Our man in Bogota

 

Many apologies for the dearth of blogs in recent weeks; I missed two Fridays due to various family matters and have had a terribly busy couple of weeks work-wise. Rest assured, normal service will now be resumed.

With our spiritual leader and all-round Chef de Mission Simon Gas currently in high level negotiations in Bogota to bring striking sensation Radamel Falcao to the West Country to ply his trade for Bristol Rovers, (either that or he’s involved with some shady import/export business involving sheaths stuffed with class A narcotics), the remaining ensemble somehow had to cobble together a game on Friday. Dan and Alex took a proactive approach to team selection by forming a three-man committee along with Joe and divvying up the fourteen players before we took to the pitch. 

Said teams lined up thusly:

Bibs – Ian, Alex, Simon Inky, Paul, Steve A, Ross, Boro Dave

Colours – Danny, Dan, Joe, me, Ian West Brom, Geoff, Spizz

As you can see, sometime footballer and post-punk icon Spizz returned to the fray for the first time in some weeks to join a somewhat diminutive side (physically, at least) alongside fellow short-arses like me, Joe and Geoff.  By contrast, the Bibs had a clear lead in the Tale of the Tape as it applied to both height and weight, with colossi like Ian, Boro Dave and Paul. 

Despite physical shortcomings, the Colours raced into a two goal lead via a goal from (I think), Dan and a tidy finish from Spizz into the far corner. This was after Simon Ink had pulled off a trademark great save from my good self with the game still goalless.

I then went between the posts for the Colours and promptly let in three goals. I dropped an absolute clanger for the first; a highly speculative shot from Ian which had his team mates howling in consternation such was its ambition somehow crept under my fingers and left Ian righteous with vindicated indignation. Ross equalised via a tidy finish inside the near post and then put the Bibs in front after I couldn’t get a strong enough hand on his next shot despite closing down the angles. So, 3-2 to the Bibs.

Joe went up the other end and equalised to make it three apiece, after which Spizz was once more amongst the goals, his last strike (which turned out to be the winner) coming from some classic goal-hanging and a Pirlo-eqsue finish to wrong foot Alex in the nets. There was still time for another goal for the Bibs, which came via an unfortunate interception from Dan which left Ian West Brom flat footed between the sticks.

Final score: Colours 5 Bibs 4

And so to the White feline public house for refreshment. A low turnout this week, with Simon Ink, Joe, Spizz, Steve A, myself, Ian and Boro Dave propping up the bar and discussing topics such as the etymology of The Specials classic ‘Gangsters’ (both Ian and Spizz’s assertions that is was about former manager Bernie Rhodes and included an homage to Prince Buster’s Al Capone are confirmed here), Arsenal’s recent travails and the merits of Cornish beer over premium lager.

Senor Gashead is still away on important business in Colombia so assuming that Interpol don’t catch up with him first, we should see him back on Friday 7^th December. Until then, I will be collecting the subs – Alex, Geoff: I haven’t forgotten.