Talk:Paralympics GB finishes 5-a-side football in seventh place at Paralympics

Journalist notes
I saw this match and can confirm the results of this. This is intended as a photo essay.--LauraHale (talk) 12:27, 8 September 2012 (UTC)

Plus+ info
5-a-side football TUR v GBR: CLARKE (GBR) ends career on a high as Britain beat Turkey

Saturday, 08 September 2012 - 11:10

LONDON, 8 September - David CLARKE (GBR) signed off his glittering international career with a goal as Great Britain finished seventh in the 5-a-side football tournament with a 2-0 win over Turkey at the Riverbank Arena on Saturday.

The veteran British captain scored with three minutes left to cap a brilliant display in which he manufactured 13 chances to score and then, at the final whistle, he made an emotional address to the crowd and his teammates.

Earlier, Keryn SEAL (GBR) had put Great Britain ahead against a poor Turkey side who ended their first Paralympic Games in eighth place without scoring a goal.

Britain started the match at a tremendous pace and Robin WILLIAMS (GBR) had already shot just wide before SEAL gave them the lead, cutting inside from a corner and firing into the roof of the net to put them in front in a match for the first time in the tournament.

From that moment it was CLARKE, ending his career with 128 goals in 144 appearances, who took control with a sumptuous display.

In quick succession he put one shot into the side netting, scuffed another when well placed and had another saved, before twice waltzing his way brilliantly through the Turkish defence but not being able to find the finish.

WILLIAMS was also putting in his best performance of the Paralympics and showed impressive ball dribbling skills to create two chances but on both occasions Turkey goalkeeper Ali Hidir KURT (TUR) saved.

WILLIAMS and CLARKE were running the show and tormenting the Turkish defence as they continued to force saves from KURT and create chances for themselves.

They must have thought a second goal for the team and a final goal from CLARKE would never come but eventually it did as he finished off a fine move to complete the scoring.

After the whistle, he spoke on the microphone to thank his teammates and then jumped into the crowd to sign autographs for children as he left the pitch for the final time.

PNS gm/cmw/sb