Whites
Richie (c) boss leader / athlete / scorer
Bren boss stopper
Johnny boss gamer
Tom boss worker
Mike just boss at everything
Ali boss creator
Paul H boss booter / interceptor  
Mark A boss positioning / interceptor

Yellows
Chris (c) thanks for turning up  
Dave O thanks for turning up
Blake thanks for absolutely everything at being rubbish / and shooting
Gary thanks for turning up and running loads
Harvey thanks for turning up
Young Ben thanks for improving on the day you’re not on my side
Jay didn’t even realise you turned up just thought you were in the pub
Andy M thanks for turning up
Brian thanks for turning up

Hours before numbers were confirmed Andy Eyres pulled out because he had been for his baby needles. Pathetic. This resulted in an odd number.

Richie and Chris to captain on a cold sunny May evening. Richie won the toss and opted for first pick, allowing Chris to take the extra man. This is a tactic that has worked for Richie for 30 years.

The successful theory. Put Gary on the extra man side and he will always lose. It’s a fact.

Typically the conniving (or clever) Richie began by cheating Chris into thinking tab ‘guest one’ was Tom, when really it was defence colossus Mike. Chris missed this and forgot about Mike for Richie to swoop in.

Immediately Chris starting going for the big guns, the athletes, the fast players. Whereas Richie focused on the right individual to play their strongest position and stick to it. Every single one of your was superb!

From kick off the game was end to end, both sides playing great football throughout, and Gary just running around the whole pitch dead dead fast chasing and chasing. Richie’s theory working well, Gary getting  frustrated (he was definitely going to lose tonight – refer to Richie’s theory)

After 24 shots by Blake smashing fences and some even reaching the club house (in Birkenhead Park) some silky team work produced a fine finish by Tom to put the whites 1 nil up. This score remained for the whole half, both sides not executing chance after chance.

Half time and Chris called to swap ends because of the sun. The sun had gone down!!!

After a good 40 minutes of Blake continuing to smash or clear  fences, the yellows continued to hit the post, hit Bren, interceptions by Mike Paul and Mark, the whites broke free again, Ali to Mark, to Tom, to Johnny, to Richie, who slipped in a well weighted through ball for Johnny to elegantly take the pig skin around the keeper and place the ball into an empty net.

The yellows were done. Tired. Fatigued. Helpless. Like Jody Foster in The Accused!

If the atatcks from the yellow’s where not broken down by the whites hard working midfield or the cleverly switched on defenders, there was no way they were getting past Bren who once again rose to the occasion.

Immediately, the whites drove forward again for Ali to send over an inviting ball for Captain Dickie to launch a ridiculous overhead kick into the top corner. Net broke. Neck nearly broke! Ground shook! Game Over. 3-0.

A strong performance by the whites for which I’m ever so grateful for, the efforts on show tonight was brilliant. No one gave up. Except the yellows obviously.

The usuals going for a few beers outside the club house, and to be honest it was a bit embarrassing as all the lads spoke about was how much their captain lead. How much their captain scored goal of the season, perhaps the decade. And how much their captain was clearly man of the match.  

My team mates gave me MOM. I’m honoured. But on this occasion I’m awarding my MOM to young Benjamin. He’s had a few tough weeks where his game hasn’t gone to plan. Tonight I felt he was finding some space out on the right and delivering some great balls in. His confidence grew throughout the game.

Well played, hopefully you can keep up the momentum.

Stats:
Scorers – Richie (best goal ever) Johnny & Tom
Richie 2 assists
Johnny 1 assist