Another Friday night, another desperate struggle for players, sadly. With Simon Gas’s chivvying for more commitment ringing on our phones, let’s take a look back at last Friday night’s action from Coram Fields.
With only 12 players – plus the Stakhanovite Moz, who once again helped bolster the numbers by playing for two hours straight – it wasn’t an easy task to select two teams, but we did what we could.
Yellows: Ian Gooner (back in action, albeit confined to goal); me; Steve; Moz; David; Kanat and Yev
Blues: Johnnie; Simon Gas; Simon Ink; Will; Parminder; Alan
And so it came to pass that the team with the extra man scored some goals, seven of them to be exact, while the team with one man fewer also scored seven goals, albeit three of them when they had the extra man. Confused?
The Blues took an early lead and with Will pulling the strings in midfield saw plenty of the ball initially and were well worth their 1-0 (Will; direct from a corner a la George Best) and then 2-1 lead. I believe that Alan did some of the damage. The Yellows’ extra man (Yev, basically) gradually started the make the difference and some professional goal hanging saw the Yellows take, and then extend, their lead. Yev could have had a hatful on another night, but still managed to get on the scoresheet several times despite repeatedly taking the ball too wide and finding the resulting shooting angle impossible.
Arguably his best contribution was an exquisite chipped pass to Kanat that fell perfectly for the brunette utility man to nod home. Speaking of Kanat, he scored one of the two best goals of the evening when Moz cut in from the right touchline and found the Kazakh enforcer on the edge of the area where he fizzed in a rasping drive that span deliriously in the side of the goal before dropping to the floor. A lovely effort. Moz was also among the scorers and was the chief creator for my one goal, as his rammed strike was parried by Simon Gas as far as my right foot.
At 7-4 Alan had an epic strop and demanded a change to the teams, whereupon Ian – no doubt feeling in need of a walk – strode purposefully up the pitch. I thought he was taking a turn up front, but he was merely restationing himself in the Blues Goal and with around ten minutes left the Yellows just had to try and keep hold of possession.
They didn’t largely due to some inspired play from Will, who bagged all three remaining goals: a fizzed effort from the right that David couldn’t prevent going in, another effort who’s details escaped me, and then a companion piece to Kanat’s tour de force as the Iniesta of the Fylde coast scored in the dying moments with a what was essentially a Cruyff turn that completely wrong-footed the Yellow’s defence. A final corner from the Yellows wasn’t converted and the game finish all square.
All in all, not a bad show for 13 people.
And so to the pub! Topics under discussion included a new pricing model for Friday nights, which you will have now all seen, Ian’s seemingly unsuccessful effort to complete some diversity training, Alan’s view that Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester is a huge mistake and some chat about Primary Schools in the London area. However, the final word goes to Yev, who was regaling all and sundry about a Communist-era aperitif: horse’s milk. I can only assume this is a euphemism, although for what I’d rather not dwell on.
Until Friday!
I attach a photo of me dressed as Marc Bolan for your enjoyment. You’re welcome.
Stick that in yer blog! 