Winning again!

Sparkshop set out on a new league season with a game against a team of newcomers who played rather naively and allowed us a comfortable victory.

It was a depleted side to some degree with:

Rich Matt C new Matt Kev Pete myself and Matt C's brother

so both Dougie and Dom were off leaving us with some alterations to be made in defence. The Cooombes brothers formed a formidable partnership and kept any chances to a bare minimum. Rich complained of cold after the game such was the ease of the second half. We didn't create as much in that half either but the game was already done and dusted by then with Pete playing very well in setting up the first three goals.

He'd had the honour of captaining Witchampton the previous weekend and he brought that talent to the party for Sparkshop.

It was a fine performance with some very good football on display and it was no surprise when we took an early lead against this team of youngsters. The ball was played in to the area following a flowing passing move and I swivelled to hit the ball home as the keeper challenged. Pete played a great ball in and did so again shortly after for new Matt to sweep the ball home. Matt pulled up somewhat after that with some back problems but it made little difference to the outcome although we would have scored more with him rampaging in his usual style.

A third goal came when Pete played another ball in at pace and it was diverted into the goal by a flick of my right foot. More goals seemed destined to follow but it was a surprise when it came to the other side. A through ball bounced in front of goal and Rich decided on safety first in opting to try to reach for the ball rather than clattering into the oncoming striker. Having missed the ball the empty net was inviting and the ball was tapped in.

Any concerns were quickly dispelled as Kev embarked on a lengthy run, cutting in from the touchline out on the right. He beat two defenders before calmly sliding the ball inside the near post and that was that. The rest of the game was comfortable and gave us the perfect start as we prepare for the cup final.

Woodlands walk

Maria and I went for an early morning stroll around Woodlands this morning as signs of spring become clearer by the day. We saw the sheep which are part of the Goat Farm Dairy (I've only ever seen sheep and never goats which is strange given the name - perhaps it isn't acceptable to advertise how heavily into sheep you are?)

Glen was back at football training this morning with a game at lunchtime tomorrow and I'll be out in the garden for the afternoon getting things tidied up after the building work. Things are beginning to come together. The new TV for the utility room has arrived, nice LCD screen, and Alison has bought a breadmaker so Glen can have some more interesting bread given his gluten intolerance. The first loaf is almost ready.

Building work

Work on the new room has recommenced after a two week hiatus and that means we now have a step down from the study into the utility room and skirting board round the walls. There is still work to be done on the roof with the top capping needing to be finished and a downpipe is yet to be fitted for the guttering on one side. The paint for the first coat is in the room and we are off to town tomorrow to choose some floor tiles.

The idea then is to work out where to position things in the room. We're going to be ordering a wood burner which the builder is going to build the hearth for and that will give a cosy feel to the place so it isn't just somewhere for a sink, tumble dryer and washing machine. The dogs will be out there which will be so much better in the main part of the house and I can see it being a good place to relax in front of the burner with a kettle on the go on the top of it. It can be used to cook apparently which sounds inviting and I've ordered a small TV for the room as well. The freeview will give an option to anyone wanting to escape from Sky in the sitting room.

The new kitchen will arrive in a fortnight and planning permission is going in for the conservatory. It's a busy time all in all and we're looking to put a vegetable plot back somewhere in the garden. We used to grow quite a few things but playing cricket on Saturdays meant I had less time for keeping it together. I should be able to manage to find a bit more time this year and am looking forward to getting on with a bit of digging again.

All the way to the final!

It isn't often you get invited to a men's semi but Kevin has a way with words which makes you feel you have to be there. It had been a major surprise qualifying for the quarter finals of the Wimborne Cup Competition, a competition which we've much derided in the past as the least intelligible cup set up in the Western hemisphere but now see as the pinnacle of organisation and a fair cup in being set up to allow teams such as ours a head start through a handicap system.

Therefore it was already 1 - 0 to Sparkshop when they kicked off in the rain last week. The start was difficult with an early goal conceded, in part because Pete and Matt were late leaving the others with just 5 players against the top side from the league phase of the cup. Incredibly a backs to the wall display saw Richard pull of some great saves and a simply stunning one to leave the tie in the balance.

Using his years of experience, the big fella at the back cunningly used his backside to pop a ball upfield and Kev was onto it in a flash. He outwitted the defender feinting to one side before unleashing a venomous shot which flew into the corner of the goal giving Sparkshop a lead they held on to in a gritty defensive display.

That meant the semi final last night and a return for myself after two months of Christmas, work and family commitments. I arrived in the knowledge that a subs appearance would be fine after so long without running but surprisingly that proved not to be the case. It was the bare 7 of us as new Matt was experiencing some difficulties leaving the toilet vicinity, the result of pre-match nerves?

