Yellow (6): Richard N, Jeremy, Jim N, Kevin, JP, Oz
Red (6): Paul, James, Richard P, Ahmet, Jack, Daniel
Sunny with a light but noticeable breeze. Good to firm after the overnight rain.
Cor, even sides or what, not much in that game. Red got off to a prompt two goal lead, Daniel shot and although Oz saved, the ball rolled to James who whacked it in. Daniel also ended up with the ball just to the left of goal and whilst he was crowded out by defenders he managed to also tempt Kevin out of his goal with a teasing seductive wink just like you’d see in a Soho doorway, keeping the ball just out of reach and then pulled it back for Jack to power into the empty net. Yellow got one back and then Red to pulled away to 4-1 with at least one carbon copy of the blocked/saved ball falling kindly to a fellow striker. However the half wasn’t finished and Yellow gave back some of the same medicine, Paul saving nicely only for Jeremy to stroke home the loose ball. A JP multi-drag back popped in one, wrong-footing his marker and keeper alike. And five minutes before half time Daniel came out to the oncoming ball and twosome of Richard N and Jim N both charging it down. In the resulting tangle of legs it fell for Jim to stroke in. Awful keeping. Half time 4-4.
The second half was much the same, good even sided stuff, the only let down was some poor quality passing from both teams. James got hold of the ball and swivelled to volley in. Yellow equalised with Jim N running down the right, poking forward to JP who scored from the tightest of angles with Jack calling for a throw back down the line but only after the goal. A prod forward to Paul was too inviting and taking out the frustration of hitting the post umpteen times, he let fly with a fierce first time shot to the top corner only to be parried at the last instant by Jeremy’s hand. Just in case there was any doubt about he’s shooting abilities, he’s still got it. Shame he can’t score. JP tried to inspire his team to get into the lead and there were a couple of ghasps when Jeremy and Richard P both went down within ten minutes of each other. Both looked serious initially but both thankfully fine. And then ten minutes from the end Paul light fly with a soaring ball up the middle for Ahmet to rise and nod in over the keeper. Huzzah for route one and a victory reflecting the merits of FPTP – majority wins. Where would we be with AV in football?
Final score: Red 6-5 Yellow