Match 1 report by Colin
Another bright yet breezy Monday morning at Polideportivo Benalmadena.
Game 1 was an 8 aside game with very few clear goal scoring opportunities for half a game.
Finally the deadlock was broken when Pete found space on the left wing and drilled in an unstoppable shot 1-0 Blacks.
With plenty of “helpful encouragement” from Bambi advising his team mates how they could better defend, pass and be where he expected them the game was levelled with a net buster from Ken.
Kevo and Geoff where putting their bodies on the line keeping attempt after attempt out until Toni launched the ball goal bound and this time the keeper was beaten. 2-1 Blacks
Reds thought they’d equalised at the death, Kevo dived to save a Ken pile-driver parrying the ball back into space, Paulo followed up with a peach of a shot that Kevo couldn’t stop, but sadly Ken had encroached into the area and a worldie was chalked off.
Match 2 report from Rory
Surprisingly the teams looked well matched with slightly fewer Daves than usual participating in the game. The reds started out better with some good early moves and a great first-time strike from Dave the bee to sting Rory’s hands. The reds were moving the ball faster and more accurately and created a number of early half chances. Fortunately, their shooting hadn’t improved and the only thing that was threatened were the local pigeons who were putting their lives at risk by sitting 10 metres above the goal.
Eventually the ball broke kindly for the reds sending our Keef free on the left wing. With a brilliant bit of improvisation, he fired the ball in from a tight angle which caught Rory on his heels in goal.
The ball bounced off the post and into the path of the Dave the fox to drive the ball past the keeper, and the reds into a deserved early lead. Reds 1-0 Blacks.
The game had the usual array of fouls and tackles from behind (you know who you are), but nothing more than usual. The desire to welly the ball up field a 100mph was quickly stamped on by John the ref, and the threat of a couple of minutes in the sin bin kept matters calm.
Dazza was having a great game for the blacks down the right flank, linking well with the ever energetic Lawrence who was on a great goalscoring run, even though he had a bad habit of ending up on the losing team. The heat of the day failed to slow down both teams who continued to run all over the pitch, even though they had allegedly read the rules. The reds slicker passing moves gave them the advantage, and with the ball bouncing around of the edge of the box, Dave the fox poached another goal poking it past Paul in the blacks goal. There then followed a long debate about whether he was in the box, or it was just his momentum that carried him in or blah blah blah. As everyone started to lose the will to live, the blacks decided to concede the goal allowing the reds to move into a 2-0 lead.
The reds continued to have the edge with their superior energy and passing ability. Jonny had reined in his desired to boot a 40-yard ball into touch and as a result was much more effective, linking well with his teammates. However, the blacks managed to snatch a goal against the run of play with Martin finishing off a nice move to make for an exciting last 15 minutes of the game.
Reds 2-1 Blacks.
With the blacks pushing for an equaliser the reds tried to play possession football to run down the clock, this only partially worked as only half of the team knew how to tell the time.
Meanwhile Mick from Boston (no, not that Boston) sneaked into a goal hanging position which he had learned from an equally morally bankrupt team mate back in the UK. With the blacks squeezing play but failing to penetrate the reds very low block, they didn’t see the danger lurking up field. Before they knew what was happening the reds had an increasingly rare attack as they desperately tried to hold on to their lead. They managed to pick out Mick who skilfully shifted the ball to his right and hit the bottom corner. Game over man!! Reds 3-1 Blacks.
The blacks gamely tried to get back into it and struck it lucky when Lawrence decided to h ball early instead of wasting time reflecting upon where he was going to put. This surprisin clarity of thought enabled him to pass the ball into the far corner, leaving the keeper flappi arms like a pigeon that had recently flown into a pane of glass. Reds 3-2 Blacks.
Another good tight game of football where everyone ran yet somehow still held onto the bel that we were playing walking football. Go figure.
Youtube video from both matches here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc-sVm2jweQ
Final whistle and beers followed.
We meet up on Tuesday for the second social of the year to celebrate our birthday
