Red: Kevin, Daniel, JP, Tufan
Yellow: Martin, Oz, Eddie, Ahmet, Steve
Uneven numbers, last minute team changes and Eddie joins the fray – welcome sir.
Tufan’s speculative shot got us started. Yellow replied and it was similar tit-for-tat for much of the game. Daniel scored with his first outfield touch of the ball. Steve, for the second game in a row, decided to maraud down the left wing, trying to improve his repertoire by crossing with his left foot – the Ronnie O’Sullivan of our little footballing niche. Unsurprisingly, he’s quite good at it. Red we left slightly bemused by JP negating any anticipatory moves by shouting “Play it like it is.” Tufan made a quick hatrick of reflex super-saves to keep Red in the game. Martin was given numerous chances to head in but couldn’t convert one. He did get a few with his feet though. And JP has competition – Eddie has a dragback trick or two of his own. He took turns with Martin, both working the right wing well and Yellow did eventually pull away to a 7-4 lead at half time. Red’s team chat worked and they quickly rallied to draw level at 8-8 soon after the break. Yellow didn’t take it sitting down and restored the advantage pulling away to 14-10. They took the foot off the gas and two more from Red made making things interesting for the last five minutes but Martin saved the best until last, taking down a long high ball from Oz at the back with his first touch and powerfully firing in an unstoppable half volley for the last goal of the game to quell any chance of a Red fightback. He even curtsied. A suitably impressive and meaty goal to reflect the occasion of his birthday and the size of the steak he had the night before.
Final score: Yellow 15 – 12 Red