SPARKLY SIXES MATCH REPORT: SEASON 09/10
Saturday 20th March
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After a lovely week of sunshine, with most of us cooped up inside dull office blocks, the Gods decided enough was enough and Saturdays weather can only be described as rank. A drizzly start to the penultimate game, meant the tension in the air could be smelt from a mile off (apart from Moggs who was most concerned about the natural stone tiles that were going to feature in here high tech, all singing and dancing new, extra fancy, all mod con, blooming fantastic bathroom – phew)
The warm up; well interesting, a long haul through treacherous conditions, up steep mountainous terrain, duck and diving to avoid brambles and dodging through the car park to steer clear of head on collisions with motor vehicles. Arriving back at the pitch we were met with a few late arrivals, Hawkes a bag of nerves after a frightening car journey to the depths of South West London with Harri at the wheel of the car. With the warm up and ball skills complete, the slightly depleted team of 12 players summoned up the courage to take on the battle that ultimately meant life or death (slash promotion or not). Even the worms ran for cover.
The whistle went and the battle commenced. Wanderers held positions and had most of the possession, but for the first 15 minutes or so, chances to find the back of the net were few and far between. We couldn’t find a way through the firm defence, and with passing being slightly tentative we needed to crack on and find form. Eventually Steph got to the end of a cracking cross, to finally put Wanderers on the score board. Still even with a goal in hand, spirits were dampened, and the usual Wanderers character was nowhere to be seen.
Defensively we were doing a good job, backing up the attack, whilst remaining to get back for the few breaks the opo managed to run away with. Special mention to go to Harri and her run in with the umpire – ‘shut up’! With most of the possession and after some strong attacking at goal, Harvs managed to find the back of the net before half time. Despite being 2-0 up, the team was agitated. Bonds weren’t being made and the upbeat chirpy Wanderers were nowhere to be heard. Perhaps we were lacking the usual cries from the sidelines that add to the spring in our steps and the applauses that put the smiles on our faces. Yes we wanted to win, but the tension was almost unbearable. Would the Wanderers crumble during the second half?
After a slightly embarrassing first half for Chrissy (“LONG corner”), in front of a certain young man, she went back to the pitch, guns blazing. Two fantastic strikes, were unfortunately well defended by the opo’s goalie. Eventually with the goalie on the floor Harves managed to find the back of the net with a cross from the back line.
3-0 up and the Wanderers could smell victory, however the opo weren’t so sure. From the push back they were off and before we could celebrate our goal, Tulse Hill had broken and found the back of our net. A rather gangly centre running the entire length of the pitch.
With Mogs off to New York, and Hawkes back on the pitch, despite a broken foot, Wanderers managed to find the back board on two further occasions, Steph and Giles both managing to send the ball home. A great result, 5-1, although Wanderers left the pitch more dampened than when they arrived.
Special mention to go to Bish’s parents who greeted us after the match with gleaming smiles and words of delight and compliments. Eventually there were smiles all round, which soon led to discussions of the battle we are to face next week. Stomachs are already lurching at facing perhaps our biggest rivals of the season. Will Oxted deny the Wanderer’s 6’s of their destiny?
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MOM – Harvs for good calling and running
DOD – Hawkes for numerous squeals
(MOM – according to opo Giles )