Match v Stamford WFC report courtesy of Fez.

WFS-Benalmadena played host to Stamford (Lincs in Blue) touring side…

Firstly it was the first day back at the Polideportivo Municipal Ramón Rico Benalmádena Pueblo so it was great to see the lads who had enjoyed a 2 month break from last season – more later……

The 8 a side game was played with an initial cool breeze and it was the home side that took advantage and breezed into a 2 goal lead… there was a good high press and exchange of short passes with the ball falling to the feet of Fez 🐶 who dispatched the ball into the net twice in quick succession.. Everything was looking rosey in the first quarter..

However the second quarter belonged squarely to Stamford the kit was smart and when they found their feet in the heat so was their passing.. one touch pass and move reduce the home team to chasing shadows.. Dave 🚖 his usual 110% committed self chased down their midfield making blocks and tackle after tackle… as he broke up another attack he was kicked on the calf and injury ballooned and meant he had to with draw for the rest of the game.. He was replaced by Dave🦉who was playing in another game…

Despite the heroic effort of Dave 👑 in goal pulling off save after save, tipping goal bound efforts round the post, Stamford went into a 3-2 lead… With half an hour still to play the game was still to be won.

The third quarter was a stalemate mainly down to Dave 👑 saving shot after shot.. The home team battled on trying to get forward with Dave 🐝 buzzing on the right cutting inside, Rick 🎸 on the left stringing passes forwards and back.. Dave 🦊 trying to fill the void left by Dave 🚖 getting the ball forward and blocking the passes through the middle, Kevo 🥧 keeping a tight back line with Tommy 🔫 both rolling back the years to mark the young forward line (at least half their age 👀).. Dave🦉came into a fast game and immediately adopted in front of the defence intercepting and moving the ball forward… Score still 3-2 to the visitors..

Unfortunately the final quarter went in favour of Stamford as the hosts tried to push forward in search of at least an equaliser the gaps appeared and a well skilled and drilled team took advantage scoring 3 good goals.. it would have been more had it not been for the superb re-action saves of Dave 👑 who took the man of the match award.. well done everyone beaten by a better quality team but we give it ago and the season has just begun!

So we hit the terrace Grada8 Sport Bar excellent tapa and beer, to catch up with some of the lads we’d not seen all summer a few beers were drank and a few stories told, tactics discussed and put to right, some logical discussions and some not so…all in all a fabulous day with a great bunch of lads 👌 UTB

This match report comes courtesy of …

Boots the chemist, everything an aging walking footballer might need from elastic bandages to heat rubs. 

As the new season crept up on us, Knackered, old footballers gathered at the polideportivo for about 60 minutes of what time does the bar open.

2 games were played, the first a ‘serious ‘match between the proper footballers, you know, shinpads, matching socks and being called Dave and the rest of the crowd, collectively wearing about 4 tons of support bandages.

The game started with 10 reds facing 8 blacks and the extra players showed with some neat football being played. At this stage, the blacks were content, and surprised, to be holding the reds to 0-0.

And then Dave (!) the owl popped up and scored following a lovely move of flowing, one touch footieball.

Early in the second ½, the sides evened up as did the football and the blacks started to play some lovely tiki taka (© Rory) and were it not for some abysmal shooting, should have scored. The most exercised person on the day was the YTS Ball Boy, marking his first appearance.

In the third half, the only things of note were yet more appalling shooting from the blacks and Bambis continuous motivational messages!

The fourth half saw the blacks equalise, which in itself was a miracle as following some more neat play, blacks actually got a shot on target. This was shortly after Reds player, Dave the Owl, joined the proper match on the pitch next door. Shin pads, matching socks and called Dave, there was no one else who fitted the brief.

The fifth, and final, half, saw more of the same. Neat football from both sides, more crap shooting,  neither keeper having a save to make and the YTS fielding the attempts on goal.

At this stage, someone noticed that the bar was open and the game finished with a final blow of the whistle from Pete.

In the bar, the opta statistics showed a moral victory for the blacks, having had 196 shots and one on target. but in the end, an entertaining 1-1 draw played in good spirit with very little for the ref to do.