After a disappointing first game of the season away in the rain, Norreys started the 2011/12 campaign at home in the sunshine at Brimpton.
It was classic Sunday league football from the outset. Karl Mason drafted in as backup manager after just one game of the season whilst Simon Mason is away on holiday in sunny Skegness. When Karl looked around the dressing room, right into the players eyes, he knew that at least 7 of them had been drinking heavily the night before. In fact the stench coming from Stoney meant that most of the players were quickly changed and out of the dressing room before he could unleash all that was brewed from the night before.
Karl was handed a set of Top Trumps to shuffle that didn't include Matt Roddis, The Bear, Ali the Toucher or Earl Barrett. Luke also decided to go all Charlie Big Potatoes on the team by turning up late. Karl responded by creating a revolutionary 4-4-2 formation. Brendan was brought in for his first game of the season, whilst Dave and James were handed their full debuts.
Still with a rousing but detailed pre-match talk ringing in their ears Norreys stood confused for the first few minutes and it was this confusion that lead to the Blue Balls goal. in the 3rd minute a long throw flicked on, took a couple of deflections, bounced off Stoney's shins and dropped to a Blue Ball player. The words 'Thanks' written all over his smug little face were there for all to see as he smashed the ball home, w@nk£r . Norreys needed to wake up.
For the next 15 minutes or so Norreys couldn't get to grips with the BB's as they enjoyed a lot of possession. Chances were coming and Stoney and his back four were being strongly tested, Stoney chucking in a couple of hollywood saves, the 7 watching fans were screaming in delight. Even the paintwork came in to save Norreys from a two-goal deficit.
However, midway through the first half, a turning point. 'Shit' was called out. Some of the Norreys players were heard shouting back, 'We aren't that bad'. It was the Ref talking...'No, Not you lot, there is Dog Poo on the pitch'. At that moment manager Karl Mason had realised what he had signed up for, the glamour, the team speeches, formations and now the Hampstead Norreys Poo Cleaner. Out he trotted, plastic bag in hand, no one can really understand how he must of felt, handling freshly laid warm poo in front of 22 blokes.
'It was at that point a knew we had to dig in' said Tam. 'When, you see the gaffer getting into the shit, you have to back him up'. So Norreys started to do exactly that, tackles started coming in, arguements between our own players and a bit of passion on show. Norreys started playing some easy football and started threading the ball through the bulls at ease. Best chance of the half came when Joao was played in on goal by Brad, good closing from the keeper and defender denied him.
At half time, a bit of doom and gloom, but it wasn't that bad, no longer against the wind, players starting to wake up and get through their hangovers, they can get back in this!! Into the second half and things looked much better. Then .....the moment that Norreys had pushed for, Joao breaking into the box and the Bull Balls defender smashing him from behind harder than Barrymore at a pool party. Penalty...
...Up stepped Stott, confident from last week but still whiter than Casper the ghost but also looking like he had been running a marathon a day for the last 3 weeks, snot and sweat down his face, the keeper must have wondered what the hell was taking the penalty. Up he stepped...Goal. Sent the keeper the wrong way again, he slots the ball away nicely.
Norreys can win this one? You can see it on the Bulls faces. They start moving their players into different positions as they start to wonder what is going on. Brad is unlucky with a header as Norreys push for the win. On come Niko and Luke to try and bolster the options going forward. But then a moment that Norreys feared in the back of their minds. A cross from the left, Wilksey clearly fouled in the air, but the ref allows play to continue as the ball drops to a Balls striker, he smashes the ball goalbound.......But the Stone Wall was every bit as strong as the shot, as he stands strong and does not let that ball pass!
Did Norreys get a late chance themselves, you bet they did. Confusion late in the game as Norreys push 4 into the box to attack a late cross, the ball drops 15 yards out, Joao comes steaming in, clean connection but smashes it wide. Glory was there to be had, but it was not to be for the little Potuguese midget.
Final score 1-1, Norreys can be happy in that they could have been 3 down, however with late chances they could have snatched more than just a point. MOM goes to Dave after an excellent debut. He started slowly, but pressed in the midfield well, looked to pass the ball and was very assured when placed as a centreback towards the end of the game. Come on the Hamsters!
