Yellow: Jim N, Gerald, Daniel, Richard N, Tufan
Red: Colin, Oz, Ahmet, Liam, John G
5-a-side, nice. And Richard N returns from three weeks away. I’ll try to recall events but may be sketchy due to mild concussion sustained from Thursday’s impressive cycling emergency-stop-over-the-handlebars-headfirst dismount.
Harking back to 1970’s Italy, it was a cagey opening, chances for both but it took until the 17th minute for Red to break the deadlock with a lovely header from Ahmet direct from a corner contradicting what I said on the subject last week. Yellow replied soon after with Daniel gaining possession in midlfield, sprinting goalwards and firing in. They went ahead too shortly after with a tame shot from Jim inexplicably running under/through Liam’s hands. Not helped by the size of Colin’s gloves. Tiny, I tell you! Liam almost made up for the error with a lovely volley that flew just over and another shot that was inches wide of the post. And just when Yellow thought they were safe, 30 seconds before the break the ball was passed to John in the area and with a deft touch he sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted into the big gap. 2-2 at half time.
A quick turnaround and the only thing quicker was Red’s start, numerous one-twos in the first few minutes regularly sliced open the Yellow defence and finally one paid off, Ahmet once again powering forward and although Jim got the block in, the ball rebounded back onto Ahmet and ricocheted in. Unfortunate/fortuitous depending on your point of view. They cemented the lead with Daniel giving away possession on the wing too easily to Ahmet who made no mistake, two goals up. Soon after Colin chipped the keeper but it bounced off the bar – close. Richard N had a chance to reduce the deficit, sprinting towards the keeper he had Tufan on the left and Jim on the right to choose from, three on one. But oh no, glory was his target. Well something was because the goal certainly wasn’t as he spooned well wide, painful to watch from the back.
John then pulled up with a rather severe-looking ankle injury (get well soon sir) and Liam had to leave early. Jim volunteered to swap sides and promptly fired in a couple of goals – he didn’t work anywhere near this hard for Yellow, dirty traitor. A couple more goals went in before the whistle, including one eventually for a frustrated Tufan but I think after the changes, the only fair thing is to scratch the last 10 minutes.
Final score: Red 4 – 2 Yellow