Another week, another new set of players, another defeat. Although, this one started off quite well (after singing 'happy birthday' to Mel), with some good passing and fairly confident pushing the ball around. A minor scare when 'thorpe had a through ball headed over from a yard. Then, after about 10 minutes, Rob spoilt it by running on to a superb through ball to round the keeper and slot home. The screams weren't from adoring fans however, but the debutant Castlethorpe goalie who was laying in the box in agony. After a diversion to allow for an ambulance to drive across the goalmouth, the game restarted. And the bottom fell out of our world. Had Jose made a raft of substitutions ? Who were these strangers suddenly wearing the fluorescent shirts ?
Nope, normality was restored by Colin doing, well, a Colin. He scythed down the 'thorpe forward as he ran into the box. Yes, the tackle started outside the box. Yes, there was a mark where the tackle started. There was also the metre-long trench in the verdant grass that proved that either some enraged farmer had driven a plough across our area, or Colin had taken ball, man and part of the changing rooms in his efforts to prevent a goal. Which resulted in a penalty which Daz was just unable to stop, and only the presence of Robin lounging on the goalline saved Colin from an early shower. The half was only enlightened by Jose attempting to copy Phillip doing the Northampton faceplant, a move which should turn up on Strictly at some point.
So, we went in at half time all square.
11 different people emerged from the huddle, it must have been, as we played worse than before the break. 1-1 became 4-1 quickly as 'thorpe seemed to score at will. Helped by Colin who decided that he so enjoyed chatting to the ref that he began a tackle that should finish some time next week, and the resultant penalty left Darren diving the wrong way.
Luckily, the rest of the match passed in a drug-induced haze. Subs came and went, they scored more goals, Ryann decided that the job of left midfield was to mark the opposing right back at all times, Blaze kept beating himself (not in a nice way) and Robin was told to pass to Luke. This caused some confusion as Luke Hollington wasn't there, and it would be one hell of a pass to reach him back in MK. It was then that the rest of the team decided to inform Robin that the tall blond lad that Robin had only ever called Crouch (not sure why) was in fact called Luke.
Cue laughter from the opponents & ref.
Deserved.
Not even Rob bagging a second could lighten the mood, two of the goals were from the same winger with crosses that drifted over Daz (one from either wing) and then the afternoon was summed up when Robin let an overhit ball run through to Daz, who channelled the spirit of Graham as he slid out spectacularly to save a ball that a) was going out for a goal kick, b) was travelling very slowly and c) the forward wasn't really following up. The ball bounced out of his (slightly limp-wristed) grasp and fell at the feet of the forward, who rolled it into the net. How he scored with tears of laughter in his eyes we'll never know. However (dum dum DUM !) Daz had injured himself 'saving' the ball, and Craig eagerly took the opportunity to don the pink shirt. (Note to Craig : the method of dressing accepted in polite society is shirt first, gloves last. The other way causes the confusion that occured that day.)
We played out the last minutes without further goalage, including one spectacular save from Craig who palmed the ball out. To the feet of the waiting forward who, luckily, couldn't score due to the tears of laughter.
After the match ? Well, Philiip almost had to pay for a replacement flag as he couldn't find the one that the ref had given him. The one that Robin had put in the changing room when he brought the bag in during the ambulance break. The one that he couldn't find when Robin shouted that he had put it on the bag in the changing room when..(you get the picture here).
In the pub, we got the news that the goalkeeper had broken his leg in two places.
Colin offered to make it three.
