Tuesday morning's WD60 Walking Footy was a disaster! Three teams of five, ten minute games and tonked in every game but the last one (did we get a glorious draw?) when Sheeny actually scored a goal (yes, our first one of the session) which we celebrated wildly, chest bumps, fist pumps and shedding of shirts (not me you'll be pleased to know - ugh). The bacon buttie afterwards, though, was the main highlight of the day (it often is!). Still, Wednesday Plus 30 footy the next day...maybe I could get another partial assist like the previous week when I had a hand (foot - I'm not Paul) in the winning goal which saw Brian win his first trophy! Couldn't be worse than Walking Footy...and I did get an assist!...more about that later...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLYAK1_r0Zg

Sides - in no particular order of selection or merit:

Yellows: Alan, Andy E., Sylvain, Mike, Richie, Brain (sic), Mark A., Steve, Ian, Phil.

Whites: Woody, Gary, Dave O., Chris, Andy S., Laurie, Neil, Ross, Sheeny, Andy M.

Great turn out again on a cold but dry evening - ten-a-side for the second week running. Well done gentlemen! I won the toss and began my selection with the idea of choosing a pacy side filled with the leading goal scorers who would play a pressing game to limit the oppositions possession and win the ball back high up the pitch. I also felt I had good combinations on the wings with Andy and Laurie on the left and Ross and Neil on the right with Sheeny in the middle of the back three.

This was all very well in theory and it did work out very well in the early stages with the Whites dominating possession without making many clear cut chances. The Yellows, although trying to play controlled football from the back, through the middle and out to the wings hardly threatened the whites goal and I don't remember having to make a save (yes, me in goal, silly I know but I did have Sheeny to fall back on in case it went drastically wrong...you know what's coming next, don't you?). Laurie, under pressure passed the ball back to me and I immediately played it out to Sheeny...Sheeny? Sheeny where are you? You were there ten minutes ago! Yes, my assist - instead of finding the feet of Sheeny I passed it tamely out to an advancing Sylvain who hit a firm, low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. I did try to blame Sheeny but that didn't have any legs so I accepted the fault and apologised to my team. the look of disgust on Sheeny's face said it all - F****** daft t***!

Not to long afterwards Richie was allowed to drift across the edge of the area and hit a shot with his left foot (left foot/Richie, an oxymoron if ever I heard one) which sneaked into the corner on my left despite my despairing lunge which almost dislocated my hip - I'll feel that later!

Despite having a few chances to score we could not conjure up the necessary clinical finishing required to get back into the game and the Yellows grew in stature playing some good football in the middle of the pitch with Sylvain and Andy E., ably assisted by the hardworking Mark A. and the timeless quality of Ozzy (t***), outstanding.

Goals three and four followed for the Yellows - Sylvain hitting the net through a crowd of players in the penalty area and the keeper's line of sight (and the pitch floodlights) blocked by the very physical presence of Mac and Richie scoring straight from a throw-in via the fingertips of Laurie who had replaced me in goal. 

Despite a consolation goal from Dave O. we never really looked like gaining any sort of equality and the Yellows finished the game as worthy winners. Final score 4-1.

Man of the Match: for the Whites the combination of Laurie and Andy S. down the left playing some great, controlled football down that side and rarely losing possession and for the yellows the combination of Andy E. and Sylvain in the middle of the park who were relentless in chasing down our possession and moving the ball threateningly towards the White's goal.

Ah well there's always the over-60s Walking Footy on Friday....it's now Saturday...don't ask!!