Disappointing result in latest fixture

It was a murky evening when we took to the field again last night in the first game of the new league against one of the sides reorganised into the middle division with us. We lined up with Rich in goal and he, as ever, put in a cracking performance including a late foray upfield as we sought an equaliser with time running out. The back line was unfamiliar as Matt C and his brother Dave taking defensive duties over in the absence of the big fella and Dom. Pete, Phil and Kev took the midefield leaving new Matt and myself upfront and initially things looked good.

We were comfortable in dealing with limited threat from their attack whilst we were creating chances at will and it wasn't long before we took the lead. The ball came out to the left finding me in plenty of space and I was able to nutmeg the defender to release Kev bursting forward up front. He didn't have to check stride in sliding the ball home and it looked likely we'd have a straightforward game to see us off to a successful start to the season.

Things changed rapidly though as the shape of the team went awry and we began to leave too much space and it was no surprise that we turned round at 1 - 1 at half time. This became 2- 1 behind within a few minutes of the restart and we looked unlikely to score with little threat up front. Again we changed shape and this led to an equaliser as I received the ball from Phil and took the ball round the defender to the left and shot home into the far corner. The poor guy got barracked by the crowd for being beaten by 'his dad!'

Unfortunately that was not the end as a shot from distance sped across our area and fortuitously found a free attacker at the far post, certainly a lucky 'pass' but one which left him the simple task of tapping in for the winner. We had a late chance from the throw which Rich went up for but my header from a flick on was saved on the line and we finished pointless.

Maria the princess and the conservatory

The photos show Maria dressed up the other day - she's very much into being a proncess like Snow White - and enjoyts listening to lots of fairy stories like the Billy Goats Gruff, the Elves and the Shoemaker and the Gingerbread Man.

The others are of the conservatory which is well underway with the glass etc in this week. You will see one of the dogs walked on the wet concrete floor and the other photo captures the culprit!

Building work

The new conservatory is underway with the brick work now finished and the floor laid. Next week will see the remainder of the building up leaving the electrics etc to follow before we have it ready by Easter at the latest. Also next week our new wood burning stove is installed with the flue going up on Tuesday and we're looking forward to maybe a little bit of cooking on there as well - few jacket potatoes, casseroles and similar.

Pictures to follow.

Sparkshop's end of season round up

It has been a few weeks since the last update and we have managed to squeeze in four games in that time, three in the league and the most recent one in the cup.

Sadly we finished second from bottom in the top division which, with a reorganisation of the league again, means we'll start next week in the middle division which is likely to prove quite a challenge still. However, we were not disgraced in our short stint at the top and the three final games saw us play the top two in consecutive weeks.

The top side beat us 1 - 0 with a goal at the very start of the game. Right from kick off without any of our side touching the ball we let in a goal from a tight angle and that was that. The remainder was a tight affair with us offering little attacking threat but seldom in trouble at the back. The next week was very similar although we lost that one 2 - 0. We had far more going forward this time and were unlucky not to score on several occasions. I hit the bar from distance and new Matt was close twice in addition to other chances.

Truth told, it's the lack of goals that has cost us most but we finished with a flourish in the final game with a three each thriller against the bottom side who took the lead against us each time. New Matt was in good form and slotted home twice including the final equaliser which hit him off a clearance by the keeper and straight in to the empty goal. The other goal was from our third top scorer in the league as an own goal was slotted home leaving o.g. with a single goal, enough to clinch third place.

The cup game was a very different affair which saw us start a goal down due to the handicap system. Nevertheless we won 5 - 1 on the night and should clinch a place in the next stage of the complicated cup. New Matt again scored a couple, a nice shot at the end of a flowing move which took the keeper out of play and a power shot into the corner for the other.

My hat trick came from a lovely cross by new Matt giving me an easy chance to flick the ball on from close range. The second was from a fine through ball by Matt C which I put through the advancing keeper's legs before new Matt turned provider again with a neat headed flick on to leave me free at the back post to tap home high into the unguarded net.

We start again on Monday.

A big well done to the big man at the back who played the last game despite his recent operation, a very personal one which usually requires a lot longer break than the two weeks he took off.