Red: Jared, Paul, Jack, Dan, Jeremy
Yellow: Richard P, Gerald, Tufan, JP, Matt
Surprisingly warm. A busy pitch but we found a spot and wayward shots didn’t interrupt the other games as much as predicted. Mainly because they went out for throws.
An early red attack forced yellow to volley back to the keeper and unable to catch it, Matt caught it between his knees. Sadly for him that was as glorious as it got. Shortly after Tufan was dispossessed by Paul on the half way line and he sent the chipped shot over Matt who could only watch as it soared in. Can’t remember much else.
Shortly after the break, Paul ghosted in to meet a cross and nod in. Daniel was sent up to cause some bother and, as JP later said, he played like a Danish international. The first chance came from a bouncing release down the left. He hooked it up on the half-volley from about half way (accompanied by a collective gasp of surprise, initially at the audacity but then in surprise and hopeful expectance at it being on target) but Tufan was alert and back-pedalled just enough to tip the arcing ball over the bar. Sent down the right on his next foray, he drove hard and Tufan got a finger tip to the rising shot and it skimmed behind off the bar. A couple more less notable efforts came and went and he was hooked back into defence when Paul finished his keeping shift.
Yellow kept up the attacks….Matt shot with JP free at the far post and JP, with the goal mouth gaping, skewed an attempt wide. Paul had been ruthless for Red and these wasted opportunities meant the comeback wasn’t to be.
Final score: Red 5 – 3 Yellow
After the game JP pondered the need for a post-match therapist. And after lunch Matt questioned his teaching ability as he bumped into yet another formal pupil working in a pub. Tasty lunch at the Montpelier with a variety of subjects covered, Boris, cancel culture, Jeremy’s desire to not have a wiki page, Tufan’s geo-thermal problems, JP’s musings on the subject of his book, The Male Gaze (or Gays – which one was it?)