Matchday Photos Here and video Here
Match 1 – Rorys writings
The moment is fast approaching when football will finally be coming home. Unfortunately for the English, football has many homes and it’s likely to be going to one in either Spain or France. C’est la vie! Meanwhile on the soccerball field of dreams, two strong teams oiled their knee joints and got down to the business of missing a shed load of easy chances. The reds had the most deadly goalscoring duo since Liverpool’s Keegan and Toshack terrorised defences across Europe. Ton and Ken have an almost telepathic relationship and this was displayed in abundance in a thrilling high scoring game of biff-ball.
The Fox had run out of players so had to settle for 6 blacks against 7 reds. As well as the dynamic duo up front the reds Dave the bee sitting in a deeper position than usual. The defence was solid, with axe wielding Pete the Fish prepared to hack anyone down if the goal was threatened. The blacks dominated possession early on with our Keef, Rory and Graham forming a neat passing triumvirate. Meanwhile, Bambi’s plaintiff call was carried forlornly on the wind as he awaited the wonderball that would create the perfect chance for him in front of goal. Dream on.
Geoff was solid as ever at the back but unfortunately didn’t have eyes in the back of his head when Ken ghosted into space. Big Ton wasted no time in picking out the wing wizard with a great ball. Ken wanted no time in jinking past two outstretched tackles before firing the ball past the statuesque Keef into the bottom corner. Reds 1-0 Blacks
Martin Glyn and Sean kept things tight in midfield for the reds, although the blacks did go close on a number of incisive moves. On the rare occasion when they did threaten the goal Ton, and then Sean proved up to the task of saving the ball. It helped that both have legs which span the width of the goal, making it nigh on impossible to score. The reds’ deadly partnership struck again when Ton’s laser guided passing once again picked out Ken who once again beat the advancing keeper. Reds 2-0 Blacks this was soon followed up with a great strike from Ton who deservedly bagged one for himself. Reds 3-0 Blacks.
The blacks were looking a bit sorry for themselves when out of the blue, our Keef pulled them right back in it with a couple of great strikes. Reds 3-2 Blacks However, you can never keep Ton and Ken quiet for long, and record goalscoring partnership struck again with Ken providing yet another exquisite finish to keep the blacks at ba and secure yet another deserved hat-trick. Reds 4-2 Blacks.
Following some nice hold up play and a flick on from Mike (1263 flicks – 1 finding the player intended for) the blacks burst through on goal, only to be thwarted by Sean momentarily thinking he was playing Gaelic football and handling the ball outside the box. Dave had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, and main man Bambi stepped up to take it. He brilliantly fooled Sean by scuffing his shot so that it bounced multiple times before squirting into the corner past Sean who seemed to be engaged in a revival of the Riverdance as he hopped and skipped his way in the wrong direction. Reds 4-3 Blacks.
As the blacks desperately pressed forward for an equaliser they were hit on the break, falling for the classic sucker punch. And who should be there to apply the killer blow but Keith Houchen wannabee Martin. Fair play to him he struck the ball brilliantly across Geoff in goal and into the bottom corner. What a strike. Final score Reds 5-3 Blacks.
Match 2 – Fezzas forts
It was a hot, hot day at the Poli agreed water breaks every 10 mins to ensure players kept hydrated.
The teams lined up as follows –
Blacks – Dave 👑, Fez 🐶, Tommy 🔫, Daz 🏉, Simon 🫘 & Mark 🐦
Vs
Reds – Dalglish (aka Martin 🏴), Bowen (aka Alvin 🐿️), Salah (aka Dave 🚖), Le Tissier (aka Colin ⛵️), Waddle (aka Dave 🦉) & Cruyff (aka Han 🛵)
The Reds played so well I had to pick a player from their favourite team they support, they were really good on the day !! The rest of us were mere mortals..
The Reds started slowly & went 2-0 down as the Blacks managed a few passes and some hold up play by Fez setting up Mark for two great strikes from distance…
The Reds clicked and played some fabulous 1 touch football passed the more static Blacks… 2-0 became 2-2..
First a short corner to Cruyff who hit it first time into the bottom corner.. next slick passing carved the blacks open and Waddle stroked the ball home..
From 2-0 down the Reds turned on the style Le Tiss had Fez in his back pocket keeping every attack to either a long range effort or every player worked back getting defensive blocks in…
Dalglish, was toying with the blacks defence playing one two’s with Salah who was running the midfield with Waddle and Bowen out wide the blacks struggled to maintain any shape.. Cruyff pulling the strings the passing and movement was too much for the blacks and up popped Bowen to dispatch the ball passed Daz…
3-2 Reds 🤷🏻♂️
Daz became the first player to feel the effects of the heat and had to retire.. bad news for the blacks who were being out played with equal numbers.. blacks opted for rush goalie and reds fixed goalie.
Simon and Dave tried to keep up with Reds but they were passing and moving too quick to get any hold on the game…
More movement and really pinpoint passing saw Cruyff smash the ball home giving the Reds a 4-2 advantage…
In the Spirit of the game the Reds handed the blacks a life line – Le Tiss swapping sides and this gave the blacks some optimism!
Tommy started pushing forward with the introduction of Le Tiss and he was fed by Fez and hit the ball first time passed the goalie…
4-3 game on ! Mark got another lay off and bang 4-4 !
The Reds now down a player, however the football they played was sublime and they had a few chances to put some distance between the teams, but they spurned a number of golden chances and Dave 👑 made some fine stops…
The best move of the game resulted in a fine goal….Bowen, Dalglish, Salah popped the ball around the pitch, pulling the blacks all over the place… Salah fed Cruyff who flicked the ball round two defenders finding Waddle who dummied and then rolled it passed the advancing goalie !
5-4 Reds and they wanted more to put the game to bed… and it came with a simple ball to Waddle from Salah out from the back… Waddle controlled it moved towards goal, feigned to strike the ball sending the goal to the ground he then delightfully chipped the grounded goalie !
6-4 Reds…
The Balcks had the numerical number and everyone was putting in a shift in in the heat… another lay off to Tommy he delayed a pass and then hit it towards the goal and it slipped in the near post !
6-5 Reds with minutes to play the Blacks found some extra energy in their legs and for the first time in 59 mins managed to pass to each other ! Mark had the ball in the middle of the pitch, Tommy pulled right and Fez left creating an opening down the middle and he let fly with a dipping shot and an equaliser – woohoo 🎉 underserved YES, lucky YES, but Mark was the Blacks saviour….
The game ended 6-6..
Well done to all the players, hopefully Daz recovered with plenty of fluids and some rest….
MOM – lots of stars this week…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dave 🦉 superb around 5* performance 👌
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dave 🚖, Han 🛵 Alvin 🐿️, Colin ⛵️ & Martin 🏴 the whole team played a superb game and really deserved the win
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mark 🐦 with 4 goals saved the blacks