Summer's here and Captain's Cup games dominate the fixture list. First up was Carl and myself and I, by virtue of the plus30's grading system, had choice of first pick or extra man in a nine v eight game. I selected to pick first...

One of the features of the summer games is the opportunity to introduce 'guests' to the club and on this occasion we had three join us - two new players and a young man who has played as a guest for a couple of summers. Harry was brought along by Nick E. and I thought he had an excellent game in what appeared to be a right back role - very calm with the ball at his feet and passing it well out of defense to get the Yellow's moving forward. So too Steve our other, slightly older (okay...considerably older), first timer playing at left back for the Whites. Another who was very calm under pressure and played the ball accurately to feet. Our third guest was the returning son of Ali, better known as young Ben, who has not only grown physically since last summer but in confidence too as he played some very neat football on the right side of the Yellow's midfield.

The early part of the first half was dominated by the Whites (IMHO) but the Yellow's looked dangerous on the break and they scored the first goal courtesy of Ali with a firm drive from the left edge of the penalty area into the right side of the goal. The Whites continued to make chances but without success. A very neat back-heel from Sylvain gave the Whites a well-deserved equaliser and we pushed on for a second. Then my Karius moment (yes, I was in goal...I know, I know). Dave O. made himself a little space as our defense was slow to close him down and hit a well struck shot from distance. It should have been gathered by the 'keeper as although very well struck it was pretty much in the middle of the goal but a last second swerve on the ball moved it from the waiting goalie's gloves into the goal via the keeper's (my) right elbow.

We eventually scored the equaliser as a cross come centre from Neil evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area and nestled into the bottom right of Carl's goal!

A very enjoyable game and probably a fair result - I thought the Whites dominated possession but the Yellow's were always dangerous on the break. So penalties before the next game to decide who goes forward in the Captain's Cup and who goes backward into the Duffers! (Andy and I tried to explain the intricacies of the Duffers Cup rules to Steve later in the pub...)

MotM: Lots of good performances from players on both sides but I'm going to give it to young Ben for a performance full of confidence and no little ability - one for the future of the plus30's!