19 footballers arrived at Ruskin on Monday hoping for a repeat of the sunny weekend to shine on their walking football endeavours; but instead, were greeted with a dull and chilly day. Bruises inflicted the previous week were shown and exchanged; apologies given and accepted
Monday's Blog was prepared by Lord Rainford's butler under instruction from His Lordship Our thanks to them both. As numbers were too small for splitting into 4 teams, so we lined up as follows: -
Yellows: Andy Capt., Tom ‘Stretch’ Parr, Sheila, Joe the Ghost, Steve Honeyman, Dave Seagull, Les Meldrew, Alex Greasy Thumbs Jackson, Nigel (welcome back!) and Andy Tall Brown
Purples: Tom Derby, Donal, Steve Ford, Anita, Lord Rainford, Citeh Geoff, Tony ‘Snakehips’, Phil the Power and Grazer Clark
After Coach Davies’s warm up we played once again across the full Ruskin Drive pitch. There remains some serious debate about whether we should be playing to smaller dimensions. Its not much fun chasing a ball across the East Lanc's Road
Yellows extra man meant Purple were on the defending back foot for most of the 1st period and throughout most of the session. However Anita constantly found space out on the left and only Tom Parr’s notorious elasticity when in goal prevented Steve Ford from giving those in heliotrope bibs the lead against the run of play.
Yellow would not be denied and with Steve Honeymoon his usual industrious self up front, Les in goal-hanging mode and Joe the Ghost …err...ghosting, they did eventually take the lead.
Lord Rainford could only parry a Nigel thunderbolt to one side, he thought to safety. But in a one in a million finish ([1]) Joe swept the ball into the far top corner past the bemused custodian, to gasps of admiration and shock from all present; A quality finish worthy of many replays. 1-0 to Yellows.
The significant change in the game was, sadly, Andy Tall Brown hobbling off with what looked like a hamstring injury. With sides now even, those in lilac pressed more and only Sheila’s safe hands in goal prevented an equaliser before half time.
Into the 2nd half and the Lavender Lovelies now had the bit between their teeth. Donal and Tom Derby worked well with Phil up front; with Tony and Dave Seagull in support. From another speculative shot, this time from Rainford’s ennobled one, Tom Derby snapped up the rebound, to tie the match at 1-1.
Despite the efforts of Andy Capt., and his teammates the violet waves kept coming and only the hands of Nigel denied Anita from a goal; before a move involving most of the plum--clad players ([2]) resulting in Tony putting them in the lead 2-1.
As is usual on these occasions having taken the lead the periwinkled ones battened down the hatches to defend their advantage and this almost cost them the game. Steve Ford, taking a lengthy sojourn in goal with an injured leg, marshalled his troops reasonably effectively and wasn’t troubled until near the end. A disputed free kick awarded by Herr Jeff Betty ( his usual effective and fair self) caused some panic. However the moment passed, the ball was belted down field in a manner which will have disappointed any watching coaches, and the dark-mauves had held on for a tight 2-1 win.
An enjoyable morning, handshakes all round, and apologies from your writer to those present; as he completely forgot about organising a warm down in his relief at his team hanging on. My bad.
Just a musical suggestion, DEEP PURPLE" by many artists John, Yonks ago.