Kingston Lacey

Despite the cold Maria, Alison and I took a drive out to Kingston Lacey and had the place almost to ourselves as we pushed her round the gardens on the bike she got for her birthday. The acers and bamboos look great and a good deal of effort has gone in to siting some interesting wood art with many odd forms twisting in the borders.

Christmas looms

We went to a local garden centre on Sunday and Maria loved the festive scenes. Still seems too early to me.

Werder Beermen win at last!

On a bitterly cold evening we managed to win a game even though we actually drew. That means it was a cup game and started a goal down before winning the game 4 - 3. I managed to score a penalty awarded after an exciting run from Phil was halted and Craig brilliantly set up Spanish Dave to tap in after a proper move with passes from the back. We stuttered then and were pulled back to level with the goals summing up our current bad fortune. There were so many deflections I think the ball hit everyone for their second but we hit back.
Again a good move saw Dave freed to score from close in. Sadly conceded again with Rich horribly exposed. Not a pretty sight!
To his credit Richie burst forward on the frozen surface from goal to set up another chance for Dave who saw his shot strike a hand and hit the bar. No penalty but Richie got the ball and tricked his way to a spot kick.
Bravely he strode up to score with a nonchalant strike and see us home by 4 goals to 3.
Craig enjoyed his first victory in the famous white shirt!
Only took 4 months.

Werder Beermen

Oh dear. Another Monday and another defeat, again by 4 goals to 1. Disappointingly it was against a side we ought to be doing much better against but we suffered again from falling behind and having to chase the game.

Rich in goal
Dom and Dave C in goal
Spanish Dave, Craig and Phil in the middle
Iain up front

It was a good start and we had several good efforts on goal including a great effort from Phil which deserved to go in. It was a pattern repeated throughout the game with our strikes just failing to register time after time. The exception was the goal from Phil which came from a lovely Craig through ball. Phil took his time and slotted home with confidence. It put us just a goal behind at that time but we were left open at the back several times pushing for an equalizer.

Work to do in retaining our place in the league.

Halloween

Bridie and Maria went out trick or treating on Sunday but Maria decided to go for the subtle approach of Snow White in referencing the horrific nightmares of the wicked step mother. I'm pretty sure this was her early attempt to create a metaphor for the decline of the family in modern Western Society alongside the role of the coalition government in hastening its demise.