Match Report
In the week that Two Popes received an Oscar Nomination, it was the Catholic film buff’s dream to see the co-writer Frank Cottrell Boyce on the train en route to the Vets’ biggest domestic fixture of the season. He seemed to sense the scale of the occasion. Travel was not altogether straightforward, though, as Clay and Lewis only managed to book a train which got them to the game 20 minutes after the start. Clay, in fairness, had flown in from Bridgetown that morning, so deserved some plaudits (though they are never as many as he would hope for).
This meant that the Cheshire Set did miss the longest warm-up in history, the highlight of which was a popular vote on whether the beanie-headed Gorton most resembled Benny from Crossroads or Benny from Top Cat, even though the latter doesn’t wear a hat. All of this was watched, however, by the new version of the Old Guard: Dutton in for Hall for the wise-cracks, Yates for Murphy for the inanities, McNay looking as mobile as Clarkey .
The game got off to a lively start, this year’s HAC Vets looking rather more spritely than last year’s. The prospect of beating last year’s feast of ten goals seemed remote but ten minutes in, the curse of the London right back struck when Bob King chipped a cross right into the path of HAC’s top striker, who couldn’t miss. King was then skinned on the inside for the second and on the outside for the third, and a fourth soon followed. In the midst of this, Clay came on to replace Bodey, whose injury form is making him appear flakier than Chester.
At half-time Chester, sensing the competition, withdrew to bring Lewis into the fray. There were no oranges. “I’m amazed we’ve got to 4-0 and we’ve only blamed Gorton for one” mused Bodey.
This collection of events somehow inspired a dramatic fightback. First Gorton headed home from an Eddie Jones corner, then Lewis converted one from Clay. The first VAR moment came when a Gendall chop put Lewis through; he lofted a shot over the keeper which hit the bar and landed just inside or just on the line, and span back for Mornington to smash home from 10 centimetres.
It was game on but then VAR failed to intervene when it really needed to, HAC’s right winger nudging the ball into his path by upper limb to allow him to cross for their fifth. The Vets were bowed bit far from broken, when an excellent Lewis finish brought it back to 5-4.
But then we were caught on the break to concede a sixth, and McGuckin decided ten goals are rarely enough and nodded one past the hapless skipper. This year’s Own Goal of the Season competition is as keen as it has ever been.
It was a pleasure to take a drink with the excellent opposition upstairs in Company House before Euston beckoned via the Artillery Arms. The Rioja Express was, as usual, eventful.
