Time until the Next game at Benalmadena Polideportivo
Match 1 Report from Rory
Once again there was another huge turnout of walking footballers at the Poli, with the ‘B’ game featuring 7 against 8. Following a minor adjustment to the teams on paper at least it looked there might be a half decent game in store. The red shirts had what looked like a solid workmanlike team of journeymen. A bit of a Bournemouth, likely to end up in mid-table but always looking over their shoulder at the looming threat of relegation. The one exception was Dave the Owl who was a credible Barry Bannon tribute act. Scandinavian expletive generator Kai started up front, and when he hits the ball it definitely stays hit. Our Keef literally ploughed a furrow up and down the right flank with Laurie playing a more defensive role. Rory and Eammon set up camp in midfield with Easy Gary doing his usual runaround up front and shouting for impossible defence splitting balls. Johnny took the gloves.
The blacks had a couple of ‘ringers’ with Yoza setting up camp in the hole just behind the dynamic (buddy) Colin up front. Kevo sat deep with (woar) Trevor ensuring the reds would have few attempts at goal. With Dazza and Alvin available to skilfully disrupt the opposition flow, it was going to be nigh on impossible for the reds to break through the lines. Glyn had the keys to most defences (even though he regularly couldn’t find the keys to his own gaff). Freddie sat in front of the back three ensuring an extra bit of protection for what was a fairly attacking line-up. Dave the Bee had a licence to roam and was last seen heading off across the extensive plains of the Poli with a herd of wildebeest.
The blacks started out brilliantly, stringing together a record number of passes which made Man City look like Barrow Town on a bad day. This didn’t lead to a shot on goal, but at least the possession statistics looked good. Gary and Colin were vying to outdo each other on who could run around the most, to least effect. It was a photo finish. Out of the blue and slightly against the run of play, the reds managed to squeeze a ball through to Gary who drilled the ball into the corner of the goal to give the reds a surprise lead. Reds 1-0 Blacks
This setback galvanised Yoza into unleashing his superpower – the thunderbolt that is his left peg! Colin, who had continued to run about tirelessly worked a nice one-two with Yoza allowing him to burst through on goal. Nobody could bear to look, fearing the worst for Dave in goal. To everyone’s relief Yoza fired it into the far corner to deservedly level the scores. Reds 1-1 Blacks
Dazza almost put the blacks into the lead with a rocket toe poker from a tight angle. The watching players couldn’t work out what they were more surprised by. Was it the fact that Dazza actually hit the target rather than the forgetful pigeon perched 10 metres above the bar? Or was it the fact that Rory actually saved it! We’ll never know the answer to that conundrum. Both sides continued to have their chances to go ahead, but once again it was Gary who managed to find the net for the reds, although VAR had to check whether he had stepped into the box when striking the ball home. After the usual agonising wait, the VAR official stayed with the on-field decision. Reds 2-1 Blacks
Both sides continued to push for goals resulting in Kai nearly working his way through his comprehensive list of Swedish expletives. Yoza fizzed one just over the bar for the blacks and Rory missed a sitter when the reds brilliantly split open the blacks defence. The blacks continued to push hard for an equaliser, but the reds defence held firm with our Keef orchestrating his resources well and ensuring the reds held their shape by regularly giving Eammon an earful and berating anyone who wasn’t marking an opposition player, particularly Yoza’s left peg. Colin kept running, (woar) Trevor kept prompting with his intelligent midfield passing, and Kevo glided through the lines. Alvin and Dazza surged forward with Freddie ensuring the back door remained shut, but to no avail as the reds held firm.
The reds managed to cling on for a victory when a draw would have been a fair result in what was a hard-fought game played in the right spirit. Final score Reds 2-1 Blacks.
Many thanks to John for keeping the game under control.
As usual the vvideo highlights are available on our Youtube channel. Details on the front page
There will be no report from game 2, however, please see the team photo below…
