With a gentlemen like toss of the coin determining who had first pick between me and Bren I won toss and went about picking a team full of Gary's. Bren selected to play in white and was given the extra man.

Conditions were not the best and that showed by the turnout for those that didn't fancy it in what felt like a game resembling a cold wet windy away game in Stoke. 

I started in goal and pulled off few good saves most notably when Hackett rose like a salmon at the back post and came crashing down like walrus to head on target in what looked a certain goal for me to tip around the post. It was nice to see a bit of opposition praise for the save in the form of Hackett himself, "Stewy have I ever to told to fuck off?" Well the answers no Hackett but you wouldn't be the first and you certainly won't be the last! 

Andy was looking assured in defence sweeping up any counter attacking breaks from the whites extra man and when he focussed his shots to his left foot only, was looking a threat at the other end (that right foot of yours is definitely for just standing on mate).

With both the Gary's dominating possession in midfield and Jay making a nuisance of himself up front I was very happy with my selection and decided we would all share the burden of goalkeeper with regular switches. 

We raced into a 3 goal lead and were looking fairly comfortable dealing with the extra man and in all honesty it could of maybe been 7 or 8 if Gary Wong didn't think he was playing for the New Zealand All blacks and continue to do his best Dan Carter impression and hit shot after shot over the bar, one in particular being from all of 2 yards out which nearly brought an incoming easyJet flight from Malaga to the ground. Johnny was becoming more frustrated thinking they were not going to score all night but Blake who kept uttering the Sunday league favourite  "one goal and these will fold" throughout the night was to nearly have his wish granted. With Dave leading the line the whites started to press a lot higher and pressure the possession of the yellows. They got their just rewards when the Yellows had a corner and Bren was doing his best Mike Bassett England manager impression and made 2 white players stay up top this time in a Wimbledon route one tactic. The tactic paid off as the corner was turned over and Johnny Slotted to make it 3-1. Blake was now a man possessed and was appearing all over the place crashing a shot against the post and still attempting his Sunday league reverse physiologically shouts of "their heads have gone". The whites pulled another goal back through that very man Blake And it looked like an Istanbul comeback could be on the cards. With confidence soaring throughout the white team Bren started to fancy some of the action selling Jay a dummy in goal which was Jan Molby Esq. But we steadied the ship and Jay shattered the yellows hopes with a lovely bending right foot finish to make it 4-2 and a deserved win for my team.

I thought the result was a true reflection of the game played in freezing conditions but what turned out to be a very enjoyable. Difficult to pick a MOM as my team all performed but even tho he missed a hat full of chances he was involved in every thing good we did so I give it to Dan Carter with special mention to Blake for the whites.

Hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas gents.