Le Testimonial
Red: Ed, Ahmet, Colin, Jack, Oz, James
Yellow: JP, Richard N, Daniel, Liam, Tufan, Jim N
Brisk and bright and a very respectful turn out of 6-a-side for the departing legends. Apologies from John G who was a yes but went of injured last week.
JP and Ed as captains and an old-school line-up appears for them to pick from. “Socially awkward” hit the nail on the head. Who was first? Who was last? The glee and shame will be confined to the annals history.
Quite the open game right from the start with both teams putting together some nice passing around the pitch but no goals for the first seven minutes. Then just after the first change Oz fired a swerving shot which Daniel got a fingertip to but that’s never enough for an Oz shot. 1-0. He got a fingertip to the next one from Ahmet and this time it was just enough to tip it onto the bar, bounce down and be finally gathered. Apparently Ahmet then got an own goal here but I don’t remember seeing it. Jim N also took out Colin by tangling with his lose laces – free kick! Jack stepped up, eyeing a curler for the far top corner…..of the tree behind. He missed that too. Then just before half-time a goal mouth scramble and a poke of a final attempt from James bamboozled the keeper with a couple of deflections to put Red 2-1 up at the break.
Teams photos were then taken by the press, thank you for braving the chilly Rye, ladies.
The second half was much like the first. JP put one in shortly after the break. I don’t remember the build up but he ran away pulling his jersey over his head revealing a message on his vest saying “Vive La France” on the front and “Au revoir mes amies. Zut Alors” on the back. Smug git. Daniel couldn’t score for toffee, repeating a first half chance of failing to get contact with Tufan’s lovely diagonal ball and also firing a lovely Liam cross at the keeper and then heading the next one wide. Jim almost scored whilst sprinting onto a fast through ball that the defence cleared straight into him but it sadly ricocheted just wide. A lovely lofted ball from Oz was perfect for Colin to fire in on the half-volley to take the lead. Short-lived though as Yellow weren’t about to sit back and a scramble at the other end this time ended with the ball rolling out of the melee for Richard N to stroke in. Ed almost bundled in the winner a few minutes before the end but although both teams wanted the win, the whistle went for a draw.
We don’t often do a man-of-the-match but Richard N headed away so many speculative long balls, generally cleared any imminent danger, covered the keeper to clear off the line and also scored the final equaliser. A sterling game sir.
So like the man who couldn’t pronounce his F’s and Th’s, you can’t say fairer than that then.
Final Score: Yellow 3 – 3 Red
P.S. We decided to take penalties for a laugh. And laugh at Red we did with only Ahmet and Colin scoring. For once though Mr Norman had little influence with three of the four missed shots off-target! JP was the only Yellow not score with the most pathetic chip you’ve ever seen. It bounced before it even reached the keeper. But it was all just a bit of fun.
Bons voyages mes amies. Nous espérons que vous avez les bons séjours en France et en Congo. A plus tard.
And HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all.