March 29th

Teams
Blues - Owain (c), Dan, Finny, Sam Finn, Martyn, Redshaw, Dan K

Orange- Neil (c), Andy Inker, Jick, Greg, DZ, Mike Inker, Grant

The match started with the blues congratulating Owain on picking such a fine side... almost guaranteed a fantastic victory - what a team.

then the game started and football can be a great leveller... redshaw and finny failed to live up to their reputations... or did they?

anyway - a busy game with 14 players on the pitch - no real amazing moments to report.. jick the glass man broke his knee in half, but managed to play on.

Greg smashed one in from distance (with Finny in goal (who let 4 in))

Sam played well but was a bit greedy with the ball.

the Oranges played well, and deserved at least the draw.......

anyone got anything to add? I'm so bored of doing match reports.....

March 22nd

Teams

Orange - Neil (c), Owain, Martyn, Mike Barker, Craig, Redshaw

Blues - Andy Inker (c), Dan, Blatch, Grant, Mike Inker

to be fair - this was over a week ago now and I can't remember much about it. Owain scored a few goals, and Andy Inker gave a few away.

I think we may have swapped teams after a bit - I'm guessing Barker, who was probably rubbish for 30 mins and then had a blinder on the other side just to spite me... that's only a guess though!

March 15th

Teams

Orange - Neil (c), Martyn, Jick, Andy Inker, Dave Blatchford, Greg

Blues - Dan (c), Mike Inker, Craig, Owain, Dave Zanetti, Desperately late Mad Mike Barker

Neil put together a nasty team of hatchet men against the more skilled blues... the blues started well, with 5 men and were still well in the game although outnumbered. Just at the point they were going to have the advantage of the extra man, the arrival of Barker levelled the numbers up. Sadly by now, the effort of playing a man light left the Blues exhausted. The oranges ending the game a goal up.

 

Highlights of the game included a rasping effort from Craig Erksin, beating the keeper on his near post from the best part of twenty yards. 

Strophair made an amazing triple stop in front of goal, with Neil unable to force the ball home. 

Neil did go on to score a hat-trick... Zanetti was a little out of sorts and far from his best.

Andy Inker having lost almost half an ounce since announcing his half marathon challenge excelled at the back, completely dominating his younger, slightly dafter brother.

Martyn had a solid game, up and down the pitch, seemingly back to fitness after a sluggish couple of weeks. 

Greg back on form fouling all before him. A stamp on Strophair (perhaps exaggerated a little) his own personal highlight.

Owain / Mike Inker / Strophair failed to reach the standards of Messi / Suarez / Neymar - a better selection on paper than it proved to be on the pitch... the extra running of Neil , Greg, Jick and Martyn proving the decisive factor.

End result was close.... but Neil goes into next week as the victorious captain.....

March 8th

Teams
Orange - Martyn (c), Owain, Jick, Sean,Dave Blatchford

Blues - Dan (c), Grant, Andy Inker, Mike Inker, Mental Mike barker

Captains this week - ginger Martyn and Dan - the last time these two faced each other on Jan 12th ended in a  well earned victory for Strophair - so Martyn's chance for revenge this week.

It wasn't to be with the blues playing some lovely football in the first 25 minutes, establishing a 5 goal lead at one point. It could have been more if Grant had his shooting boots on.... 

it was quality football - Dan and Andy formidable in defence - Grant and Mike Inker dominating further up the pitch. Barker the unstoppable force, volleying in a fine cross from Inker one of tonights highlights.

The oranges slowly drifted back into the game with more stamina - younger legs starting to take effect. Soon only a couple of goals in it. Inker senior gifting the ball to the opposition too often. Owain and Sean finding the back of the net - only some fine saves in goal from Inker, Grant and that man Barker prevented a full Orange comeback. That and some fine defending from the young Strophair, getting his foot on a few attempted shots...

then the lazy legged blue defending ended up in some horror tackles, Dan taking Jick out, then Mike Inker smashing Owains foot with a crack that resonated around North Somerset....

anyway - the oranges blew themselves out.. the blues kept the ball.. job done.

Roll on next week!

March 1st

Teams
Orange - Martyn (c), Mike Inker, Dan, Little Andy, Dave Blatchford, Craig

Blues - Owain (c), Grant, Jick, Andy Inker, DZ, Mental Mike barker

With Dave Redshaw, last weeks winning captain, being unavailable this week, a new challenger was required to take on last weeks player of the week - Martyn.

First pick decided on a coin toss. Owain won. Teams picked and it all looked decidedly ropey for the 5 man oranges against a formidable attack of Owain, Grant and Jick. The oranges started a little off the pace, Strophair unable to pick a pass, Martyn taking an early knock, but somehow they managed to pinch a couple of early goals.

Craig Erskin turned up late to even the sides up and give the Oranges a bit more of a solid base to build on, and build they did. Goals flying in from everywhere, Dave Blatchford launching an unstoppable rocket into the top corner of the net, before then juggling the ball, flicking it over the keeper and poking it in for his second. A real moment of class.

The Oranges built an unassailable 6 goal lead. Some quality passing and movement, keeping possession of the ball. Holland 74, Brazil 82, Spain 2010.

Diminished energy levels, and tired legs saw the blues make their comeback. Owain scoring a couple of goals including a neat header. Grant smashing one through the keeper off the bar before bouncing just over the line. 

Andy Inker lashing home in off the post from 18 yards following a corner and a neat pull back from Grant.

The lead cut to a single goal, but the oranges just about holding on. the best moment, Erskin taking a Blatchford clearance plush on the nose, it seemed to lift his feet off the ground and leave him a crumpled heap on the floor. Now that was funny!

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!