Fingertips*

We sometimes cling to our regular ways and the comfort of normality in the face of adversity Last week SHWFC members were starved of their weekend reading matter (or doesn’t matter) with the non-appearance of the Club’s Blog The unfortunate absence of a number of the editorial staff, meant that the chance to document yet another week in SHWFC history was sadly missed So, dear readers, an apology will have to suffice on this occasion Mea Culpa Mea Culpa

The new week dawned over Ruskin Sports Village with 38 players toe to toe along the warm-up margin Jeff Betty was the only available Referee with El Presidente still missing and Eamon O’Hooligan enjoying a return to playing after his recent knee surgery Lord Rainford and Cockney Rebel are holidaying in Rye and Tenerife respectively Photographic evidence is provided below, showing our heroes sensibly re-hydrating

Numbers were boosted with new signing Leanne who made an impressive debut for Sky The day’s teams were;

Sky - Haggis, Les Meldrew, Steve J, Andy Man, Phil the Power, Tracey and Leanne

Black - Willo, Donal, Roy, Eamon, Amazon Prime, Triallist and Sheila

Purple - Phil the Cat, Geoff Prout (released from his ball boy duties, Enoch, Mark NR, Tomo and Citeh Geoff

Orange - Simon, Ashy, Thatto Dave, Eileen, Les H and Steve Honeyman

Yellow - Grav, McSpeed, Glen, Wickie, Snakehips and Monday Michelle

Pink - Little John, Liz, Roger, Mike Thompson, Tom Stretch and Mika

Sky and Black each with 7 players played for the full session whilst the remaining sides played in the usual 30 minute games, switching at the interval to provide variety

Eamon enjoyed the role of Player/Referee and goal machine plundering 5 goals for Black, none of which he disallowed for whatever reason imaginable Sheila had a mixed morning being on hand to steer home Black’s other goal before injuring her hand during her stint as keeper Tracey grabbed a brace for Sky in reply but Sheila was later diagnosed with a dislocated finger and potential fractured knuckle The game ended as a 6-2 win for Black but was over-shadowed by Sheila’s injury

This latest blow to SHWFC growing injury list comes just as Tom Stretch made a reappearance after his own hand-gate problems Lord Rainford remains side-lined following ring-gate, unlikely to be ever tempted back between the sticks again, he might allow the Family retainer to try instead

Jeff Betty took charge of Pitch 1 with Orange and Pink unable to find a goal after 30 minutes of end to end entertainment Plenty of creative effort but some excellent defending ensured the final 0-0 stalemate

Oranges and Lemons (more poetic than Yellows) served up a thirst-quencher, both sides creating chances before goals by Grav and Monday Michelle sealed the narrow 2-1 win for Lemon Steve Honeyman on target for Orange but the outcome (or outspan) not in doubt Orange were hampered by a knee injury suffered by Thatto Dave This another set back for Dave who has missed a lot of sessions in the past few months We wish him a speedy recovery

Purple faced Yellow in the first game on Pitch 2, with plenty of goals to punctuate the action Jill claimed Purple’s only goal but a McSpeed brace plus Monday Michelle special ensured a 3-1 win for the Citrus

Game 2 Purple took the honours with a two-nil victory over Pink Thanks to goals by Mark and Enoch the win sealed Yellow’s dismal morning in front of goal two games but no goals to trouble the record keepers

We are assured that cake was consumed to mark Tom Stretch’s return to fitness and Birthday last Friday

Word came back that Leanne had thoroughly enjoyed her first session and was made very welcome She’s looking forward to her next ramble at Ruskin

Our Midweek meet-up was set against the backdrop of unseasonably great weather, bright sunlight and temperatures better than some Mediterranean areas It was a little disappointing then that playing numbers were at best modest at Sutton SoccerDome

Those who did play were;

Blue - Chris 4G, Grav, Gonzalo, Deggs and Roger

Yellow - Citeh Geoff, Eamon, Neil Stretch, Little John and Jeff Betty

Red - Les Meldrew, Jason, Andy Man, Les H and Joe the Ghost

White - Phil the Power, Eileen, Gaz, Haggis and Chris 10P

The sides were especially well balanced with all teams more than capable of exceptional teamwork, penetrative passing and spectacular goals All the more remarkable then the first game featuring Red and Yellow produced just one goal, Jason with the only goal The game was so close that at the end some of the players were unsure if there’d been any goals at all

White met Red in their next game but were undone by goals by Gaz, Phil the Power and a terrific strike by Haggis Jason was the sole scorer for White 3-1 the final score Red a little too organised for White

Blue had no issues finding the net however their defensive frailty was problematic all night Gonzalo was on fine form after a holiday break to rest the knee In typical fashion his cheeky snapshot found the corner of the net to put Blue ahead against White Haggis tested the Blue keeper but with ten minutes it remained 1-0 The dry weather meant the sand-based pitch was very quick, the ball fizzing around all session White were patient and moved the ball from side to side to seek out gaps The equaliser came on 13 minutes when the hapless Deggs intercepted a cross but could only fire it past Grav with too much pace for the keeper 1-1 White took a 2-1 lead thanks to a deflected shot from Gaz that hit Grav to rocket past Roger There was some payback when Grav cooly picked off a lose pass to strike home 2-2 Eileen produced some excellent defending to hold Blue in check The final five minutes saw the score swing back in favour of White Chris 10P on target for 3-2 before Grav equalised with a smart finish at the near post 3-3 and less than 3 minutes left The deciding goal came with 50 seconds remaining, Haggis close before Chris10P was left totally unmarked to pick his spot Blue had pressure on the White goal Gaz with a great save to deny Gonzalo from the clearance Chris 10P wrapped up the victory 4-3 a superb match

Yellow played Blue in a feisty match punctuated with a couple of naughty challenges that earned the culprit a ticking off Yellow were tidy in defence as might have been expected Blue carried a constant goal threat

The first goal from Eamon from a tight angle and against the run of play 1-0 Yellow ahead with 7 minutes gone Ten minutes into the contest Gonzalo moved past two defenders to fire home 1-1 disappointingly the feeble appeals for ‘not walking’ then resounded Deggs found a goal with a shot that took a baffling route to the corner of the net With all the defenders reacting to the trajectory of the ball, somehow the ball swung into the opposite corner of the net 2-1 Blue ahead with 10 minutes left Gonzalo stretched the lead at the far post 3-2 Yellow were somewhat rattled at this point with a flurry of pointless appeals that were never destined the change El Presidente’s mind Maybe focus on playing and let the Referee make the decisions?

Citeh Geoff fired a long range effort past Roger for 3-2 Blue still ahead Gonzalo found the target once more to restore Blue’s advantage 4-2 taking advantage of a rebound With 3 minutes to go Deggs almost killed off the contest Jeff Betty found the net despite Grav’s despairing dive 4-3 with just 90 seconds to go

Blue rode their luck in those last seconds to hold on for a 4-3 victory

A fine night’s work producing some exceptionally close games The Boot Room had depleted numbers again with regulars still sunning themselves It was left to the Few to hold the fort, conduct the usual media interviews and put the world to right

Fingertips* - Stevie Wonder (still Little Stevie when first recording this Motown classic back in 1962)