Inherit the Wind*

An excellent turn out of players at Ruskin on Monday, proving that cup defeats do not lessen St Helens WFC's members enthusiasm for the beautiful game. Our thanks to Lord Rainford once again for this tome

As the title indicates it was a windy day; and not only due the self-confessed Sunday evening over-indulgences of The Ox, whose warm down from his Man of the Match cup heroics was apparently a curry and several pints.

Storm wherever-we-are-in-the-alphabet meant your ace newshound was chasing marker cones all over the pitch so he could not report on Les Meldrew's novel but effective version of Moneyball. But the outcome was (as far as I can remember!) as follows:-

Yellow: Andy Capt, Anita, Chopper, Colin the late Williams, Sheila, Mika, Steve Honeyman, Snakehips Tony, Phil the Power, the Ox, and Alex Greasy Thumbs Jackson.

Blue: Tom Stretch, Thatto Dave, Dave Seagull, Cockney Rebel, Donal, Mark Davies, Les Meldrew, Grav, Goldie and Alan Molly Maldon.

Hard working Ballboy: Our French Alain garcon de ballons

Laissez-faire Ref: Lord Rainford (dooubtless inspired by his catch up with Michaylo on Sunday)

An even first ten minutes or so was changed by two Blue goals from Molly and Grav. Yellows pressed for a way back with Colin and Steve giving Thatto Dave and Tom no rest Meanwhile Anita and Sheila looked to provide a constant wide option. Andy Capt was his usual prompting and pressing self and Chopper dependably solid, but with one or two cool turns under pressure. These so unexpected almost had the unbiased Ref momentarily forgetting himself and applauding his chutzpah.

For the Blues Seagull continued his fimproving run of form with some intelligent passing up front, Mark Davies (no relation) had no trouble re-adapting after his Iberian sojourn and Les, Grav and Goldie kept up the pressure.

The Half time resumption was delayed whilst Cockney Rebel divested himself of numerous articles of clothing. Playing in shorts rather than tracksuit bottoms seemed to add a bit of zip to his play and a sneaky cross shot of his found the corner of the net to put Blues 3-0 up. Their shooting then became more wayward however, with the only attempt endangering the rugby posts on the adjacent pitch before Mark sealed his comeback with a 4th Blues goal to give them an unassailable lead.

This scoreline didn't reflect how even the sides were and eventually Yellows were rewarded for their efforts when Steve Honeyman scored with a fine shot which evaded the lengthy arms of Tom Stretch couldn't prevent going in off the post. The fightback might not have ended there as Anita went agonisingly close with one shot that caught Seagull in a flap and flat footed but was narrowly wide; In the dying moments another effort left Mark Davies (still no relation) grateful to catch a goal bound shot.

So, 4-1 the final score, an even match played in a fine spirit with little intervention needed from Lord Rainford and his borrowed whistle (thanks Tony!).

The morning ended with a celebration of Les's Birthday with the now traditional Birthday Cake dished out in the Slipper Room at Ruskin Drive. The next Birthday Boy is Alex Greasy Thumbs' celebration With Tom at the end of April the dates are coming thick and fast

(* Wilton Felder, with the incomparable Bobby Womack on vocals. Choooooon !!)