If anyone was contemplating a quiet start to the week, a gentle run out or a meander before luncheon, today's session at Ruskin Drive soon jolted them rudely back to life. The weather was kind, not too sunny and with a gentle breeze making reasonable conditions after last week's humid start. 19 sunny dispositions assembled on the touch line to go through their stretches and limbers before Moneyball pressed them in action.
The teams were;
Blue - Geoff, Mike A, David H, Colin, John H and Len
Red - Tony, Tom, Jeff, Les, Wayne and Martin B
Yellow - Andy, Phil, Mick, Michaylo, David T , Alex and debutant Donal
Yellows extra man - offset by their opponents using guest players for their fixtures
Several electing to return to action after spells on the side lines.
Mike A - a return after a holiday break
Martin B - his recent injury now cleared
Michaylo - after holiday and enforced injury lay off
Donal - breaking tradition injured during his first session with suspected hamstring gah!
Early goals by Tony and Jeff proved enough to win the the opening encounter between the strong looking Crimson outfit over their Blue opponents. Both sides settled into the game but the added goal potency of Reds secured the win.
Next up Reds found Yellows a much harder test with the only goal of the game coming from a sweet strike from Martin (Cockney Rebel) Briggs. Yellows were very well organised and used Michaylo as their permanent keeper to good effect.
Blues and Reds played out an exciting match with Blues taking a lead from Colin. The goal had started as a corner to Reds but Geoff intercepted and drilled a fine pass almost the length of the pitch for Colin to smartly convert past the despairing dive of Tom. Tom at full stretch is quite some sight, certainly a panoramic shot for an iPhone camera. Reds levelled with a well severed passage of play with Tony and Martin switching play before Les turned in Martin's cross at the far post. 1-1 and a fitting score line to mark a very good game.
Yellow now minus the injured Donal made light work of a 2-0 win over Reds, Phil firing a great shot across the face of the goal for his opener before unleashing another sublime effort for his second and the morning's final strike. A word for Michaylo who made that last goal with a defence splitting clearance.
There was a time for Monday's usual 'lets have a pop at the Referee' As the Chairman dithered over the possibility of a penalty when Les strayed outside the area. Penalty? Indirect Free Kick? Speed Awareness Test or Fixed Penalty Points? In the end the Yellows wasted the effort and proceedings were brought to an end with everyone angry and the referee smiling 'another day another controversy, its the same every week' Funny how we moan about decisions and ignore our own failings.
Why do we do it? Answers on a postcard to....
National Cup news will be added to the website in the next day or two.
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