A bunch of fives...

It’s fair to say that the last 2 seasons could not be classed as classic. Torrential weather, lockdown for months on end and minimal notice to get back playing has impacted players and performance alike.

The need for men of a certain age to socialise together, to relive glories of days gone by and to get fit has never been needed as much as it is today, so our 1st competitive game back was a rerun of White Roding Vets’ finest hour (and a half) as we visited Springfield’s Arun Park.

The Gaffer sprang a surprise with the formation with both Holly and Dan not fit enough to start. Playing into a fierce squally wind, our first touch, decision making and distribution left a lot to be desired. Missed clearances, mix ups and caught in possession resulted in 3 goals for the Home Team without reply. Changes had to be made before the break.

Holly came on and found some space that had not been afforded to Splinters, Sonic & Lucy, squeezing home an angled effort to reduce the deficit. Still we could not stem the flow and another goal was conceded. 4-1 down at half time 😳

Unable to find his Apple Pencil to jot down tactics, he relied on his emergency purchase of a colouring book and scented felt tip pens to scribble down the en masse substitutions. In truth, it could have been any of the 11.

The wind died down and performances were raised. chances started to come. Splinters pulled off a fine save from the keeper and Ginger kid from the Gaffer’s Bubble hit a screamer that was somehow kept out, before Holly grabbed his second and Ev’ shinned in a shot that deflected twice before hitting the net. Unfortunately another lapse in concentration allowed an unchallenged foray into our box and the gap returned to 2 goals.

Buoyed by a rare goal scored in a friendly, Terry “Bugsy” Malone stormed back onto the field and into the penalty area to lash home, setting up a more tense finish than a series of Line of Duty.

Some questionable interpretations of the offside law kept the gap to a single goal, when into the final 2 minutes, Woodsy went up for a corner and wrote another line into his entry of Harlow’s Who’s Who by smashing home off the under side of the bar from a yard out.

It was a true slug fest, that was reminiscent of the Thriller in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle... this time it was the Gumshield in Springfield, when tempers flared after the final whistle.

Another friendly on Wednesday, this time at Home vs BSC45s, then Chelmer on 17th and the welcome moment of the alfresco bar being open.