Red (4): James, Richard N, Richard P, Daniel
Yellow (5): Darren, Colin, Ed, Kevin, Jim N
For the third week in a row the other team wanted us to subsidise their poor attendence and join up. No thanks, we have a loyal and loving team. A little too much loving possibly after Colin minced up with a rather effeminate spotty bag and a copy of Heat in his car.
4 v 5 it was.
The game game kicked off and the after ten minutes the deadlock was broken with Jim running down the wing and crossing low. The ball was going out but then hit a line marker and bounced back in, rolling just out of reach past Daniel in goal for a simple tap in. Fortuitous. Yellow got another soon after with another bit of luck. Can’t quite recall what happened but it wasn’t a skillful assist – I think this is the one where Ed tapped in the loose ball. 2-0 up. Not to be outdone, Red went looking for lady luck and found her. Bad luck though for Richard P who took a shot from Colin in the face. Good luck came though – a rising strike was palmed away by Kevin in goal but sadly rather upwards and backwards over his head and in. 2-1 and no quality to speak of. 2-2 came along with Darren and Daniel having a tussle on the wing with Daniel gaining possession and crossing. A passage of play during which at no point was Daniel balanced and the the only quality was James’s first time finish. Red then went ahead for the first time only for Yellow to equalise. Jim N then fired from half way (’twas a small pitch) with Red backing off and the ball flew low under the diving Richard N. 4-3 to Yellow two minutes before half time, a perfect time to score.
The second half was a little tit-for-tat with both teams taking turns to be in front. Yellow pulled away to a 6-4 lead, one of which came from Kevin who fancied a bit of Jim N’s cake. Red didn’t close down in time and he hit a hard shot from just in front of half way which flew past several players and the keeper. Red didn’t despair with the two goal margin and fought back. Richard N shot, Colin jumped to head away but succeeded in merely skimming the ball and it looped over the keeper and in. Jim N as keeper then dithered in his area so Daniel pounced, gaining possession just near the line, spinning and firing into an empty goal. 7-7. A couple more goals came and went and then in the last three minutes (with both teams going for the win and several breaks happening for both) the ball was released for James who calmly chipped the ball over Colin. Would it go in? Would it go over? Would it hit the bar? It seemed like an age. Luckily for Red it just went under the bar and Yellow couldn’t find a reply before the whistle. The lead changed hands five times!
Final score: Yellow 8 – 9 Red
A special mention to Jim N’s son who was the best ball boy we’ve ever had, sterling work young chap!