Play Ball*

So we’ve reached the month of August with no sign of this long hot summer slowing down unlike our SHWFC members who always respond positively to the Referee’s invitation to “slow down”

Another bumper turn out at Ruskin Sports Village attended the first session of the new month Forty players 3 referees and numerous spectators plus a guest from Liverpool County FA Richard Jones who donned a blue Turks Head emblazoned shirt to join in the frivolity

The teams selected were;

Red - Rick, Haggis, Little John, Mike Bates, Barry Wizz, Glen and Sheila

Black - Honeyman, Les H, Enoch, Roger, Andy Man, Meldrew and Kirsty

Green - Monday Michelle, Ashy, Lefty, Colin, Speedo Mick, Cornelius and Roy

Blue - Mark NR, Beach Boy, El Presidente, Citeh Geoff, Richard, Eileen and Phil the Power

Elsewhere

Old Gold - Mika, Rita, Donal, McSpeed, Cockney Rebel and Ian Connor

Played a 6-v-6 game with under Eamon’s guidance

Purple - Phil the Cat, Big Tony, Trish, Aldo, Snakehips and Mike Thomo

Our first report comes courtesy of Head judge Jeff Betty Birchall

Game 1

Blue 2 v 0 Green

Mark with a penalty and Phil the Power scored the Blue goals

”Blue took an early 1 nil lead when Roy encroached into his own goal area, to present Mark with an opportunity to convert Blue had lent of possession but struggled to improve their advantage

Green passed the ball about well but couldn’t make their attacks count due to some poor finishing and excellent defence from the Blue defensive organisation Inevitably Blue finally secured a second goal courtesy of Phil the Power to round off a good performance”

Game 2

Blue 2 v 1 Black

“I stood in for Paul who unfortunately had to stand down after being hit on the head by a shot in the first game.

A great passage of play involving Angry Andy (or Enoch as he usually answers to) and Andy Manager lead to a superb finish from Kirsty sending  Black into an early lead

Unfortunately this didn’t last long and Blue were soon on equal terms with Richard our visitor from LCFA out paced myself to poke the ball into the bottom corner of the net with the keeper stranded Blues second and winning goal Was scored by Phil the Power with a perfectly placed shot which I watched fly past me into the top corner giving the Blue team an unbeaten morning”

Charlie took the whistle for the Black v Red opener on Pitch 1 This was a tense close encounter with both teams enjoying periods on top But it’s goals that win matches and Red fired two thanks to Barry Wizz and Glen to overcome a spirited Black outfit Andy Manager claimed the Black consolation 2-1 the final score

Red were badly exposed in their last game, trailing behind Green whompillaged five goals to dominate Mike Bates claimed the Red token goal but a deluge of goals for Green thanks to Monday Michelle 2, Roy, Lefty Bridge and Speedo Mick, meant Green were comfortable 5-1 victors

The morning’s other match was an end to end full blown 6 a side under Eamon’s care Aldo and Phil the Cat pounced for Purple but Old Gold glistened thanks to McSpeed and the Cockney Rebel Time elapsed with both sides searching for the decider 2-2 the final verdict in a game that all enjoyed

Wednesday’s Sutton SoccerDome session was played against a backdrop of potential rain Welcomed by all our gardeners but cursed by those looking to top up their tans in another bright evening Twenty Seven made the starting line, with El Presidente on hand to referee one game and blind chance and good fortune in charge on the adjacent pitch The sides selected included Jo Schofield who made a huge impact on her debut not least on the nets on the middle pitch

Yellow (Lemon but definitely not Old Gold) - Eamon, Jo, Steve Carine, Meldrew, GRAV & Nigel

Orange - Phil the Power, Mike Thomo, Little John, Ian Hilton, Heather & Andy Man

Our thanks to Football Supremo Andy Man who writes in the style of our sometimes chronicler Jeff Betty (no idea about accuracy)

“The St. Clement Derby.

Nobody seems to be certain of the final score. I've heard everything from 10-8 to 12-12.

Because of the uneven number, 13, we had to swap newbie Jo Schofield from Yellow to Orange at half time. Yellow, with the wind and the extra player, romped into a half time lead. The reverse happened in the second half.

A big welcome back to Heather, who continually found space on the left.

What a player Jo is! Not only did she bag a hat full of goals, her control and lay off play were fantastic.

Yellow....Eamon, Ste Carine, Les B, Martin, Nige, Grav

Orange...Me, Phil Power, Little John, Mike Tomo, Heather, Ian Hilton.

Jo played for both teams (did I say that already?) Well she certainly did”

The night’s other game was a edgy tight affair with plenty to admire as both teams adopted the pass and move approach Sky just about edged the greater accuracy but the game yielded plenty of chances and some seriously wild finishing

Haggis went close with a great effort going across the keeper, but sadly just wide Pink narrowly wide Sky claimed the first goal when Phil Moss tucked away a great pass There was a tentative appeal for encroaching the keeper’s area, but Chris Prout sportingly declared there was no foul Sky 1-0 ahead Pink equalised on the strike of half time Chris Prout rewarded for his earlier honesty with a neat goal that might have deflected off a defender 1-1 at the break and some superb stuff on show Ian Harding did claim a goal but was judged to have ‘not walked’ to finish

There was a long period before Jason rounded off a great passing move Helen providing the decisive pass 2-1 to Sky with 20 minutes left PJ took full advantage of a goalkeeping error to make the score 3-1 Sky exerting a greater level of pressure with

Pink did hit back with 6 minutes left 3-2 at a time when Sky looked in comfortable control The final goal was a short corner knocked square by Phil Moss to the unmarked Paul Winstanley who finished comfortably 4-2 Sky rewarded for control with a minute left

Sky winners after a brilliant game good to watch with lots to admire

Sky - Phil Moss, Paul Winstanley, Chris 4G, PJ, Jason, Helen & Cornelius

The rain stayed off for most of the game returning to make the trek back to the Sutton SoccerDome nerve centre a little challenging Great session one and all

No team photos for this week Sorry technical issues in Blog Central

Play Ball* - Ashley McBryde & Brother Osborne