My motivation to write a match report after Sunday's game was shot down by Villa's ineptitude in their 5-0 defeat to Liverpooh, so I offer just this: The White team won, and Joe scored a brace.
This Sunday we will be missing the league guys, and it has been requested that we look to start at 8:30am to make the most of our time. In the weeks ahead, we will have no choice but to finish at 11am on the dot to accomodate other teams, so let's try and get our full playing time.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
MATCH DAY 3/15
With the ball being pinged about it almost looked like we knew what we were doing. To a certain extent. But with the strikers, as they were, misfiring with very few exceptions it was a closer game than anyone would have predicted.
While everyone that got banged up last week was back, bar Jay, Steve was playing hurt and Keith didn't manage to go the distance. And when Mahoney arrived late, at least he had the excuse of an injury (back.)
The Blues took a 2-0 lead as their defense dealt with everything the White team could throw at them. Yes, the White strikers were off their game (it took over an hour to get the first White corner) but Bobby M was as good as he has ever been and Keith led by example before an ankle injury saw him leave early.
Mike M's rehab is clearly now complete as he jinked his way around everyone. He defended well, scored a goal and always made sure he was available.
Keeble was appalling, but for his two lay-offs to Ed to score he might as well have not shown up. His goals-per-game ratio is down is a measly 10 in 5, dropping his average goals-per-game to 2. Pathetic. What a wanker.
Perhaps when the league guys go off and do their thing and we get new jerseys for the new season, Keeble will be reborn. Or maybe he will remain as crap as ever.
FINAL SCORE 4-3 to the Blues, thanks to a spectacular last gasp strike from...
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Scott R (Blue) along with Mike in the Blue midfield he pulled the strings and chased every ball.
While everyone that got banged up last week was back, bar Jay, Steve was playing hurt and Keith didn't manage to go the distance. And when Mahoney arrived late, at least he had the excuse of an injury (back.)
The Blues took a 2-0 lead as their defense dealt with everything the White team could throw at them. Yes, the White strikers were off their game (it took over an hour to get the first White corner) but Bobby M was as good as he has ever been and Keith led by example before an ankle injury saw him leave early.
Mike M's rehab is clearly now complete as he jinked his way around everyone. He defended well, scored a goal and always made sure he was available.
Keeble was appalling, but for his two lay-offs to Ed to score he might as well have not shown up. His goals-per-game ratio is down is a measly 10 in 5, dropping his average goals-per-game to 2. Pathetic. What a wanker.
Perhaps when the league guys go off and do their thing and we get new jerseys for the new season, Keeble will be reborn. Or maybe he will remain as crap as ever.
FINAL SCORE 4-3 to the Blues, thanks to a spectacular last gasp strike from...
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Scott R (Blue) along with Mike in the Blue midfield he pulled the strings and chased every ball.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
MATCH DAY PREVIEW 3/15
Hopefully Sunday morning will be brisk and dry. And hopefully everyone that left early because they were banged up will be fit to be considered for selection. The league starts in two weeks I believe, which means many of our regulars will be gone for the rest of the spring. So even it we have 13 v 13 or whatever this week again, in the weeks following numbers should be a down a little, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's not too drastic a drop.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
MATCH DAY REPORT: 3/8
With new players making their debuts, part-time players showing up for the sunshine, and the league players getting in shape for their season's kick-off, it was a full-house on the turf.
... until the injuries starting piling up. Steve (who had been almost perfect in the Blue goal) took a knock and called it a day joining Jay, Joe, John, Rich and probably some others who had taken too much punishment before 11 o'clock. The time change meant many arrived late, but 14 v 14 at its peak was just too crowded.
Doug stirred things up by joining the White team in a rare switch, but he wasn't the only one. Dan in Blue! Mike in White! And while there were early Blue complaints that the teams were lopsided, they soon went in front 2-0.
The White back line was formidable. Scott P, C, Mark M and Aquaman (John G) didn't let much past them and allowed the likes of Jon B to sneak forward and provide some telling crosses. But with time on the ball limited and incisive passing tight due to player congestion, attacking midfielders that could bring the ball through traffic were the real dangermen.
As far as I know, the Blues led 3-1 before Steve left and was replaced by Keith. Shortly afterwards, and through no fault of Keith's and fair play to him for stepping up, the White team score a sneaker at his near post and a defensive error led to a Scott P long ranger into an open goal to tie the score at 3-3 and I think that's how it ended. In fact, now I think of it, the White's might have won 4-3 when one of the debutante's tapped in as people started drifting back to the parking lot.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH - Steve (Blue): Kicking into the wind he defended the Blue lead with conviction.
FINAL SCORE: Either 3-3 or 4-3 to the Whites.
