Colins column
No Frank today so we’re short of photos, but we have the usual team photo with special mention to Boris, not sure anyone else can get their leg up that high😅
Regular introducer Toni has brought fellow Nederlander Eric along to join us and a special mention to Grahams mate Brian who was deputy ballboy
Game 1 was an even 10 aside match thanks to Sean who dropped out due to flight delays. At the last count he’s buying all the beers on Thursday 😅
The first quarter was an even affair ending 0-0 with no attacks on either goal.
Blacks broke the deadlock when perennial goal hanger Paulo was put through and made no mistake in slotting home.
Bambi feeling the effects of the game was put in goal by blacks and pulled off an incredible diving save to keep them in it followed up by Alvin in the reds goal also performing brilliantly.
A second black goal was scored by Glyn after a neat pass from Toni.
Reds were creating chances with Ken getting closer and closer but still no goal.
However Ken’s moment did come. A long ball towards Graham was stepped over and landed at the feet of an unmarked Ken, who ignored the onrushing black keeper in the shape of Commander “H” Geoff, passed to Steve who unleashed a Left footed strike into an empty net.
With no more goals 2-1 blacks was the final score
Rorys ramblings Two owls are better than none
Today’s six-a-side show stopper was a game of two owls with Mark playing for the reds and Dave for the blacks. That means there’ll be no-one supporting the owls at this Saturday’s 6 pointer when the high-flying (flattering to deceive) O’s visit that crumbling edifice formerly known as Hillsborough.
Still, 100 percent of Wednesday’s home crowd still put in a sterling performance as the reds and blacks battled it out for nothing more than their long-forgotten footballing pride. The blacks looked like a strong outfit with ball juggling goalkeeper our Keef introduced the new position of attacking goalkeeper by regularly being found on the edge of the opposing box, searching for a goal.
It was the usual slow start with both teams sounding each other out thereby inadvertently sending the ball boys to the land of nod. Gary was gleefully running about the pitch while inwardly trying to convince himself he was walking. The reds looked most likely to score first, but for some reason after a heavy session the night before, Mick had attached his feet back to front. Despite having 37 chances in the game, not one of them threatened our Keef in the blacks’ goal.
The deadlock was finally broken when Gary’s attempted volley which was rocketing high and wide, bounced off the Fox’s chest and past Rory in goal. It was an easy decision for the dubious goals panel. Blacks 1-0 Reds.
Rory had made the I’ll-judged decision to man-mark Ballymena’s finest, Laurie who led him on a merry dance reminiscent of Kevin Keegan when he ran Bertie Vogts into the ground in the iconic 1977 European Cup Final. The reds, who had been playing brilliantly, received a surprise lifeline when Prack tried a back pass to the keeper, not realising that our Keef was upfield and waiting for a pass in on goal. Time stood still as the ball trundled into the empty net. Blacks 1-1 Reds
The reds took their siesta a little earlier than usual and were soon 3-1 down thanks to a couple of fine strikes from Dave the owl, proving once again that Wednesday shouldn’t have released him on a free at the end of last season. He’s at least a couple of years younger than the legendary Barry Bannon.
Dazza was on good form for the reds, banging half a dozen shots into the lower stratosphere and temporarily unbalancing earth’s orbit, leading to some minor hurricanes in the Philippines. However the reds fought back with a period of dominance leading to a couple of cracking strikes from the Fox who last scored a goal when dinosaurs roamed the earth. He’s met Raquel Welch you know!
Blacks 3-3 Reds.
With both teams seemingly cancelling each other out, the blacks sealed the game with a late goal from the boy from Ballymena. Overlapping goalie our Keef acted as decoy while the Owl and Laurie played a nice one-two past the statuesque Rory. Laurie beat the keeper at the near post, with the glove man being offered a contract with Man Utd to maintain their record of buying players who are total pants.
Final Score Blacks 4-3 Reds.
