Ruskin Drive resembled a council recycling site on Monday morning when our crew descended on the AstroTurf in preparation for their regular Monday session The Ruskin staff were left clearing the debris from a weekend football crowd that had failed to find any of the numerous litter bins clearly visible all over the arena The mess was a reminder that not everyone is as civically savvy as we would like Luckily our game was not littered with the same degree of carelessness as we will reveal
In the absence of Coach Davies, on a coach meditation retreat today, El Presidente was pressed into service as auxiliary warm up specialist As a consequence the warm up was unfussy and uncomplicated and completed to rapturous applause in quick time
The teams were selected using a variant of Moneyball, diue to the uneven number of participants 17 players chomping at the bit to learn their team, team mates and ultimate fate
Neon Green - Wayne, Chopper, Dave Seagull, Tom, Nigel, Mark, Les and Tony
Blue - Mika, Jeff, Anita, Cockney Rebel, Thatto Dave, Steve Honeyman and Goldie
Despite the extra body disadvantage it became quickly evident that Blues greater urgency and movement would prevail The opening goal followed a period pf pressure on the Neon goal and was scored from a layoff at a free kick Thatto Dave placing a well directed shot into the bottom corner. Jeff doubled the advantage soon afterwards after a decent move that featured Steve the Honeyman at his lethal best, back to the goal holding the ball up for his team mate to steer home
The neon reply was fairly tame in truth too much pedestrian play with poor weight of passing and a lack of movement Compounding that with a lack of communication and it was going to be a hard day at the green office Steve punished the Neons with a typical effort before the break His power too much for the fragile defence There was a moment of predictable controversy as eagle eyed official awarded a penalty to the Neon when Mika wandered into the area An attempt to sub the keeper with a specialist from Thatto Heath was rejected, up stepped Nigel to drive his effort towards the corner of the net but as the crowd oohed and aahed Phil produced a good block to save Phil atoning for a wayward shot that found the net, albeit half a pitch away rather than on our own pitch
Half Time and just 3-0 to the Blues
At half time the temptation to augment the Blues by switching the extra player was avoided as El Presidente stripped off his referee's kit to don a body hugging Neon bib for the second half Mark moved to Blues in an act of appeasement Neon's defence took on a predictably stronger look thereafter and Neon eased back into the contest with Tom and Nigel both going close Blues looked crisper with their passing and offered greater energy throughout Mika especially dominant Neon relied on shutting up at the back and endeavour from Les (described at one point as having the stride of a giraffe - similar control too at times) and Tom who pushed his team to find a way back There were 2 free kicks deep in enemy territory that were smothered clear and then the inevitable Blue break held up by some agricultural tackling by El Presidente From the resultant free kick Thatto Dave repeated his first half lesson with a good finish beyond the Neon keeper The match ended with a standard Phil drive to rub salt in the wounds 6-0 and in truth a thoroughly comfortable result that was never in doubt
On another day the score might have been 8-1 but Neon contributed to their own downfall with profligate passing and a lack of urgency and energy The lack of communication was particularly unhelpful The old description of 'deaf and dumb football' though these days hardly PC was fairly apt
A reminder that Bryan Clark's Funeral is on Thursday morning 7th October at Wigan Crematorium Warrington Road Lower Ince Wigan WN3 4NH at 11;00am Members planning to attend are asked to wear Club Polo shirts in respect of our team mate Contributions to our Football floral tribute can be made to Alex directly
This week's Wednesday Sutton session is switched to Thursday at Parr Sports CC Derbyshire Hill Road WA9 2LH at 6;45 until 8:00pm
There's a kind of hush* - Herman Hermits s1967
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