Finally we were down to the last game of the season albeit a week later than usual following a great weekend away in Sheffield thanks again to Andrew and Pierre for sorting everything out. 
Having picked for what seems like about six months in a row I think I'm finally getting the hang of it so hopefully my run in the duffers won't last quite as long this year. Gary had choice and knew only a win would do and decided to go for Ali, sorry Dave you must have been shite for Gary last week...... The other notable picks would be both of us deciding our family weren't good enough to be in our teams with Neil lining up against his bother and my Dad playing up top for Gary. (This plot was weeks in the making , Dad was exactly where I needed him.......) It was great to see Mark back playing and also good to see Noel turn up and declare himself fit enough to play in goal, Noels positional sense apparently abandoning him once we got onto the pitch...... 

So it was simple a draw for me would be good enough for the title and with Andy E in my side I was quietly confident surely by law of averages Andy had to win this week????? The game got underway with both sides playing some decent stuff , Gary's yellows looking dangerous with long balls from Richie to Ali in particular. My dad was causing problems by dropping deep and filling the hole created by Hackett who was having a brilliant game albeit in every position other than the One I'd put him in. The yellows took a reasonably early lead through Ali I believe and looked good for their advantage which they soon doubled shortly after. Then came the Mo Salah moment of Wednesday night as my dad picked up a Hamstring strain (this is not a typo) running down the wing ( again not a typo) and was forced to play out the rest of the game in goal. Agent Mac was doing exactly what I had set out in his brief albeit it was not meant to be 2-0 at the time!!!!!!

After a lot of pressure us whites finally got a break through as Dave bundled the ball home after some great persistence and the little bit of luck we deserved so game back on and we were only a goal away from the result I needed. So ofcourse the momentum was back with us and naturally we conceded the next goal which was nodded home by Ali, 3-1 bollocks. 
Then the tide began to turn and three quickfire goals from the whites look to have secured me my second league title, now the last ten minutes was all about game management......

Two minutes later 4-4 sound.......

Now the game was nicely poised at quite frankly next goal the winner and as Gary's team pushed on the whites broke a couple of times and bad two great chances to secure the title only for Agent Mac to pull off two outstanding saves from point blank range to keep the yellows in the match. It was at this point I was considering trying to find out who my real Dad was!!! But then I ran my fingers through my hair ....... yea no doubting it really, 
With a little bit more game management....... we managed to see out the game and that was that the title was decided. A draw probably a fair result on the night with both teams doing the club proud with committed performances with even a flash of skill now and again!!

Now for the gay bit, want to thank Gary for being such a great sport having clearly been the best player in the club this year (look at the point average). It's not a case of if but when Gary eventually wins the league and it will be thoroughly deserved when it does happen, just not this year, unluckkkkkkkkkky. (Sorry couldn't help myself) 

As for man of the match I'd have to split it between Neil and my dad, they both had great games despite the obvious conflict of interest, Neil pressing up into midfield and effectively turning the game in our favour and my dad playing in goal on one leg (still better than Karius) pulling off two particularly excellent saves. 

A big thank you to everyone whose taken part in another excellent league campaign and I look forward to more similar games throughout the summer and fingers crossed sending Davey Woods packing at the end of it...... 

AND FINALLY a huge massive blue nose thank you to Loris Karius, I fucking love you, you beautiful German man. 

See you next week 

Ben