Unlucky defeat

It was a wet evening in Wimborne when we lined up late to play our latest game at 9.30. Richie returned to goal after he and Phil completed a 24 hour bike ride for charity which had caused them to miss the previous game.

Richie in goal
Dom, Dougie, Dave C in defence
Phil, Matt C and Craig in midfield
Iain upfront

Unfortunately we were soon a goal behind as our unlucky keeper found himself beaten at the near post direct from a corner. At that point we were making our customary slow start and the lead soon doubled as a clearance was smashed back goalward on the volley. The early strike from distance caught Richie a little unprepared and his despairing dive was to no avail as it found the corner. It looked likely to be a long night but things turned around from that point onwards as we progressed through dominating their defence aerially and by passing the ball with a little more composure.
A lay off from a throw back to the big fella was crossed with unerring accuracy into the box where Matt C became top scorer for the season so far with a controlled volley which looped over the stranded keeper. A quality goal which gave us some confidence turning round at half time.
The pressure was one way and we dominated with good closing down and an eagerness to chase down every ball. From one such effort Phil sprang down the right and crossed beautifully presenting me with the clearest chance but the ball did not find the net as it should have done and the chance passed. However, a scramble in front of goal seemed likely to give us a deserved equaliser but the defenders blocked time and again. When they missed it, the ball simply hit the unwitting keeper and the lead was preserved.
In such circumstances things seem to inevitably go wrong as the team over commits, and that proved to be the case for us. A run through the centre saw the attacker hit home left footed to seal the defeat for Werder.
Once again, not quite the result the performance merited.

More visitors

We had friends visit from Brighton after the baby shower on Saturday. They stayed en route to Devon and then a gig with Big Audio Dynamite at Ottery St Mary. Andy and his family have played together for years and this is their highlight of the summer.

Stourhead

We had a trip out to another National Trust property yesterday when we visited Stourhead, about an hour's drive from us. The light rain soon disappeared and we had a lovely walk around the extensive gardens before a picnic with the ducks and geese.

Feeding the ducks in Fordingbridge

It was Bridie's baby shower yesterday and that meant my job was to keep Maria occupied whilst preparations were completed and so we went on a trip to Blashford followed by the park in Fordingbridge.
We were treated to clear views of a kingfisher perching on reeds and twigs and plunging into the water to snatch small fish from the lake at Blashford. It's the first time I've seen a kingfisher perched, usually a flash of blue and that's it, and it was a real treat to see how colourful it is. We also saw lots of birds at the woodland hide and Maria was able to watch a rabbit through some binoculars. She prefers to look at things the wrong way round so they look further away!
Then it was on to the park at Fordingbridge and we'd prepared lots of bread to feed the ducks. There were plenty of takers including some ducklings, quite late in the year.

Woodlands to Moors Valley and back

I spent some time sorting out the gears on my bike, as they'd been slipping after I had to remove the back wheel to repair a puncture, before setting off on a ride this afternoon. Thanks to the wonders of the internet I worked out what to do to increase the tension in the chain and had no problems on the ride taking in a 12 mile journey to Moors Valley Country Park and back through Verwood.

My aim is to get a 50 mile journey in before the end of the summer break which is only a few weeks away.

More photos of Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle

We had a trip out to Corfe yesterday and enjoyed a picnic at the castle in some warm sunshine. Robin took it easy and read the paper while the rest of us charged to the uppermost parts of the ruins in the wind.
On the way back we went via Studland for the first time years and went across to Poole on the Sandbanks ferry.

Werder draw again

Another clear evening in Wimborne saw Werder Beermen struggle to make up the numbers on the night but after a scare, we managed to take to the field with a full complement and sub.

Goal - Dave C
Defence - Dom Dougie Matt C
Midfield - not sure anyone played there!
Attack - Iain Matt Richard Coz

A special mention this time for the crowd which peaked at three and all worthy of naming:

Lucy
Ben
Phoebe

One of the aspirations Matt C's children had expressed for the summer holiday was the opportunity to watch daddy play football. Isn't childhood wonderfully innocent even in these days!

Sad news too with the possible retirement of Spanish Dave who has been suffering the effects of twisty turny movements and is contemplating a break.

The game was a good one in which we initially looked to have the beating of the opposition but found ourselves behind deep into the second half. Plenty of shots were fired in and we actually passed the ball about with some confidence, including setting it backwards for a defender to restart the offensive, something the big fella at the back enjoys especially. With Dave having a good game again and getting the ball out with variation and chances for the opponents being limited, it was a surprise when we fell behind but once again it was a familiar failing.

Dom was left horribly exposed at the back, a pretty disturbing image for all involved made worse by the fact children were watching, and he couldn't manage to defend against the three attackers by himself for some reason.

We had it all to do and were trailing with literally 10 seconds remaining when we rescued a point thanks to a special goal from new Matt worth describing in some detail. Picking up the ball in the centre of the pitch he dragged the ball back on to his left foot with a tight turn which unbalanced the defender. Powering forward he slid to the next defender's right and into the area. At pace the ball appeared to be escaping slightly but another touch took him closer in but almost at the point of being closed down. However, he lunged forward with a powerful stretch to make a great contact with the ball which flew inches off the ground and to the keeper's right. It was struck well enough that although the keeper got glove to ball, he was unable to stop it or deflect it wide and the ball smashed into the goal.

A deserved point and unbeaten in two games. Can we make it a win next week? Will the crowd grow by next week? I can barely wait.

Stornoway

Just back from a few days in the Hebrides and enjoyed plenty of sunshine which was lovely on an almost empty beach.

Werder draw

After so long without a report on the Monday football, it's a draw I have to recount but one with an edge courtesy of some whining from the opposition. They didn't seem to appreciate their struggle to overcome what they saw as a bunch of ageing, talentless lardarses but that's just the image we cultivate - and with great success!

We were under the cosh from the start with the first five minutes spent in our own half which meant that I watched from about 30 yards away. Richie was unavailable and Dave stepped in, performing excellently throughout with terrific distribution. He saved a number of point blank efforts and the frustration on the other side increased right up to half time. At the turnround, the big fella at the back uttered his customary words of wisdom, predicting the game to be one where we'd sneak a goal and it was a matter of seconds later that his words proved prophetic.

A long throw out was flicked on and found Phil in space running on to a dropping ball. He struck the ball with aplomb and it flew goalward across the keeper, nestling in the corner from a confident volley. Phil's been on great form and it was no surprise to see him score again.

At one nil up, we seemed to annoy the opposition, in particular 2 young lads who became more and more frustrated by the ref leading in the end, to one of them being sent off for a few minutes during which time we conceded! Typical of us in some ways but it was a good performance and particularly pleasing because at least we didn't lose to them after all their complaints.