Seventh Team
AP 7ths v 8ths
Lost 2-1 (Braid )
Most of the pre match warm up consisted of establishing who £ had actually talked to and whether the past debts had been paid in order for him to play. As the talks were inconclusive he didn’t make the team especially as a number of people felt he should be playing higher than the 7ths. The rest of the time was spent trying to locate Burwell who had gone on a bender and got in at 11am. He had told his flat mates to wake him at 1pm so he could get there on time. Well he only just missed the start of the second half .
We left the performance of last week in the memory banks as we struggled to compete, pass the ball and contain a very good 8’s team. We had a goal disallowed in the first half and at half time it was nil nil. With the wind behind us we actually managed to create a few chances and had another goal disallowed, before Ashley finished from close range. The 8ths then equalised and scored a hotly disputed winner but that’s football for you. At the end of the day they were deserved winners.
Eighth Team
AP 8s vs 7s won 2-1
‘I’ve had a long day Bosie’ were Nigel’s closing comments on a day which started early for the boss with a hangover – same goes for several members of the 8s thanks to the club cricket dinner the night before.
As per usual there were several saturday morning cry-offs – think about your teammates fellas and at least let us know if your not playing !! Nevertheless a thoroughly deserved first victory of the season for a much changed side with a few drafted in to give us a threadbare 12 with yours truly as the only sub.
The 8s style of pass and play dominated the half with Wilding, Tarrant, Arron and Nathaniel bossing the midfield and creating chance after chance – headers from crosses, pass and move incursions into the box and shots at Brian King – Baggers commented on how he had nothing to do!
As small, Robbins, Tullet, Steve, missed great chances as did Arron, Gayle and Loughlane, one could not help but think that they would get a goal against run of play and it would not be our day. To that end there was a warning when the sevens did get a goal which was deemed offside so we had to be on our metal for the second half
More of the same was the half time team talk but a more even game in the 2nd half saw the 7s score, after some stoic defending by everyone but it was Steve who took a full on volley of Torq right where it hurts, before the rebound went in. We did think, after weathering the early storm, that we would collect a clean sheet but it was not to be.
Normally against the sevens this is the point where we would run out of legs and they would move up a gear to win, what was very encouraging in this game half boys bounced back, with Joe small being immense at the back and Emlyn Robbins superb alongside. Firstly we responded by a quick free kick across the box and a cool finish by Gayle to make it 1-1. The sevens came back in several waves but Nigel made a couple of great saves to keep us in it and grew in stature between the sticks – ‘they shall not pass …er any more!’
The with about 10 minutes left Mel got the winner via cheeky free kick quickly taken by Daniel again across the box with Mel unmarked to put it away much to the chagrin of Mr King who was convinced he was offside. Mel had the chance to put the game to bed a few minutes later but missed a sitter to which passers by shouted ‘how could you miss that?’ tis true but the day belonged to a spirited 8s performance epitomised by Tullet and others against a determined 7s side, and it was nice to see several of the oppo come back to our club house for a drink and enjoy the famous AP 8s hospitality!
‘Am i cursed?’ mused Mr King after being on the receiving end both weeks of the season. No sir it was our day today as we showed pride, sprit and character -more of this as the season rolls on boys.
