"Because you’re my favorite subject My sweet, submissive subject My loyal, royal subject Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever…" So sings mad King George in Hamilton, the musical about the American War of Independence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21wgwkzdrkI
And this evening was all about our own war of independence - we hadn't defeated Household in quite some time; a revolution was in the air.
Stalwart Tys was back in goal after injury (presented with last season's Player of the Year award at the end of the match. Polite applause ensued), with Burty, Stu, Hoofer and Charlie George rounding out a back five with a combined age of 235. Midfield of Boyband, Punter, Zondervan and Sheedy, with the two young'uns Tony (34) and Tommy (36) up front.
Latch and Hanning on the bench meant the squad had an average age of 43.
Revolution is usually the domain of the young, but the sole available hands on deck this evening were on rather familiar terms with Father Time. Any notion of pace, energy and vigour had to be discarded; experience and wisdom were to be our only weapons against the sapling serfs.
They had a couple of tidy midfielders (no doubt under the age of 30), but were kept quiet up front (jolly-ho back five!). Tys made a couple of great saves, including a one on one to keep the clean sheet, but on the whole we were untroubled, often camped in the oppo's half. Their keeper is quite good, albeit a little fond of the overzealous leap, and he took every opportunity to display his youthful athleticism. He made a great save from a cracking long-range Tommy effort, and another point-blank from Zondervan. At times we had some lovely tippy-tappy happening, a few flowing moves from front to back delighting the wildly partisan Battersea crowd. However our finishing let us down, numerous chances to score going begging.
Tommy Dazzler finally notched the first, put through from a Punter header via a Latch dummy and slotting nicely past the keeper with his left. 1-0 at the break, but the battle cry never wavered. However, by the time the second lot of subs had been made midway through the second half (Hanning's cameo helping lift the average age another tick or two) it looked like one of those games where they'd sack our castle on the break, as we just couldn't turn possession into comprehensive victory, struggling to put the opposition to the sword.
Finally Tommy Dazzler got in on the act again, picking up a ball from Punter, surging into the box and lashing high and home, again with his left. Some final frantic moments in the backline, before the installation of whippersnapper Boyband (42) injected some much-needed pace and helped shore up the clean sheet.
A victory for the rebels, overthrowing the ruling elite once more.
Pub talk naturally turned seditious, and to thoughts of what happens when the phrase "London Bridge is down" is uttered, the code signifying the Queen has died. Apparently a few days of holiday is in order, although opinion was divided on whether pubs will be open or shut. I for one am a staunch republican (https://www.republic.org.uk/what-we-want/monarchy-myth-buster), and look forward to the day that hereditary public office is consigned to the story books of yore where it belongs. But I'm a little wary of being too strident, mad King George's song still giving pause for thought:
"Because when push comes to shove I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love"
