Dads v Lads 2017

The tone was set for the afternoon when Clay, having won the toss, elected to turn the teams round so that the Dads Xl could have the advantage of the sun in the Lads keeper’s eyes. Referee Harthan, perhaps overestimating the Dads and underestimating the Lads in equal measure, had initially imposed restrictive rules on the Dads scoring (left footed volleys only) however with the Dads 5-0 down after about 15 minutes it was clear that the Lads needed no such special treatment. The game continued at a frantic pace with roughly double the numbers on the Lads team. The restricted size of the 7-a-side pitch was probably a good idea in keeping all the youngsters involved, no 8 year olds got lost and suffered hypothermia as can sometimes happen on the back pitch at Moor Lane.

Goals flowed in each direction. Stephen Lewis’s Godson (bizarrely, somebody entrusted the spiritual mentoring of their offspring to Lewi), particularly caught the eye and not just because he was provoking the locals by wearing a Man U shirt. Going into the final minutes the game was on a knife edge. The Dads drew level at 12-12 however a penalty at the death saw youth prevail with a 13-12 victory.