Neil v Woody (second game of top v second)

Conversation overheard between Brian and Paul as they walked to the pitch...
Paul: "Who picked?"
Brian: "Neil and Dave"
Paul: "Dave? Why was Dave picking?"
Brian: "Because he's second in the table"
Paul:(incredulous) " Second!?...Dave's second!!?
Sums it up really, doesn't it?

Whites: Neil, Mike, Nick B., Nick, E., Andy E., Dave O., Phil M., Mark.
Yellows: Woody (yes, me, Paul!), Blake, Sheeny, Gary, Alan, Carl, Paul, Lionel, Brian.

The use of Whatsapp proved to be a resounding success (apart from presenting the opportunity to some members of displaying their more juvenile side) and we had another great turn-out.

As befits the club's tradition of making the Championship as difficult to win as possible and being second in the table (yes, Paul, second) I had first pick and extra man and ended up with what I considered a very formidable side and it proved correct as we dominated the early stages of the game with some excellent football, using the extra man well and keeping possession for long periods. Typical of the Plus 30's though, despite all that possession, we couldn't turn it into goals and it was the Whites, on a rare breakaway, who scored first. Dave O. brought a save from the keeper with a fine header which seemed destined for the bottom right corner but I managed to get the fingertips of my new, pink, keeper's glove and push it around the post! Dave was not to be denied though and from the resulting corner which we struggled to clear he found himself completely unmarked and scuffed a shot into the same corner. 1-0 and Neil, who only needed a draw, was winning the Championship for the second year running!
We again began dominating possession but the nearest we came to scoring was a very close range header from Gary which hit the post - it would have been easier to score! Half-time and a change of ends saw the Whites have to suffer their turn with the sun in their eyes (isn't it time we tossed for 'ends'?).
The game continued with the same pattern of play - the Yellows, again making good use of the extra man, dominating play and the Whites obdurate and resilient in the defense of Neil's title. Something had to give though and the first and equalising goal for the Yellows came from a shot from Gary. This is so typical of the Plus 30's competitive nature; brother scoring against brother bringing to mind that last minute goal from Andy Mealor against his dad, Phil, that cost him the Championship. Neil, though still had the point he needed with the Yellows needing to score a second to keep the competition interesting for another week....and what a second they got!
From a corner by Lionel (actually Richie if you hadn't guessed - last time I ask young Nick to add a couple of the missing names to the picking tabs) Paul (yes, Paul) soared above everyone in the penalty area and thundered an unstoppable header into the White's goal! Game and championship back on!
Did we think we had the game won? Did the Yellows sit back a little and allow the Whites more possession of the ball as the game drew to a close with only minutes remaining? Whatever the reason the Whites who had been tidy and controlled when they managed rare moments of possession broke away and scored when I could only get a couple of those pink, gloved fingertips to a shot from (?) and pushed it into the path of an unmarked Nick E. who promptly fell over the ball but managed on a second attempt to score from there inches! The Whites only had to see the game out for the last couple of minutes for Neil to be champion again but I think a few of the Whites selfishly wanted the extra point and insisted in playing on when I called time on the game. The Yellows might have scored again and prolonged Neil's agony but Young Nick broke down the right and beat a tiring Brian for pace to leave himself in a one on one with the keeper. I read what he was going to do but Nick placed his shot so well that, again, I could only get pink, gloved fingertips to the ball which was not enough to keep the ball from finding the net.
Full time and Neil crowned champion again. We all went off to the the bar to celebrate with a well-earned pint bought with the champion's coin...hang on...where's the champ...?

Well done Neil on a thoroughly deserved repeat of last season's success and an extremely consistent season. Hat trick next season?
Easy for me to say now but had I managed the impossible and actually won the trophy I would have handed it to Chris who should have been competing with Neil. Sorry Chris, we did our best...and who the fuck goes on a honeymoon at this time of the season anyway!!?
Great performance Yellows over the last two weeks - how the hell did we manage to lose this week? Special mention to Sheeny and Brian who both returned this week after lengthy absences from injury and played exceptionally well and share my Man of the Match award.