Sparkshop latest

Despite a somewhat personal excuse for not playing, I shuffled on down to the QE pitches last night to support the lads in the latest outing for the mighty Sparkshop which saw them pitched against the second placed team in the league. It is to the credit of the boys that they managed to make the opposition look very ordinary as they battled to a scoreless draw and always looked the more likely to score.

It was tempting to run after the ball when it came near but I was too tender to achieve my goal. Not having any more children is a painful business but thanks to Dougie I realise how lucky I am not to have joined his list of people, exclusively men it has to be said, who have had complications arriving as a result of the 'snip'.

Rich Dom Dougie Kev Pete Matt and new Matt

The ball was skiddy on the wet surface and made control difficult, a problem week in, week out as it is, with Matt commenting on the best way to stop the ball being with the groin area, another good reason to have a break from playing. There were very few chances for Rich to deal with but he did have the dubious pleasure of careering into an inadvertent knee as he attempted to smother a cross at the feet of the opposing striker. Nevertheless he dealt with everything else thrown his way. The back unit played well as a whole although passing was a problem at times for the team and the midfield were perhaps a little rushed in playing the ball forward.

Up front new Matt ran tirelessly and had a good chance to score as he beat the last defender only to see the keeper push his shot for a corner. These were a source of hope throughout the game but the hard hit cross, low and straight, escaped the vital touch.

The two best efforts came in the second half with a fine move being met by Kev who struck a fierce shot against the bar and away as he held off the pressing defender. Pete was similarly strong as he ran to meet a long throw and powered a header goalward. The keeper beaten again, it was the bar which rescued them from going a goal behind with little prospect of scoring themselves.

A draw would have been acceptable before hand but afterwards it seemed like an opportunity missed. All credit to Sparkshop for that.