Quite remarkable

Quite remarkable as David Coleman used to say. Sparkshop have now won a third game in a row, that is quite literally three victories over other sides made up of 7 players all of whom were able bodied and still breathing and still managed to lose to this ragged bunch of wheezing geriatrics. At least that is what we were, but thanks to the inspired leadership of Mr Kevin Trill and his managerial acumen in persuading three rather good recruits to join us, we have been transformed beyond recognition into promotion challengers! That will have put paid to that idea at least but perhaps we've benefited from being in a different division. Whatever the explanation, we not only won last night, we crushed the opposition in a display of attacking power and ruthlessness. The website says 7 - 3 but it was actually 8 - 2. I can only think that when Kev hit the post and the rebound, travelling to safety, hit the keeper on the back thus returning it to goal, the referee mistook it for a goal to the other side. In an act of charity though (!) the goal is awarded to Kevin for his heroic shooting prowess.

That goal was the third in a straightforward first half. We'd started against 6 men, something most didn't notice until we were 2 up. A Kev Trill shot spun heavenward from the prone keeper and was calmly nodded home by new Matt in a classy finish. He turned provider next with an unselfish ball across the face of goal leaving me with the simple task of tapping home into an empty net. Something I should have done better for Kev later in the game to be fair.

Three up at half time became 4, 5 and 6 in a rush as the ball seemed to find me in front of goal with uncanny regularity and provided me with a 'perfect hat trick'. Matt broke into the box and was thwarted by a stray hand. Advantage was being played when he set a subtle pass to my left foot and for a change the shot produced a sweetly struck shot in to the bottom corner of the goal. Moments later a defensive mix up left the ball four yards out in front of goal and I smacked it home right footed. Finally a useful interchange of passes released Dougie with the freedom of the park and he tore in a great cross which the keeper flapped at, succeeding at letting it drop onto my head to be steered home with aplomb.

By this stage Kev was screaming for me to come off so he wasn't left too far behind in the scoring stakes. However, it was the other side who scored next with a ball bouncing around the edge of the area finally being hit home with a neat finish to the bottom corner. Immediately though Kev hit our reply. It really was good play as we set up an attack down our right culminating in a neat lay off and tidy finish from the lethal foot of Mr Trill who tucked the ball effortlessly into the far corner.

There was time for another goal from our opposition which was hit home from distance and past Kev who inadvertently left Rich unsighted in goal giving him no chance as ball nestled in the corner. The scoring continued apace with a sublime finish from another swift one touch move down the right, new Matt tucking the ball sweetly into the far corner again.

After such a glut of goals it was good to remind ourselves of the more comical moments of the game. Kev started things off with a terrible volley in the warm up which left the ball in the metaphorical row z and continued with a lovely shot from Dougie that looked destined for any goal bar the one he was aiming for. Unsurprisingly he was met with a volley of frowns and groans but his time will come, it's just a case of watch this space.

The best moment of the game was Dom's mystery foul. Having headed the ball touchward he ran at full pelt to retrieve it or at least make sure he cleared any residual danger. Yards from anyone he stumbled into the ball and threw himself at the ball with such force that he found his feet had disappeared and, much to everyone's amusement, found himself tumbling to the floor with real force and grazed his arm as he rolled about on the floor. It could have been a foul had anyone been anywhere near him and is unlikely to be repeated without the aid of a safety net. The unfortunate Chris was the victim of the game's only proper foul and it was right after he had beaten someone with a piece of theatrical skill which bought him time and space only to find he was hitting the deck instead of embarking on a mazy dribble to goal. There's always the next game.

Team

Rich Dom Dougie Kev (2) Matt C Chris New Matt (2) Iain (4)

It might even be worth keeping a tally of our goals this time round. At last we have some to tot up.