Match Report
The year is 2020, strange things are happening. A pandemic has changed how we view everything, you have to wear a mask in B&Q but not the pub. You can travel to the Lebanon but not Spain. Liverpool are champions once more, behind closed doors. Nigel has asked for divine help by visiting a statue of Pope John Paul the 2nd in Malta, the goalkeeping Pope. He may have to go and see his boss….
Russ Hall has decided he would rather play golf with John Parrott than football with his mates. Snooker loopy…
And the vets 2020-2021 season officially got underway on the 25th of July. Well it did now we’ve won, and I scored, but more of that later.
Jim Byrne’s all-stars arrived from Birkdale looking like the men from Real Cheshire housewives, all flowing locks and tans, where have they been on holiday? Several members of the visiting team had once earned a living playing football, unlike most of the vets who had to date stole a living doing whatever it is they pretend to do. Perfect conditions meant there were no excuses, and none were needed in an excellent first half that was very nip and tuck. The visitors metronomic in possession, and the Ramblers dangerous on the break. The opening goal came from an unusual source, my right foot. A neat lay off from Egan after a corner was cleared dispatched into the corner, via a tiny deflection off a defender…..tiny.
An equaliser for the Birkdale boys was a well taken goal at the far post after some movement that bamboozled the home defence and midfield, I still don’t know who was marking him.
Half time was taken without oranges or water bottles, or any need for changes as we had the bare 11. The hope that we would outrun them in the second half countered by the fact that they were 15 strong.
However that is exactly what happened, the pre-season training and Strava competition baring fruit. Gendall, Killen and Thomas took control of the midfield, Bagley at left wing back had Ged Brannon running back towards his own goal far more than he wanted to, and Bob got cramp.
A lovely through ball in the channel from Thomas sent Gendall away, a pass we had actually talked about at half time, it was almost like we were thinking about it. Gone are the days of Gendall blasting it into the car park though, pre-season shooting practice has paid off, it was lashed home. 2-1.
The 3rd was an excellent move from one end of the pitch to the other, dispatched by Mornington into the bottom corner. Who knew??
The 4th was from a defensive corner where again we swept up the pitch, another cool finish from Gendall, so this is why people train.
The 5th was off my head, a more traditional way for me to notch, although I usually save mine for when we are playing schoolboys or Spaniards who think of heading the ball as an insult to the ethos of football.
Although worthy winners, the scoreline flattered a bit, and it may have been tighter but for an excellent save from Bagpuss at 3-1. See earlier comment about divine help.
A great game played in a great spirit, and we will look forward to having the visitors back again in the near future, murmurs of a tour were also heard afterwards, watch this space.
Thanks to Jim for organising the opposition and bringing a great set of fellas to play.
Played one won one.