Ten Nets Extra

Last Friday night saw a near enough full eleven aside contest, as 2015 continues to be characterised by record turn outs at Coram Fields. By the time the perennially tardy Yev and shower-dodger Tony arrived we had two teams of ten; this despite Simon’s initial selection of 11 versus 8. And we wonder why the banking system is in crisis.

Let the record state that two teams were as thus:

Yellows: Alex, Simon Gas, Simon Ink, me, Tony, Ian Gooner, Yev, Bristol Paul, Khalid, Nick

Blues: Alan, Ian Baggies, Ross, Mark, Mick, Patrick, Danny, Daniel, Dave, Spizz

I thought that the Yellows looked marginally stronger on paper and so it (eventually) proved, although not before the Blues had taken the lead - twice. Young Patrick opened the scoring, possibly via an assist from his old man, before the Yellows got back on terms. Alan then scored to make it 2-1 to the Blues before a rare own goal from Danny following a sharp cutback from the by-line from Yev made it two apiece. 

With so many people on the pitch space was very much at a premium, but quality will out and Alex, Mick and Patrick all impressed in the middle while Tony marshalled the Yellows superbly at the back. Ian Gooner, fresh from his Belgian odyssey, played in a somewhat bold outside left berth and set up one goal and narrowly missed gut barging in another. As the big man himself subsequently opined, he would have been better off using his feet. 

The final two goals of the evening both went to the Yellows – Yev bagged what has been described as a “smug” header (© David) and the final score was 4-2 to the Yellows. (Much thanks to Alan for helping me fill in some of the blanks there. Apologies if you scored and I didn’t mention it, (they’ll be another game on Friday)). 

Other notable events include Danny spanking the ball out of play on the far side – Simon and Danny addressed the situation via an old plastic chair and a recycling bin after the game – and the ball disappearing into the night sky on several occasions and narrowly avoiding coming down with snow on it (and braining someone) as both teams elected to eschew any sense of playing out from the back and instead adopt Wimbledon circa 1988 tactics.

Following Simon Gas’s proposal to abandon the Skinners owing to a dearth of seating we ended up with sufficient seating to accommodate everyone this week, although there was a schism as Alan, Ian and myself ended up at the rear of the hostelry adjacent to the fire (and the gents) while Yev, Simon, Ross, Tony and others were in the front window. After a thirty minute discussion on cycling, I think our conversations touched on various topics, including some old favourites and Tony Adams’ view that ‘you need seven in the tunnel’ to rely on when things get tasty. 

Who are our seven? That’s your first subject for debate this week.

Bang.