*** VINTAGE FRIENDLIES *** Sunday 4h May 2008 Midlife Crisis 0 - 8 F.P. Vets ( 0 - 2 h.t.) |
This was the match re-scheduled after the snowfall of a couple of weeks ago caused the cancellation of the original fixture and it was a simply gorgeous morning as we kicked off in the shadow of Box Hill, but yet again Midlife were undone by a 'Vets' team with a youthful element at it's core. With an Eastwick Dads quartet making up our depleted Midlife numbers it was 'Evens-Stevens' in the first half and Midlife looked like they were going to make a go of it until a flukey, looping ball, in the manner of David Seaman's worst nightmare, went over the head of the goalie (yours truly) and into the back of the net. This was followed shortly afterwards by the 'keeper (me again) failing to deal with a back pass and being dispossesed (I'd say I was fouled) to make the score 2-0. With Gio taking over in goal (thank goodness) we reached halftime at 2-nil down but there was an air of optimisim in the ranks and the Ref, Simon Cox, observed that chances at either end were 50-50 and there was everything to play for. However it all went pear-shaped in the second half as the age difference of some of the F.P. Vets saw them sprinting past a Midlife defence which was, at times, two players short of a back four. It wasn't for want of trying that Midlife didn't get something out of the game but it was one of those days when a goal-line clearance at the FP Vets end would result, seconds later, in an attempt on the Midlife goal at t'other. Great endeavour and running was shown by all but it was the younger legs wot done for us. For any future matches that I organsie I will try to include some younger players as Carol (my wife and an ex-FP employee) tells me that some of the FP squad we faced were under 30! Fear not - for I have a cunning plan. I shall ask Fausto to tell his son Gabby that 'Uncle Ali' requires a couple of favours from him next season. But the scorline wasn't the wost of it. When I got to the bar they'd sold out of Irn Bru. Hot showers were followed by drinks and post-match nibbles in the bar with Sky football to help pass the time and ease the pain.. Man of the Match: Simon Cox, who kept excellent order throughout and whose brilliant reffing was commented on by the opposition. He didn't have to get any cards out, but as he was wearing a Red & Yellow shirt everybody knew he meant business . Match report by: Jocky |
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