February 23rd

Teams
Orange - Dave Redshaw, Greg, Martyn, Dave Blatchford

Blues - Dan (c), Mike Inker, Martin C, Little Andy, Growling Mike barker

The most exciting part of this evening was waiting for the 10th player to turn up... who was it going to be? Craig? Stu? Jick?

Sadly no-one - so 5 on 4, scramble keeper, and reduced shooting ranges was the order of the day.

Strophair winning a blow job off Martin C for a repeated cross bar challenge admittedly another highlight.

Onto the game, with Dan and Dave Redshaw trying to piece together teams from the limited numbers available. 9 players, so goals not counted statistically, and captains results also not counted.

Match highlights, a peachy header from Mike Inker (he couldn't miss from a delightfully curled ball from young Strophair), megs thru Redshaws' legs. Played, called and collected - Proper megs....

Redshaw managing to miss from within 2 yards about 6 times. Greg unable to get past Barker in numerous one on ones.

Mike Inker doing Greg all ends up twice, then double fist pumping him. A bit extreme for a friendly game of footy.

And that was about it. The blues won by a couple of goals, no-one really cared, and everyone was disappointed by the lack of numbers.

February 16th

Teams

Orange - Dave Redshaw (c), Grant, Owain, Dan K, Andy Inker, Mike Barker, Neil, Greg, Stu

Blues - Dan (c), Mike Inker, Sean, Martin C, Little Andy, Jick, Martyn, Craig

Captains Redshaw and Dan stood in the corner slowly picking teams, trying to get the balance of age and ability right. Dave "I won't pick Owain" Redshaw, had first choice in each round.... and did pick Owain... He picked all the forwards.

Before the game started, the blues grouped together to devise a strategy to win the game. Keep it simple, pass the ball, move, and enjoy yourselves.

Quite straightforward instructions, nothing too complicated, even for those with limited footballing intelligence. What followed was an absolute disgrace. Sean attempting Maradona-esque dribbling round the opposition. Martyn hitting 40 yard passes. Dan trying to pick too clever a pass. the pattern was basically blues lose the ball, give it to Grant/Owain (delete as applicable) and the ball nestling in the back of the net.

what the blues needed at this stage was an experienced old-timer. One of the better players, will the footballing nous...enter Craig Erskin... instead of settling the blues Craig gave away another 3 goals in quick succession.

the oranges then sending in their heavies to try and break any little resistance the blues had. Neil and Greg getting "stuck in" in an old fashioned vinny jones style.

with the extra man the oranges established a good lead, but then stu swapped sides to give the blues a fighting chance, then dilly dallied too long on the ball, gifted it to grant, in wrapping paper with a bow on, another goal. Stu then feigning injury while he went home to spend the remnants of the missing football kitty on cheap whisky.

Dan conjured up a couple of sublime finishes, the first a cheeky bender with his left. Like we don't have enough cheeky benders already on a tuesday. the second a roy race rocket fizzed past a packed defence and a startled goal keeper - blazing into the net like an exocet missile.

not enough to turn the game.  with redshaw sitting at the back and thumping the ball skywards each time it came near him the game fizzled out, and with it Dan's unbeaten record in tatters.

what a disaster!

February 9th

Teams
Orange - Martin Coggan (c), Little Andy, Craig, Andy Inker, Dave Z, Martyn, Jick

Blues - Dan (c), Grant, Mike Inker, Sean, Dave Redshaw, Mike Barker

"Mines still throbbing from yours" comment of the night at the post match drinks in the bar ! Make of that what you will!

A fast paced game that looking at the team that Coggins ( who was lucky to not break both legs when Grant and Jick slid in on him 4 footed) picked it was only going to go one way and it did! Blues were strong throughout and took an early commanding lead!

Orange offered plenty to the game though with plenty of chances which weren't taken! And ultimately sloppy defending cost them!

Little Andy's shit pass to Big Andy's right foot (weaker  foot) probably the pick of them! 

Mike I and Grants 8 goals the difference in the end! However the goals scored by oranges were very very good team goals with great build up play and great finishing especially Zannetti smash with some good finishing from Erskine aswell!

Highlight of the game Grant and Sean getting one to the nuts! Oh and Jicks overhead kick goal probably first we've seen on a Tuesday night and to be fair Jick didn't deserve to be on losing team! 

Also need to mention some great goalkeeping performances some of which probably deserved a few votes!

Dan Strophairs winning run continues - need to stop him boys getting silly now! 

Roll on next week hope to see plenty of you there!

February 2nd

Teams
Blues - Mike I (c), Owain, Mike Barker, Little Andy, Craig, Dave Blatch, Neil, Dan K, Sean

Orange - Dan (c), Martyn, Jim, Jick, Andy Inker, Greg, Martin Coggan, Stu, Dave Z

It's Friday and we're still waiting for Andy Inker to pull his iphone out of his arse and give us a match report.... jeezz

Ah that's where I put me phone wondered where it was!

Following a bore draw last week Mike Inker and Dan S had to go at it again! Once again picking teams seems to be a problem for Mike as he went with experience over quality! This week proved to be his undoing!

The oranges under captain Dans direction started well moving into an early lead! With the late arrival of Craig to add some stability at the back the blues came back into it firstly with a well taken goal with some good interplay between Mike I and Owain (2nd best Welsh striker on our books) , however this came from a loose pass from Martin C , it was however one of a limited number and he deserved his MOTM award! A tactical decision from Dan to push Andy I further forward in the 2nd half saw great reward as the oranges started to create more chances and dominate the closing stages with a glut of goals! 

This saw the end of Mike I's unbeaten run and Dan S continues to march on!

Highlight of the game proven by everyone's laughter was watching Gregg completely misjudge where from the sky the ball was going to land thus striking him completely unaware on the nounce! Even Craig who has 70 yrs football experience had never seen that before! 

Sorry for delay!

Come on Martin C time to step up tomorrow and end Strophairs run!