Nick Of Time*

Another hectic week for SHWFC members got underway in record fashion with 47 pitting their wits at Ruskin Sports Village on a brisk Monday morning Once again we enjoyed the best of the day’s weather before later showers fed our lawns and dampened our spirits Heralding more newbies to the cause Football Manager Andy Houghton was soon in action dispensing shirts, welcomes and a hearty congratulations to Sheila who has been honoured in recognition of her work with St John’s Ambulance

The teams selected for the day included (perhaps a nice vague description) the following teams

Red - Dave Roberts, Amazon Prime, Mike Thomo, Dame Sheila, Chris 10P, GRAV & John Hill

Blue - PaulF, Chris K, New boy Peter Webster (quite an impressive debut), Brian Smith, McSpeed, Robin and Little John

Old Gold, Jill To,o, Joe the Ghost, Mike Bates, Steve Harding, Beach Boy, Honeyman and El Presidente

Purple - Mika, Glen, Lord Rainford, Tom Stretch, Les Meldrew, Cocknry Rebel & Monday Michelle

Green - Rick, Ian Connor, Lefty Bridge, Margaret, Les H and Big Phil

Black - Ashy, Brian P, Citeh Geoff, Enoch, Trish, Snakehips & Steve Jones

The final tally also included our perennial Triallist (publicity shy as ever) and others who were equally MIA at photograhic time

Nevertheless I’m assured 47 made the cut and lined up for thr frolics ahead

Referee Jeff Betty took charge of the opening action that pitched Old Gold and Purple in a close fought game Purple were soon ahead thanks to a Monday Michelle missile Glen took advantage of an injury distraction in the Gold Standard to double the lead A calf injury took Beach Boy Brian Wilson out of the rest of the session The numerical disadvantage was repaired with the multi million £Emergency Signing of Brian Smith The bold move would later pay dividend Back to full strength Old Gold hit back with a typical goal by the Honeyman Some improved teamwork set up the deserved leveller Brian Smith finding the net to take Old Gold to a 2-2 draw

In Game 2 Red proved just too strong for Purple shading a close contest by 2 goals to 1 Dave Roberts and Chris Prout for Red with Phil the Cat on target for the Purple consolation

On Pitch C or the Far End Red had claimed their first win of the session Dame Sheila and Chris with the goals to seal a 2-1 victory over Blue for whom Phil had replied

The final match was equally tight with a penalty conversion from McSpeed securing a win over Old Gold Mike Bates was unfortunate to concede the spot kick adjudged to have strayed out of his area in smothering a close shot He got a hand to the penalty but couldn’t prevent the inevitable swell of the net as McSpeed fired home

In the morning’s remaining fixture Green and Black shared seven goals Black wearing a variety of black garments due to a laundry malfunction (Treasurer’s attempt to pay using Caribbean currencies spectacularly backfired)

Goals by Brian P with hat trick and Steve Jones ensured Black enjoyed better fortune than their kit Green hit back with goals by Lefty, Les Hewitt and Big Phil 4-3 Black casting Green to the shadows

Overall a great set of games played in testing conditions with little room for finding space We must prepare for a 4th pitch and 4th set of games with fewer players per side The time is drawing ever closer

Wednesday’s Sutton SoccerDome sessions were a couple of tasty cliff hangers with the Innards sports hall session especially enjoyable The teams were;

White - Robby, Gonzalo, Benny, Jeff Betty and Joe the Ghost

Orange - Honeyman, Lord Rainford, Les H, GRAV & Les Meldrew

The game was played in an excellent sporting fashion, White squeezing the Orange pips by 6 goals to 4 Gonzalo 3, Joe 2 and Robby were the White Knights whilst The Honeyman stung twice before goals by the fabulous Les Bros (Meldrew & Hewitt) kept Orange in the hunt 6-4 the final verdict Handshakes all round No fruit were harmed during the encounter

Meanwhile in a parallel universe there was a superb contest served up with 9 Yellow facing 8 Blue for the honour of being the mid-week winners

Blue - Martin Mc, Andy Man, Midweek Michelle, Gaz, Mark Dav, Chris a sully, Mike Thomo and Jason

Yellow - Haggis, PJ, Tom Dtretch, Cockney Rebel, Chris 10P, Eileen, Little John, Deano and debutant Paul Cottington (who impressed on his first WF outing)

Live commentary was recorded by Referee El Presidente Blue with strong wind at their backs settled first with a series of fine passes, defining their style Haggis went close for Yellow before Gaz saved the rebound from Chris 10P Yellow enjoyed a spell on top but were almost undone with a poor clearance

Jason pounced on some defensive dithering to poke home the opening goal after 15 minutes Then Mike Thomo profited from a great midfield interception by Gaz, tucking away a neat pass from Jason Blue now two up and playing some very tidy football as half time approached

Blue swarmed and pressured Yellow then unleashing some fine passing Yellow hemmed in finding it difficult to escape their defensive area

The second period was more of the unrelenting effort by the numerically inferior Blue

Chris Sullivan scored what normally would have been the goal of the night emphatically finishing off a move started by Gaz fed into Mark Dav for 3-0 to Blue

But Yellow finally clawed back into the contest with the definite goal struck from fully 25 yards by PJ, the ball volleyed at waist height into the far corner 3-1 Yellow rallying at last Tom Stretch punished a loose pass to draw Yellow back to 3-2

Blue were hemmed for long spells inside their own half but could have secured the win with a little better luck Mike Thomo was fighting a personal duel with the Yellow woodwork

Tom Stretch saved a fierce strike from Mark Dav Blue were probably the more composed side but were fighting now with the strengthening wind and numerical odds as time ran down

Chris 10P found the net with the last kick of the match picking off a terrible clearance to leave Blue wondering how they had failed to hold on 3-3 the final score achieved with the final action of a terrific game

It’s a funny old game!

Normal service was reserved for thirsty Boot Room regulars with English Clubs capitulating to crack continental outfits

We offer two boys with their toys as our parting thought for the week

Nick Of Time* - The excellent Bonnie Raitt