Benalmadena 28th November

Match Report by Geoff

REDS ……5 versus BLACKS …..2

Well what a difference a few days make after previous match reports mentioning the fantastic hot autumnal weather we were having at the Polideportivo.

However, on this the last Monday in November the lads and one lass certainly threw caution to the wind if you pardon the pun and played in one howler of a gale when it was debatable whether or not the match should have been played.

The game kicked off with the ball flying around like a balloon making it almost impossible to control with the wind blowing straight off the nearby Monte Calamorro mountain range.

The Reds as the final score showed mastered the more than blustery conditions better, to this end with Keef, Han, Owen and Big Al influential in wherever possible keeping the ball low to the ground to combat the wind.

In essence however on the day the real winner was undoubtedly the gale force wind which undeniably spoilt the game.

With his powerful shooting Big Al was in his element and so it proved when hitting a powerful wind assisted shot from distance giving H in goal no chance.

1-0 to the Reds.

Big Al was now really enjoying himself and hit another blaster from distance which deflected off the fat arse of Kevo thereby completely wrong footing H in goal who could only stand and watch the ball spin its way into the back of the net ably assisted by the wind for an own goal. Kevo was distinctly not impressed with that bit of bad luck glaring at H in disbelief as if it was his fault!

Almost immediately Han made it 3-0 to the Reds with an angled shot going in off the post. From the resultant kick off the Blacks definitely knew it wasn’t there day when a similar shot at the other end from Matt  bounced back off the post into the goalies hands.

Not deterred the Blacks made a valiant effort to get back into the match scoring two quick goals one a smartly taken effort from Mike 🐊 and then a flukey wind assisted lob shot from old stager Ken⭐️  when sticking his foot into the path of a blaster from Matt which was going well wide only to fly into the back of the Reds goal.

There was then an unfortunate injury to one of our guest players from Hampshire in the Reds goal when making a save from Matt necessitating him being substituted and having to attend the local A&E for treatment to a badly disfigured and cut finger. The moral to this injury is to always wear the goalkeepers gloves which he didn’t, a lesson learnt to his painful cost.

Just when the Blacks thought they were back in the game Big Al decided otherwise with another blaster past Alvin who had taken over the gloves in the Blacks goal.

Then putting the score beyond any doubt with arguably the best goal of the match Breck ‘chasing’ a wind assisted pass slotted the ball it into the back of the Blacks net from an acute angle making it 5-2 to the Reds.

In the last minute of the match the 🐊 from Dundee will not appreciate being reminded of missing a shot on an empty Reds goal from just 5 yards out with the guest goalie for some reason elsewhere  on walkabout. To his credit he didn’t blame the wind, however it would have been difficult for him to do so after such an horrendous miss.

The match referee John aka Fireman Sam as always officiated in a firm but fair manner, not even allowing any overarm throwing of the ball by goalkeepers even when into the howling wind.

A softer side to John was shown by him blowing  for full time 5 minutes early for everyone to eventually escape the almost unplayable wind and retire to the bar, albeit on this occasion not the balcony overlooking the pitch.