up off the ground to talk to reporters.

But a club spokesman said it all when he elaborated, “Nat’s speechless, what more can he not say?”

The Cyclones have broken all team records this season, managing to add a Round 10 appearance to their catalogue of accomplishments. It’s likely to end here, and Nat will be able to fully concentrate on the League, where the team still holds a slim 3 point advantage at the top of the table.

Tomorrow will tell the tale…

A Kid Tumbling - which has nothing to do with this blog entry

This comes on top of the team’s highest Ranking (46), highest Hatstats (359 – equalled yesterday), and highest Stars (though we all know stars are evil). The fanclub is still growing, and bearing down on 3000 fans (2917), and the team is sitting on 18 matches undefeated.

To say the Cyclones are performing beyond expectations is the understatement of the year. Nat has signalled that all current season targets have been met and no further changes to the team will need to be made for over a season.

So it’s now a matter of filling the coffers with more money than the Cyclones have ever had. The way things are going, that target may also be met!

Following 2 hard-fought victories, the Cyclones have cleared out to a 6 point buffer at the top of their division in their first attempt at Div III.

“The fans are loving it, eh?” mentioned NatTheRat1 somewhat rhetorically, amidst jubilant scenes at the airport as the team touched down following the match last weekend. The Cyclones had set up a massive 4m x 4m TV in the local park for the faithful and were astounded when four and a half thousand turned up to watch. This weekend, a massive 66,000 turned up to the game.

“The double vs Trail of Dead will be the defining moment of this season. It could all go pear-shaped from here, for sure.”

And it certainly could. But right now, the fans are savouring a season to be remembered, with tickets for home games drying up fast!

Luca Weingessl saw the writing on the wall many weeks ago, but he hung on, helping out the youngsters, and occasionally shoring up the defence in the firsts toward the end of matches.

Within hours of informing the club of his retirement, Weingessl was told he’d been elevated to the Hall of Fame for his 5 seasons of unerring service to the Cyclones.

But it should also be noted (as it has been on the soon-to-be-unveiled plaque in the clubhouse), the part Luca played in a famous victory in the GMC Cup semi-final:

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Congrats Luca!

Following on the success of a filthy CA (355959282), lol, Cyclones have been auto-promoted to Div III.9 (3221).

Cyclones would like to thank their fans and supporters for what has been a surreal journey in Season 35, and hope and pray that Season 36 is half as enjoyable (in which case we’d easily snag a qually).

Good luck to the incumbents of Div IV.5 – you are a great bunch of lads and remember it’s up to you to make things happen, whether it’s in your teams or on the series forum.

Good luck, enjoy the off-season, and remember new memberships go on sale next week!

NatTheRat1 made all the moves he could, but still came away empty-handed in a drama-packed match at Foster’s Arena today.

The team started well, but it soon became apparent the troops weren’t quite right, and Nat’s plan of taking it easy at training this week had back-fired. Passes went astray, smart-alec attempts to go through defenders, the first half had it all.

A goal for Cyclones on 29 minutes didn’t help the team, as they eased off even more. In red time, the Brewers struck back, and the sides went into the sheds at 1-1. The small throng of yellow and maroon supporters were even heard booing at the half-time whistle.

The pasting the team received could be heard 50 metres away, through brick walls, and a clearly more determined unit took the field in the second half.

But all good plans can come undone, and so it did this week with captain, Luis Estupiñán, limping off after 59′. Just 4 minutes later, Brewers found the goal for a 2-1 lead. Nat made some switches, bringing on the out of form, Mark Beaugrand, and strengthening the central attack, but despite having the run of the game, the Cyclones couldn’t find the back of the net.

“Things just didn’t go our way today”, said a grim-faced NatTheRat1 after the match.

Season 35 has started with a flourish of goalscoring and clean sheets for the fast-developing Cyclones unit, and NatTheRat1 couldn’t be happier sitting atop the table in IV.5.

“I could get used to this caper,” he admitted with a grin. “Seriously though, the team is performing beyond expectations, and I just hope they can keep it up.”

Thus far, the Cyclones have accounted for fellow-promotee, Western Sydney, 4-0 at home, followed it up with a 1-4 result at the highly-rated Timbercutters, then today, put out a new team record 345 hatstats to blow away the second placed (now third placed) Worrigee Utd, also 4-0.

According to Nat, the team is well balanced. “We’re generating ratings all over the park. Oskar between the sticks is having a blinder this season, and the defence is functioning well. We’re getting chances and the boys up front are putting them away. The team is playing well.”

Next week sees the local derby at Lagana Lions and it should be an absolute cracker!

Yesterday, the Cyclones opened their season account with a strong 0-10 result vs some bot. The team faces another bot next week, this time at a marginally larger 12k stadium.

This weekend sees the Cyclones face fellow OC Forum regular, aussiestyle and his Western Sydney FC. Should be a tough match. Worth watching.

It’s about to get underway folks. The first season where NTR1 goes into IV with any kind of confidence. The last 2 attempts were premature, for different reasons.

This time, we’ll be playing for keeps.