Down 1-0, manager Ryan Cassidy saw his team immediately devolve into a desperate mess. Once his players' emotions kicked in, he became afraid that this game might spiral out of control if they can't reel it in.
He could consider himself in luck though, as the hole his team was in didn't grow any further at the sound of the half time whistle.
The players were in such low spirits that it's impossible to think that they are down just 1-0. Their body language was that of a team down a man, and getting dismantled 6-0 in the first half.
Cameron was even more silent than usual, with his eyebrows narrowed and eyes that are glaring daggers. Terry, playing as the striker today, was fidgeting with his feet and can't seem to calm down.
"Do you guys believe in magic?" The voice that came out of the manager's mouth was the most pleasant version of his voice ever heard by the players. "Because I do."
He stood just beside the locker room door, and after beckoning the players to look at him, his story began.
"You should know how Damian Potts started his senior journey, right? He was a 75th minute substitute in a game where our team was down 3-0 to Liverpool away. Sure, he was a big name prospect, but our old manager gave him his first taste of senior and FA Cup football in an unsalvageable situation like that.
As expected he ran like crazy. He dived into tackles without any care. He attempted long passes like he's a great playmaker. He poured his heart out. Do you guys have any idea what happened in that doomed game?
It came alive for us. Suddenly, we're back in it. The players' lost will was regained. The determination to win has returned. The focus was restored. All with just the magic of a single man."
"Too bad we don't have that kind of magic." A young player in the back said. He played center back.
"That's the thing. It doesn't matter even if you have it. It just… happens, you know?
You don't need to be the most hardworking, nor do you have to be the most skilled,
the only thing Damian Potts had was faith. The faith to make a difference. The faith to turn the game around."
"I don't believe in fairy tales." Cameron said with a straight face.
"Sigh… what I'm saying is, every single one of you can make that magic happen. Maybe a lucky pass that misses defenders and reaches your target? Maybe a cross that becomes a shot and squeezes into the bottom of the net? Or, or, a hopeful shot from range that was hit with just the right amount of power to squeak into the underside of the bar and into the goal?"
The gleam on the eyes of the middle aged manager could be seen, as if he was a naïve, hopeful kid. He was even gesturing with his hands and arms in glee.
"You all have that magic in you somewhere, lads. Just have faith in your own football."
Cassidy turned around, pointed at the digital clock right above the door, and walked out with a smile on his face.
Terry was moved.
Cameron clenched his fists.
The desperate and sullen atmosphere reversed and became determined.
The boys of Sheffield are ready to strike back.
***
Blaise Atkinson was sitting on the couch with his bandaged right foot over the small table.
His mind was already used to injuries, so he had a lot of ways to kill his boredom. Good thing he can at least recover at home instead of at the hospital.
Right now, he was scrolling through several real estate websites. Of course, he doesn't have the finances to buy anything yet, since he's just a fledgling youngster with a meager contractual income, but maybe with his knowledge of future land prices, he can buy properties in the future…
"Oy, son! Aren't you nervous about that FA Youth Cup game your team's playing?" His father, holding a bowl with an assortment of small berries, asked.
"Why should I be nervous about that, Dad?" Blaise grabbed a strawberry and popped it to his mouth. "They can handle Southend without me, easy!"
"But you just said that when you went down, they got spanked in the ass big time!" The father put his hand in the huge bowl of fruit and came away with a blueberry, which he also popped into his mouth.
"Believe me Dad, those blokes are stronger than they think they are!"
***
The sharp increase in morale worked wonders for the away side. It seemed like the manager's rare, dreamy words had its desired effect, as the players were more eager and looked more and more threatening as the time went on.
The revitalized Sheffield side pushed the home Southend side back deeper into their own half with some better passing, and more aggressive movements on and off the ball.
It was in one such relentless passing play where Terry, with his back facing the goal, played a quick backheel one two with his friend Cameron Okojo to allow him a good opportunity to grab an equalizer.
Cameron right now is as locked in as an eagle about to swoop down on its prey. His composure was excellent, even sending the ball to his left foot from his right to give it more of a fighting chance.
He struck it with finesse, aiming for the top left corner…
Only to hit the woodwork… for a corner kick. The keeper actually managed to change course rather quickly and tip the shot to the top of the crossbar.
This was the very first warning shot from the refocused offense.
The assault on the goal continued for most of the second half, with several attempts going agonizingly close, but never finding the back of the net. It was partly because of the standout performance of the man between the sticks for Southend, who already debuted for the senior side last year.
He was stopping any tame attempts, wayward crosses, threatening long range shots, and basically anything that Sheffield was throwing at him so far.
This routine corner at the 89th minute was no exception.
Without Blaise, the corner kick duties fell onto Terry's foot. As the mass of bodies fought for every inch of space in the congested box, he swung the ball in…
The first contact was made by a Southend defender, who failed to clear the ball and instead sent it high to the middle of the box.
Cameron, who was standing with his back to the goal, felt an inexplicable rush of adrenaline. He had always been a calculating, rational person, who doesn't like taking risks since it messes up his plans most of the time.
It's just that for this half only, he'd abandoned his usual style in search for his own magic.
Fuck this, let's try it.
Cameron saw the ball pass him in the air, but still just in range for this inexplicable, and fancy shot the usual Cameron would not dare attempt.
Then everything became a blur.
All of a sudden, every single Sheffield Blades player had piled on top of Cameron in wild celebration, who's lying with his back to the grass as the adrenaline wore off fast.
It was his moment of magic.