Time until the Next game at Benalmadena Polideportivo

Match 1 report from Rory

With the Nation’s League signalling the death of football for a week, the old boys were keen to show what “real” football was all about on the glistening plastic of the Poli. It wouldn’t be WFS without some kind of existential crisis severing the synapses connecting our Keef’s calm neuro-centre with his pre-frontal lobe. Suffice to say it was carnage, as due to someone not turning up, the f (fast) A game was one player short leaving 6 Blacks vs 5 Reds. Cue the top of our Keef’s head doing a few quick laps around Alpha Centauri before landing safely back on planet Poli.

Stephen made the mistake of trying to even up the balance of the teams, but this merely attracted a metaphorical punch straight on the nose. The reds would just have to enjoy being on the end of a good kicking and get on with it. So, what was the damage? Final score Blacks 7-4 Reds. The score was slightly flattering to the reds as due to Stephen’s short spell in goal, he conveniently forgot to stick out his arms to save a couple of goal bound shots from Rory and Dave the Cab. This served to make it look like a slightly more even match, which it wasn’t. The reds did have a few good footballers. Our Keef starting at libero, Rory in midfield, supported by Dave the Owl. Dave the Bee played as a false number nine (they didn’t have enough players for a real one!), And Dave the Cab going into goal, thereby allowing the opposition to appreciate what it was like to have pain free legs for 10 minutes.

The blacks were a smug six, with plenty of players willing to run around and stick their boot in where it really wasn’t much appreciated. Dazza had just completed his course of six sessions of hypnosis in the forlorn hope that he would block out his default position of thinking he’s playing gaelic football and remember to hit the ball under the bar and through the posts when running in on goal. Kevo was calmness personified and had so much time on the ball he could grease and replace the bearings in his hoverboard. Rick never lets the team down (down, deeper ‘n down), charging up and down the right flank. Prac did likewise on the left flank with Stephen starting up front, in the hope he could grab some cheap goals against the outnumbered opponents. Alex played in the hole, simultaneously providing the best line of defence and the biggest goal threat for the blacks. On paper it looked more one-sided than General Custer’s ill-fated attempt to supress the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho, at Little Bighorn.

The reds did start strongly with Dave the cab pushing up from the back to give the reds a solid press. After 10 minutes of giving as good as they got, the inevitable happened when the blacks scored for the simple reason that they always had one more man to pass it to. A nice move found Prac doing a Grealish at the back post and side-footing the ball into an empty net. Blacks 1-0 Reds.

The reds remained positive, although that could have been due to a lack of oxygen reaching their brains as they ran about the field chasing the ball like a group of strays that had recently escaped the local dogs’ home in Arroyo. The false sense of euphoria eventually paid off with the reds managing to pin the blacks back to 2-2 as the midway stage of the game approached. Stephen did his best to keep things level by missing a series of easy chances, and the blacks eventually had to rely on Dazza to hit the target and score the goal of the game by beating Rory to the ball and slotting it in at the near post. Blacks 3-2 Reds.

Our Keef tried to keep the reds in it by exhorting them to try harder, and with Prac switching sides with Dave the Bee, the reds had the merest glimmer of hope they could haul themselves back into the game. However, they realised they couldn’t rely on Stephen and Rick blasting the ball wide every time they were presented with an easy chance. Dave the owl was pushing out from the back and sent a good ball through to Rory in midfield. Unfortunately a rare lapse allowed the blacks a shot at goal which the owl saved brilliantly. Eagle eyed John the ref spotted the winged predator was outside of his box when he tipped the ball over the bar and had not hesitation in awarding a penalty. Kevo drilled it home with ease. Blacks 4-2 Reds. This was followed up quickly by Alex, who was on hand to deliver the coup de gras by nailing another goal for the blacks. Blacks 5-2 Reds.

The pace began to take its toll on the reds, resulting in Rory bimbling (only our Keef knows what this means!) about in midfield. The blacks took advantage and extended their lead as the reds tired. Blacks 6-2 Reds.

Following a great motivational speech by our Keef the reds gathered themselves for one last push to get back in the game. Dave the owl put together some nice passes to split the blacks defence, and with Stephen in goal, bimbling Rory and Dave the cab took advantage and reduced the deficit to just two goals. Blacks 6-4 Reds.

Oh, it’s the hope that kills you! As the clock ticked down the reds put together one last surge which delivered a couple of good chances to bring the scores level. However, Kevo was giving another masterclass in Kung Fu goalkeeping, brilliantly forearming and kicking the ball round the post. And then the sucker punch, the reds were stretched and left the back door open for Alex to tap in number 7. Final Score Blacks 7-4 Reds.

While the blacks went to the bar, the reds headed to the nearby oxygen tent for half an hour of recovery. Thanks to John for refereeing the game, which if nothing else was a good runaround.

Match 2 report from Dave

Red bibs.
H🐟👮‍♂Ken⭐Dave🦊Klaus🇸🇪
Ian🧅Boris👱‍♂
ColinC⛵

Black bibs
Fred🧩Bambi🦌
Graham⚪Sean🍳
Pete🐟TonyB
Graham🪰

With a good wind blowing in from the sea, both teams started slowly with no goals scored during the first period….

The Blacks took a lead through Graham 🪰 with a neatly placed ball…Dave 🦊 drew the teams level with a soft goal when Fred fumbled the ball….

Disappointed with Irelands display against England, Shaun scored a good individual goal and then was pulled up twice for putting 🦊on the floor, showing his fellow countrymen the game they should have played against England…
Reds pulled it back to 2-2 following an exquisite ball by Ian through to Ken, who neatly slotted the ball between the keepers’ legs…

Graham put the blacks back in front with his first goal at WFS.. his smile was beaming…

What followed was 2 turning points in the game…

Blacks went 4-2 up with a kick from Pete 🐟 where 2 Red players… names not mentioned… allowed the ball to run under their feet into the back of the net…

Next, Pete 🐟 scored through a 6-inch gap on the near post… H swears he had the space covered… Really !

Finally, Tony B for the Blacks took the game beyond the Reds with a nice first touch and then slotted the ball in the far corner….

Blacks ran out 5-2 winners…