Vampires in Forest Gate?

The last Friday of November and just three games left now before we finish up for 2014. Blimey. As December and all the Christmas hullabaloo awaits, Danny and Steve had a go at picking the teams, and very well they did too. These two defensive titans obviously fancied a challenge and duly picked two teams that very much represented defence versus attack, viz

Yellows: Steve, Danny, Daniel, Alan, Bristol Paul, Tony, me

Blues: Alex, Will, Ross, Ian Baggies, Ian Gooner, Paul, Simon Ink, Nick

Two teams of seven(ish) aside, then, with plenty of space and lots of running necessary. As you may expect, the Blues dominated possession over the course of the game, with Nick, Alex and Will having a ball, literally and metaphorically, in midfield. However, perhaps predictably, they found it much more difficult when the ball arrived at the Yellows’ penalty area, with Tony, Bristol Paul and Steve providing wonderful protection for Danny in goal (initially), and then myself when I took the gloves. Alan was typically effervescent, switching between attack and defence and Daniel bringing some class to proceedings up front. 

The first goal took some time to arrive and was rather direct; following twenty minutes or so of seemingly constant Blues’ pressure I took a goal kick and put some back spin on the ball as it sailed toward Danny. He controlled it, took it around one defender and chipped it over the ‘keeper’s head. The Yellows scored another two fairly soft goals following some scruffy goalkeeping, but all the while the Blues threatened to overrun the Yellows in midfield. 

As the Yellows rope-a-dope tactics continued, there was one almighty let off when I charged down a cross from Nick only to see it balloon up in the air. Rather than heading it clear or hacking it away I attempted to play it away only to pass it straight into Simon Ink’s path, who’s finishing failed him. Alex did get one back for the Blues playing some pretty one-twos with Will, but although they briefly threatened to overturn the score line at 3-2 the Blues managed to keep scoring at the other end – Tony finished off a lovely move with a fine header from Alan’s cross and Alan himself made amends for an extraordinary miss early in the game with two cool finishes later on following some calm inter-passing between himself and Daniel. 

Not too much needle this week, although Tony did brand Simon Ink a “complete arse” after he stubbed his toe on Simon’s foot in a 50:50; there was also a disputed free kick call that resulted in Alex swearing at Steve who promptly punted the ball as hard as he could and into the side of the unsuspecting Daniel’s face. Other than these minor skirmishes, there was only the age-old row about playing on past eight ‘o’ clock, which raged for around four minutes before the next set of players came on.

Final score: Yellows 5 – Blues 3

And so the pub, which was happily still clear of any Christmas drinkers. A very decent turn out considering the low numbers playing; Tony, the two Pauls, Ian and ultimately Simon Ink enjoyed a lively discussion about art, art house cinema directors (Ken Loach and Mike Leigh), raising children, Premier League football and  (I kid you not), rapist vampires in Forest Gate. 

Until next week, and the return of the West Country conquistador himself, Senor Gas.