... until the injuries starting piling up. Steve (who had been almost perfect in the Blue goal) took a knock and called it a day joining Jay, Joe, John, Rich and probably some others who had taken too much punishment before 11 o'clock. The time change meant many arrived late, but 14 v 14 at its peak was just too crowded.
Doug stirred things up by joining the White team in a rare switch, but he wasn't the only one. Dan in Blue! Mike in White! And while there were early Blue complaints that the teams were lopsided, they soon went in front 2-0.
The White back line was formidable. Scott P, C, Mark M and Aquaman (John G) didn't let much past them and allowed the likes of Jon B to sneak forward and provide some telling crosses. But with time on the ball limited and incisive passing tight due to player congestion, attacking midfielders that could bring the ball through traffic were the real dangermen.
As far as I know, the Blues led 3-1 before Steve left and was replaced by Keith. Shortly afterwards, and through no fault of Keith's and fair play to him for stepping up, the White team score a sneaker at his near post and a defensive error led to a Scott P long ranger into an open goal to tie the score at 3-3 and I think that's how it ended. In fact, now I think of it, the White's might have won 4-3 when one of the debutante's tapped in as people started drifting back to the parking lot.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH - Steve (Blue): Kicking into the wind he defended the Blue lead with conviction.
FINAL SCORE: Either 3-3 or 4-3 to the Whites.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
MATCH DAY PREVIEW 3/8
I could do another deal with the weather gods, but the effects are taking their toll somewhat, so let's all pray to Thaw* instead!
*Yeah, so it's spelled differently. It's all good when you say it out loud.
*Yeah, so it's spelled differently. It's all good when you say it out loud.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
MATCH DAY 3/1
A sharper, more evenly contested match this week as slowly, but surely, the WSS all-stars return to full strength.
Even a light snow and a biting wind couldn't sour an enjoyable clash with the Blue team stepping up their game and (probably) winning by a one or two.
The big differences between this week's Blues and last week's was the return of Doug in goal and Mark in the middle of the field. Doug made the plentiful saves he had to make look easy, even tipping certain goals over the bar, while Mark ran and drove for goal while tracking back to deal with the White threat in equal measure.
There were a few niggling battles born from frustration and some physical challenges, but that can't take away from some fine Blue performances. Keith and Bobby in particular looked far more comfortable knowing Doug was taking his familiar sweeper/goalkeeper stance behind them and Keith added some surging runs up the left wing and even a rare goal. Rocco and Frank got plenty of the ball on the Blue wings and Vince added strength and guile to the forward line.
The Whites stuck to what they do best, with Mo, Ed and Dan threading balls through with some success. Doug snapped up a lot of them, and Joe got stuck in when needed, but the strikers couldn't take their chances as they had done last week. Keeble in particular hit 90% of his shots straight at Doug's chest, with 9% dribbling high and wide (and one going in.) Scott P was also a big influence on the right making some telling passes into the box and drawing markers wide to let Mo and Dan cash in. Steve was also quick off his line in the White goal and made a big difference in keeping the game tight.
The scoreline is vague. It seemed the Blues restarted more than the Whites, but those who were paying some attention to the score seemed to agree the Blues snuck it. Either way, we're back in business and will keep coming back as long as the snow stays the **** off our field.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH - DOUG (Blue): Even by his standards, a fine return
FINAL SCORE: Blues 6 Whites 5... something like that.
Even a light snow and a biting wind couldn't sour an enjoyable clash with the Blue team stepping up their game and (probably) winning by a one or two.
The big differences between this week's Blues and last week's was the return of Doug in goal and Mark in the middle of the field. Doug made the plentiful saves he had to make look easy, even tipping certain goals over the bar, while Mark ran and drove for goal while tracking back to deal with the White threat in equal measure.
There were a few niggling battles born from frustration and some physical challenges, but that can't take away from some fine Blue performances. Keith and Bobby in particular looked far more comfortable knowing Doug was taking his familiar sweeper/goalkeeper stance behind them and Keith added some surging runs up the left wing and even a rare goal. Rocco and Frank got plenty of the ball on the Blue wings and Vince added strength and guile to the forward line.
The Whites stuck to what they do best, with Mo, Ed and Dan threading balls through with some success. Doug snapped up a lot of them, and Joe got stuck in when needed, but the strikers couldn't take their chances as they had done last week. Keeble in particular hit 90% of his shots straight at Doug's chest, with 9% dribbling high and wide (and one going in.) Scott P was also a big influence on the right making some telling passes into the box and drawing markers wide to let Mo and Dan cash in. Steve was also quick off his line in the White goal and made a big difference in keeping the game tight.
The scoreline is vague. It seemed the Blues restarted more than the Whites, but those who were paying some attention to the score seemed to agree the Blues snuck it. Either way, we're back in business and will keep coming back as long as the snow stays the **** off our field.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH - DOUG (Blue): Even by his standards, a fine return
FINAL SCORE: Blues 6 Whites 5... something like that.
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