4 minutes and 38 secs of video loveliness Here and action photos HERE
Seans summary
Another hot sunny morning on the Costa Del Ventosa. 12 lightly lads risked life and limp in a galant effort to get to Polideportivo Benalmadena to displace their footballing talents.
Blacks started the better lead by Sonic’s blistering lack of speed up front, confusing the Reds defence. The Non Flying Dutchman, Ton started between the sticks with special magic gloves that his wife bought him at the Fuengirola market on Saturday morning from a Romani gypsy Shuvani woman. But later took up his usual, not useless, I didn’t say that, position on the wing.
Hooverboard Kevo and The Commissioner started in defense. Terry the Brummie restaurateur, extraordinaire marshalled midfield and your truely wandered about aimlessly.
Reds had South Dublin’s finest toe poker of the ball, starting between the sticks. Steve aka Rick, just back from Status Quo tribute tour of fine drinking establishments somewhere or other on bass was Pete the Fish in defense blocking everything the moved. Ian legs eleven, streaking down the right side.
There was the killer Nev laying waste to all around him and last but least in many way, the ever vocal Bamster up front working his magic, keeping ballboys busy.
Blacks started the better with Terry bagging an early goal. 1-0 Blacks. Reds found their way in the 2nd period and Bambster scored the equalizer after a few attempts.
Then Black, with Ton having taken off the magic goalie gloves, hit a 2nd for Blacks.?2-1 Blacks. Legs eleven, Ian having perfected the toe poke, borrowed for the toe poke king Daz Blasted one past H in the Blacks goal. 2-2. In the 3rd period a nice passing move involving Sonic, Kevo and a precision through ball from Terry found your truly alone in front of goal and I simple helped the round object, into the right hand corner passed Daz in goal.
So here’s where things got a bit out of hand from a goal scoring perspective. I have never boasted about my ability to remember events. Too many blows to the head in Gaelic football matches and bar fights have left me lacking in that department. But in my defense, there were 15 goal scored in this match and I lost track of who did what by this point. I do remember, thanks to the help of Franks vídeo, Steve aka Ricky , scored with a lob which arcked over H into the top corner.
Daz with his walk/run short legged movements, blasted several shots into the stratosphere. But on two occasions managed to get two goals for Reds.
Proceedings began to get out of hand on the score board as Reds jumped out to a 7-3 lead.
Blacks looking exhausted and dead on their feet but somehow managed to score a brace of breakaway goals in the 5th quarter, Irish maths.
Ton doing his best Johann Cruyff on the wing laid on some precise crosses to Sean for two or 3 goals.
With the score 8-6 in the final period and 3 mins remaining Red’s own, Ricky, the status quo, legend drove forward to end any chance of a Blacks miracle comeback.
It ended 9-6 Blacks.
To the relief of all exhausted walking dead involve, We all lived to play another morning.
Colins Corner
If game 2 was an episode of Friends it would have been titled ” The one where the non existent rule wasn’t applied” or “The one where the ex Committee member turns nasty”
A 7 v 6 game saw reds packed with heavyweight footballing skills to compensate for blacks having a player advantage
With no referee the whistle was shared with Cornwalls Darren taking charge of the first half and Maj the second.
Looking back this game should make us appreciate John more, but rule 14 applies whoever has the whistle, their decision should be respected.
Reds were feeling confident and Colins choices were being questioned before the game.
Another shout out, this time to Dave 🦊 who has the tricky job of deciding teams, never easy when there are late additions and drop outs. I for one am glad to see him back 😆
With 🚖 in goal for reds to start with this left Darren, with whistle, to command the middle, receiving the ball and bringing Mark, Keith and Alvin into attack with Tommy marshaling the back line.
Meanwhile Steve in Blacks goal endlessly shouting at his teammates who were doing their best to ignore him had Simon, Colin and Alan across the back with Maj trying to control his teams midfield with 🐝 and Mercedes either side of him.
The game unfolded as expected Mark too strong muscled past the blacks defence, got a shot on target which Steve decided to throw over his shoulder into the net 1-0 reds
The second reds goal was a mix of calamity, running and a biased ref, whose decision we respect at all times.
Colin got in the way, the ball stuck between his feet, a soft backpass that Steve couldn’t come out for due to the numerical advantage and from nowhere Keith appears to intercept and score. Running ref, surely? No apparently not 2-0 reds.
The team selections were seriously being questioned by blacks!!
After some soul searching and Colin happy that his knackers were where they should be having blocked a thunderbolt from Alvin, blacks started to gain confidence and Maj reduced the deficit.
At the halfway mark Maj took control the whistle and soon after awarded a free kick to blacks, he rolled the ball left into space and Simon, playing his last game of the season hit a sweet shot and the scores were level.
All of a sudden the team selections appeared about right, but reds were still the stronger team and with their ability to use a rush keeper their 6v6 on the pitch was too much footballing skill against the black talents of Maj, Mercedes and Alan along with best efforts skills of Colin, Simon and 🐝.
Hang on is that a wayward pass by reds, into the path of Maj who simply has to pass the ball into the net, yes. 3-2 Blacks. Inspired team selections!
Reds pushed hard, blacks defended harder especially Steve who was saving everything …… “The one where the non-existent rule wasn’t applied” …… reds were attacking, Steve saved, but his “momentum” took him out of his area. Penalty ref???????? No says Maj, unintentional.
But, but, but, but … “The one where the ex Committee member turns nasty” Keith is incensed, accusing cheating, rules not being applied and demanding that rules that dont exist need to be written.
No goal, 2 minutes later Mark ends up in the Blacks area, impeding Steve and the tap in is ruled out.
Time keeper Colin allows play beyond the hour to see if reds can gain a sporting draw, but blacks defence stands up to the test and the game ends 3-2 Blacks.
Much debate ensues after the game, if only Keith had included another rule when he had the opportunity! Enough now.
Thanks to Mick who ends his stint as ballboy this season having retrieved some 50+ balls on the day.
The ballboys, pitch markers, photographer and referees do what they do to ensure the rest of us can huff and puff for an hour and moan about this or that and we thank them for their involvement, we certainly notice when they’re not available