Goals; Rose , £
Standing in the queue for fish and chips on friday night I get a text from an unknown number saying that they wanted to play for the 7ths on Saturday and score the winning goal . At that stage I have 14 players so I suggest they come down to Albert Road and watch the game. Arriving at the pitch I found that the mystery text had come from from Nathan Sterling. Following club rules I asked him if he was up to date with his subs as I hadn’t seen him for a couple of years and he said he was. I asked him why he wanted to come back now and he replied that under the last years of the labour Government he had felt that the economic policies would lead to very large deficits and as a result sterling would be weak. Under the new coalition he now believed that the plans to get the deficit under control would work and as a result international investors would be interested in the UK and as a result sterling would be stronger. Also that just like the singer Prince he wasn’t now known as Nathan Sterling but just the symbol £.
Anyway onto the game. Torq returned from his hols to partner Joe in midfield while Galloway took over from Piner at rightback with his promotion to the 6’s. Old Parks finished 3rd last year so we knew this would be a stern test for our first game. The game was played at a fast pace with only a goal line clearance from the skipper keeping the scores level for the first 15 minutes. Chances came and went at both ends and some fantatsic saves from Ritchie and quality French defending from Laurent kept them out.
Just when it seemed that we would reach half time scoreless the Ref spotted some shirt holding by Brough the younger in the penalty area . Elliott looked over at me and with that innocence of youth look said ” Dad I didn’t do anything ” . It is a hard lesson for your kid to learn that there is a higher authority than your Dad and that is the Ref. One nil down at half time.
We started the second half with Braid and Burwell continuing to create chances up front and now that they realised they could pass to each other and get the ball back then things were definitely looking up. A push in the box and Rose stepped up to convert the penalty. We were now on top and a combination of some great saves from the Old Parks keeper and a glaring miss from Burwell. Well when I say glaring if he had actually opened his eyes for the header from 3 yards out he would have scored.
We bought on Khaj who proved a real steadying influence in midfield and then with 20 minutes left £ came on to replace Rose. The injection of pace was now causing them all sorts of problems and a great run by £ saw him beat a couple of defenders and score the winner. I can’t wait for next Friday to see what message I get on my phone ahead of next weeks game against the 8th’s. The Ref at the end of the game said that the win had been built on a solid defensive performance and that was down to Ritchie in goal and the Frenchman.
