I’m not saying we’re creatures of habit but when we arrived to find “our half” of the pitch in use by some pesky teenagers there was absolutely no consideration to simply set up on the “other half” or even warm up and get the team photo taken.
No we tutted until 11am and then shoed them off before finishing laying out the pitches and eventually kicking off 7 minutes late to show them how to really play 😅
Game 2 was 7 aside and on paper reds looked stronger with blacks fielding a high number of defensive minded players but it was a hard fought game with some good goalkeeping and dogged defending and a strong gust of wind to contend with still
For reds Prak narrowly missed squeezing his shot in at the far post, Kaj with the keeper on the ground had the whole goal at his mercy and yet somehow managed to scoop the ball over the crossbar and Dave 🚖 put wide with the keeper advancing out of his area to narrow the angle
Ref John had to step in a couple of times as tempers rose following some robust challenges and Mark was sinbinned for persistent running and tackling.
Dave 👑 returned from freezing Finland and was diving around in goal for reds keeping out any shots blacks could muster.
Before we get to the scoring, man of the match Welsh Steve deserves a few comments, usually a game 1 player he owned the left back position partnering Tommy and Colin at the back putting in tackles, blocks, receiving the ball and linking up with Mark, Keith and John to give Blacks some hope, well played Steve.
As to the scoring, there was none!
The game ended 0-0 and after everyone was refreshed and showered Martyn our retired medical man ran a CPR training session.
Daves discussion
On what was not such a windy day as Monday, Bambi 🦌 for Reds kicked the game off.
Reds started well, Rick 🎸 shot on goal clears the right post.
Bambi 🦌 strikes for the Reds. A good move finds Bambi 🦌 going forwards, hits with his right foot. A good team goal
Dave Smith 🐇 for the blacks stumbles as he takes a shot on goal.
Blacks strike on goal again. This time Ken 🌟 takes the varnish of the right hand post.
1st qrt ends Reds 1 up.
Blacks trying to pull level, 2 attemps on goal, Ken 🌟 misses to the right again.
Smithy 🐇 can’t sort his feet out. The ref stops the game so he can move the left shoe to the right and the right to the left. It works. He picks the ball up and sweetly places the the ball bottom left corner. 1-1
Boris 👨🦳 as ever strong in defence. Rick 🎸 running well, off the ball. Ken ⭐️ getting more into the game and Bambi 🦌 unusually quiet!
2nd qtr ends, 1-1, both sides playing some good touches.
Reds Paul 🦵🏻blocks a certain Smithies 🐇
goal.
Now the game is opening up and moving end to end. A good shot by Bambi 🦌 saved well by Ton.
Ton 👨🍳 finds himself out of position for the Blacks, leaving the goal open. The ball falls to Martyn 🩺such an easy tap in. He hits the ball. Still 1-1….🤷🏼♂️
Ton 👨🍳 makes 3 good saves in quick succession. Had the Reds taken the chances, they could and should have been 6-1 up by now.
Black Paulo 🇵🇹 gives the ball away to Rick 🎸, once again Ton 👨🍳 saves.
Into the final qtr, how is the game still 1-1.
Now its Black Alan 🐑 in front of an empty net, not once but twice. Misses both attempts. Is that Bambi 🦌 i can hear?
Next it’s Paul 🐕🦺 to miss for the Reds. Bambi 🦌 can’t let that one go. Ton 👨🍳 gives Bambi 🦌 words of encouragement.
Good move by the Blacks down the right. The ball finally falls at Paulos 🇵🇹 feet. He hits the ball. A throw in is awarded. Nothing to do with wind that one Paulo 🇵🇹.
Boris 👨🦳 losses the ball in defence to Dave 🦉! He twists one way then the other. Puts the ball onto that left foot, only one outcome!
2-1 to the Reds.
Ton 👨🍳 saves yet again from the 🦉.
Paulo 🇵🇹 siezes on a loose ball and misses left.
Graham 🍽 picks up the ball in midfield. Fairly quiet until this move. He glides past The 🦉, feeds Paulo 🇵🇹, good goal. Hard, low right.
Score 2-2.
Both teams are now so keen to win. they constantly give the ball away but nobody cashes in.
Reds move forward, a good one-two between The 🦉 and 🎸. The 👨🍳 saves the day once more.
The 🦉 gives it one last go but who’s there. Yes, The Cordon Bleu Chef himself. Ton 👨🍳
The ref blew the whistle for full time.
Reds 2. Blacks 2.
H 👮♂️ and Tim 🎢 both played well in defence for the Blacks as did Fred 🧩 for the Reds, sporting his Arsenal shirt.
Ian 🔬 played well for the Blacks with nice touches throughout the game.
But MOTM could only go to one player. Ton 👨🍳. He saved possibly 7 goals for the Blacks.
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