WFS 5th Birthday celebrations

Fast Farts report by Rory, Slow farts report by the Commander

Fast Farts game report by Rory

Blacks 3 Reds 2

It was another historic day for the aged leather encased butyl bladder bashers as WFS celebrated 5 years of being able to welly the projectile high and wide of its intended target. Keef’s Ted Talk diverged from his usual drivel about the spirit of the game, and just for a brief moment, a small tear welled up in the eyes of 40 plus blokes who should probably know better. Fred stepped forward as the first pioneer to put the event in context before he was rudely shut down by Keef – no change there then.

Anyway, onto the fast farts game with two well-match teams facing off against each other. The reds suffered the loss of one of their Davids just before kick off, leaving the blacks with a man advantage. The players were too confused by the speeches to bring in any mitigation with the reds still feeling they could make a good game of it. With Steve Loasby taking the whistle it was bound to be a fair and free-flowing game.

A combination of well marshalled defences and two good goalkeepers made the chances of either team scoring a goal look as likely as the infamous AIK Stockholm team grabbing a goal when they won the Allsvenskan (Swedish Premier League) in 1998 with an average of 0.98 goals per game.  All other teams scored more goals including the two that were relegated!! Credit must go to both keepers – “Pup” in the blacks’ goal and Eddie in the reds’. Pup, who’s held together with a combination of metal plates and a few nuts and bolts threw himself about the goal and kept the reds at bay. Eddie put in another class performance between the sticks and pulled off a number of great saves to keep the depleted reds in the game for as long as possible.

Hans and Olaf disrupted the reds’ midfield and broke up numerous attacks, with Dazza going full Carlos Alberto down the right flank creating numerous opportunities for big Al and Steve. James was fully occupied berating Steve Loasby for perceived errors, hoping his team mates could take advantage of the diversionary tactics.

Popeye had a great game in midfield, getting his foot on the ball and Thiago-ing off to his team mates. With the swirling wind challenging the players’ control it was a moment of footballing magic which opened the scoring for the reds. Following some nice approach play involving David and Keef the ball was rolled to Popeye on the edge of the box where he calmly picked his spot in the top corner, going in off the upright. Not even Pup the terminator could reach it. Blacks 0-1 Reds. Given the intense heat it was only a matter of time before the man advantage took its toll on the plucky reds’ defence. Ian and Charles had repelled most of the blacks’ attacks with relative ease, but big Al was beginning to make headway up front with serial striker sous-chef Steve waiting his moment to pounce. The tight marking by the reds’ defence didn’t  anticipate the stealth like forward advances by Pete, who found some space on the edge of the box before drilling in a low shot towards the goal. The slightest of deflections off Steve’s heel foxed Eddie in goal and the blacks had a deserved equaliser. Blacks 1-1 Reds. The dubious goals panel examined numerous replays before quite rightly awarding the goal to Pete.

The blacks started to throw more men forward in search of another goal. With Kevo passing and moving out from the back and Johan the flying Swede combining well with Dazza down the right, the reds were starting to look stretched. Despite the tireless running by Gary and David up front, the reds were struggling to feed their strikers with some decent balls. Gradually the pressure took its toll and the blacks found a way through with Steve feeding off big Al. Steve got his shot away early, and although Eddie made a great effort to claw the ball away, it crept over the line into the bottom corner. Blacks 2-1 Reds. With time slipping away, the reds summoned up one last effort in an heroic attempt to get something out of a hard fought game. Gary worked tirelessly to find space where none existed in the packed blacks’ defensive lines. With Popeye and Keef pressing through the middle, the reds were still in with a shout. Sure enough a great cross was drilled into a mass of players, only for Dazza to fire spectacularly past his keeper and into the top corner. What a goal! Blacks 2-2 Reds. A shame for the hardworking wing-back but at least he’d got the ball into the back of the net when he usually sends it into a low orbit around the earth.

The reds joy was to be short lived, as canny captain big Al had shoved sneaky Swede Johan into an advanced goal poaching position so they could hit the reds on the break. Sure enough, after missing an absolute sitter, the AIK hitman was pleased to find a chance of redemption after being released by a brilliant ball by Dazza. Cool as a Swedish cucumber which had accidentally been left in the freezer, Johan picked his spot and crushed the spirit of the plucky reds. Blacks 3-2 Reds. The reds were put out of their misery when Steve blew the final whistle. What a great hard fought game with the blacks the deserved winners. Thanks again to Steve for keeping the game flowing and of course to Keef for all the hard work he puts into keeping it all going.

Slow farts report by H

A FAMILY AFFAIR IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

REDS 2 versus BLUES 1

Last Monday at the Polideportivo the ‘boys’ from Benalmadena celebrated the 5th Anniversary of Walking Football Spain joined by some of our friends from up the Costa at Calahonda. Two of the original five members were present, namely ‘Keef’ (Benalmadena) and Fred2 (Calahonda).

In the Slow Farts game defences were on top in what was a somewhat dour first 50 minutes in which neither team really looked like scoring when suddenly there was an explosion of activity. At the centre of this action was an excellent disallowed goal for the Reds by Ken Easton allegedly for encroachment into the Blues goal area. To his credit ‘Apprentice’ Referee Mr Blackman later admitted in the bar no doubt after a few beers that it was a bad call. There is no doubt that this incorrect decision was undoubtedly influenced by Bambi vociferously appealing for the goal to be disallowed! Will the other referee who will remain nameless but who is an original member please note that it is not a criminal offence to admit an error.

Justice was seen to be done a minute later when Ken scored a cracking goal for the Reds following a flowing move from defence into attack.

Standout player for the Reds was undoubtedly Ken who looked dangerous ever time he had the ball, although Pete from Penzance was for once somewhat subdued for the Blues following his flying visit back home to the smugglers coves of Cornwall and his late arrival back the night before when he was seen carrying a black sack through the airport.

There is good reason why Steve HV acquired this nickname because he never stopped trying to somewhat vociferously cajole his teammates throughout, albeit unfortunately on this occasion  without much joy.

Everyone then retired to the bar area for a feast of seafood and refreshments to celebrate 5 wonderful years of Walking Football on the Costa del Sol.

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