Again the opposition was tough, a top league team but there was a 2 goal start for us which meant we had something to cling on to from the start. In truth we had limited possession at times but there was a sturdy determination to the play from early on with no qualms about simply launching the ball out whenever danger loomed. They played well but Richard was seldom tested save from distance and the closing down was effectively done as Pete and Matt tigerishly pursued even the lost causes in midfield. Add the deep lying Kev to the mix with his readiness to drop back and stiffen up the centre (ooer!) and it meant Doug and Dom had solid support about them throughout.

It was the creative boot of Dougie that we scored midway through the half. A towering ball was powered down the slope bouncing close to keeper and defender with an interested Salmon in reasonably close pursuit. I can honestly say the collision looked inevitable although I had expected the ball to deviate in some way. It was not to be though and it ran on past the prone defender and keeper presenting me with the time to trap the ball and check for someone clattering me from behind as well as the thought, I'm going to look a proper idiot missing this, before looking up and sidefooting home into the empty net.

We turned round 3 - 0 up effectively and continued to hit them on the break. The clearances were often hasty but never less than effective. Richard was getting some great throw outs with Kev and I winning our share against a strangely less than dominant defence. Pete was throwing himself everywhere to win the ball and Matt seemed to have his extendable leg on call at all times to nick the ball clear time and time again. Kev was adding to their impatience with the masterful tactic of booting the ball over the fence at every opportunity. Time wasting of the highest quality.

Incredibly we went further ahead from a corner. Kev crossed hard and low with a little deflection from the defender putting it slightly behind me. I got a foot to the ball and Pete suddenly found himself a couple of yards from goal with the ball at his feet. He took a touch and then calmly and expertly lifted it over the desperate keeper. The game looked almost over.

However, a further twist came with a penalty very harshly given against Matt C as he made contact with a leg in the penalty area. He was pulling out of the challenge, no one appealed, but Gary gave it anyway. For the first time in the game Richard was left exposed. He dived to his right but saw the poorly struck kick stutter slightly to his left and in. For a moment it looked like game on but it was killed off soon afterwards.

Pete won the ball in midfield and picked out the pass well to leave me one on one with the keeper. Turning back many, many years I took the ball out to my left using my one move, and left the goalie sprawling. He was desperate to make contact with the ball or me but defying the years I managed to outpace his advancing frame. It was then a case of whether I had enough energy to kick the ball hard enough to reach the goal, whether I had the composure to hit the target and whether I could kick it hard enough to evade the defender who was rushing back. Incredibly my left leg stood up for perhaps one final time to allow me slot home. The game was dead and buried now and we could relax.

The final is in two weeks time and should be a fitting climax to the Sparkshop journey which has taken us to the very edge of triumph. Competition for places will be stiff but not as stiff as my aching limbs this morning. Tickets are available for the final and it is hoped there will be a cup final song once someone's got drunk enough to compose it.

Kingston Lacey

It was a very busy Kingston Lacey on Sunday as it was advertised as 'Snowdrop Sunday'. You will see from the pictures why that is. We'd only gone over for a quiet walk and a chance to have our dinner in the restaurant but our plans were hampered by the numbers of people. Bridie is up from Plymouth for the weekend and is taking Glen back to Plymouth for a few days over half term leaving Alison, myself and Maria for half term.

There is a lot to do with the building work in progress after a 2 week break whilst the builder went on a fortnight anniversary cruise. That means we're getting the rest of the house together.

Back to Kingston Lacey. The snowdrops were everywhere and seemed to have thrived in the colder temperatures we've had over the past few weeks. It must have been even better when they popped out from the blanket of snow. The rest of the gardens were understandably muted by the time of year with access round the place restricted to prevent damage to the sodden ground.

We ended up having lunch at The Stocks at Furzehill and it was lovely.

Views of the snow from the garden down to the bluebell woods

Snow, snow, snow!!

Another day off school and a fantastic walk in proper snow. The dogs loved it and so did Glen although a little disappointed not to hit me with any snowballs.

Maria again and the utility room

Maria has had a good weekend despite more sniffles. She's into horses just now and has been playing with a unicorn from the attic.

The building work is getting on nicely with the shed now totally transformed as seen in the photo. The door on the right will be into the conservatory when it goes up during the late spring. In the meantime the utility room floor has been done and needs to have 2 weeks uncovered although it is fine to walk on. It seems light enough but that might just be the effect of the snow on this occasion.

The picture from the road shows we've got the gate on now which makes the place look tidier because behind it there is a good deal of rubbish still. We need another skip.

No school today

I was in school before 7 as usual but was home again before 10 as the snow kept coming. It wasn't too bad until the last couple of roundabouts before the school when it was very icy under the snow and the car twitched dramatically. I settled down to work and was then told others were stuck in their cars in Southampton and realised it was getting worse.

Having got the information out to various sources, the announcement went out and that was it, time to go home before getting trapped by the snow. However, it was easier getting home as the snow eased and the roads were clear in the main which meant I had time to get the dogs out.

They loved the snow and ran about like mad. It's the best snow they've been in and they charged throuhg it losing their balance as they found the snow was a thin covering in places for the mud which was still very much underneath after it being so wet of late.