Hard to beat but still losing

Thirty Plus, soon to undergo rebranding with a new sponsorship deal, the details of which are so top secret they must remain obscure a while longer, have one of the best defensive records in the league. Sadly, they also have one of the poorest scoring records meaning that even one goal against is regularly costing us the game or at least a point. That was the case on Monday after we suffered a one nil mauling.

The pressure was on from the start and large periods of play were confined to our half although the defence battled bravely to limit open chances. Simon was left exposed, oooh er missus, on few occasions and dealt with the goal threat with aplomb standing by his motto of going down early. One save deserves highlighting as he fell to the ground like a Canadian redwood to spread his frame and push aside a goalbound shot with a strong right hand. Like all the best goalkeepers, he did so whilst acutely aware of the oncoming forwards and ensured the ball went out in the general direction of safety.

Their goal came midway through the second half and left Dougie with little chance. Part of me is reluctant to admit that the opposition were a man down by this stage because it looks even worse. The referee, who seems to love us because we're no trouble, especially to the other teams, had taken sympathy on the battering we were receiving and made our plight easier by sending a player off. The effect was to make them angry and they celebrated the goal like world cup winners. Another part of me wants to admit this as there is a certain glory in being quite so poor. If you can't win, then you can at least be terrible. Somewhere in between is mediocrity as we don't want that. You can't chat about that in the pub afterwards.

As a result there is no need to update the scoring charts. I'm not sure their keeper saved a shot with his hands in the game and can recall just one save with his feet as he slid out to block an early chance. Glorious stuff!

Next week - how ou new formation is shaping up. There are still combinations we have left untried and the idea, I don't think the opposition will be reading this so I can let this secret out now, is that Kev will play up front while I slip into the hole behind.

Finally I should make it clear, everyone played well on Monday. We're just a little bit limited by age and pace. Matt I is playing very well in defence and the others did what they could well. We'd have walked this league ten, no five years ago! Maybe.