We're not bottom of the league!

One game into the new season in Wimborne and Iscape already have a point!!!! and 4 goals scored!!!!! I think it took us 20 games to do that last season which is only a slight exaggeration but it was a case of a point gained despite being pulled back twice in the second half.
The stalwarts of previous seasons returned after lat week's mass absence although Dougie skived off using Leanne's impending labour as an excuse. Good luck to you both - due today I think.

Hen Dom Matt I Matt C Kev Dave Iain

We started with a new formation, variation number 214 I believe, with Kev telling the various defenders to swap sides and make room for Matt C at the back. We looked solid enough but just couldn't create a thing in the first half despite Gary reffing for us. Inevitably we conceded and it looked like more of the same from last year, not many conceded but none scored. Indeed we were soon two down where the score remained at half time. I'm not sure we had a shot at goal let alone on target in a hugely disappointing opening period.

Using years of experience, Matt and I had a chat and decided to go down fighting, we needed to score even if we conceded more. I'm sad to say that meant me dropping back, ostensibly to midefield but I was soon in the centre of defence. Seeing this, Matt strode forward and took up a central midfield role which allowed him to fill the box as he stormed into the area time and again. I might have over stated that a little. The game turned on a long throw from Kev. I ran or moved, choose your own description, into the box and leapt to ram a firm header past the keeper. Gary almost did a lap of honour round the pitch for me he was so happy. Kev turned insitgator of the second shortly after as he battled in the midfield area for a loose ball. I played it forward to Matt who threaded the ball into the area for Dave to drive home.

That was not in the script at all and the opposition were in pieces. Their shock was clear to see as a mess up at the back presented Matt with a clear run on goal. Deciding to take it early though, Matt opened his body up (a bona fide football term not in the least medical) and smashed a right footed side of the foot blast just off the surface of the pitch and past a despairing keeper. Two down had become 3 - 2 in our favour - Gary even queried whether Coombsie was on drugs!!

Another turning point came with the award of free kick to them near the area. Gary made a mistake. Those are not words we want read or hear, nor did we ever expect to say that in our lifetimes but he did make a genuine error in pulling Matt C up for a tackle which was as clean as Dougie's email inbox. Actually that is probably a poor comparison but you know what I mean. Matt took the ball completely, made no contact with the player who had fallen over beacuse the ball was simply stopped by Matt but Gary gave a free kick. Moments later the game was level. However, more excitement was still to come.

Another throw in, the ball fell to Dave in the box who turned the defender, swivelled and shot between the keeper's legs which sounds quite rude but just describes his goal. We were ahead and had already scored more goals than the whole of last season virtually. Sadly, Hen chose this game to perform a blunder of some proportion quite out of keeping with the standard sets every week. He is seldom to blame for any of the goals, often left by himself by absent and ageing playmates but this was one time he let the ball slip. It trickled from a cross, through his hands and into the far corner. To be fair though he managed to save us a point with a stunning right handed save at full stretch right at the death. A point gained indeed.

What a happy gathering following the game there was at the Coach and Horses. Seldom has a team been so happy with a point but we are already unlikely to gain promotion.