The Futures Bright

The clubs future stars were on show in this inter-club pre-season friendly, the final friendly before competition starts for real next week. There was plenty of pre-match banter including a new and improved nickname for Schnell. Thanks girls, he will now forever be known as ‘Flavío’ (heavy accent a must). Given the amount of steps Ben ‘Corporal’ Jones has amassed over the last couple of games he has also been re-christened ‘FitBit’.
Team news for the M3’s saw Bambi, Flavío and Gina G in for the first time this season with Tom Walker and IceBurg making way.
The game started with the ladies on the front foot. Their extra player in midfield was causing confusion in the men’s ranks and indeed they had the first real chance of the game. Following a mêlée in the Mens D the ball broke to the ladies on the baseline. Evading the first tackle the shot was blocked out by an alert Gandalf in goal. Shortly after, the ladies then had a bit of a disaster with their defender pulling a hamstring, leaving them without any subs. this was to have a significant impact on the game.
Twenty minutes passed and the game continued to be even. Up stepped Von Ryan’s Express (The Ox Jr). Taking a quick sideline, Von Ryan triangled with Mad Max before receiving the return pass just inside the D. With the Ladies keeper advancing, Von Ryan was composed with his finish placing the ball into the bottom left of the net for 1-0.
The closing fifteen minutes of the half were to ultimately decide the game. Realising the space they had down the left side Von Ryan was again involved in the second goal. Playing a lovely triangle with Bigfoot he strode down the pitch before once again putting in Mad Max. He quickly found the Tomahawk Bandit in the D who made no mistake with his finish to the bottom right corner. The ladies were a little shell shocked by this quick double and the men were now high in confidence. As half time approached the Tomahawk Bandit was able to complete his hat-trick with two more opportunistic goals as he became the fox in the box seizing on confusion in the Ladies D. Half time was signalled with M3’s a very flattering 4-0 in front.
The Ladies regrouped for the second half and the game became a more even affair again. Homer was finding life hard at right back against the pacey forward but Bambi was like a rock in the centre. With Chuckle#2 settling into the defensive midfield role the ladies attacks were being stifled with both Chuckle#2 and Bambi contributing to the men’s counter attacks. It was from one of these that the fifth goal was added. Fitbit and Shep worked hard to win the ball back before releasing the ball to Tomahawk Bandit up front. Together with Mad Max the ball was played around the ladies defence at pace before Mad Max played in Tomahawk one on one with the keeper. Tomahawk Bandit confidently rounded the keeper before placing the ball in the empty net.
As the game came to its later stages it was apparent that the ladies lack of subs was telling. The men were able to bring off Tomahawk and sent on Boss Hogg upfront. His first piece of action saw him completely mugged by his daughter. However the Boss improved and started holding the ball up well. From one of these hold ups he was able to play the ball wide right for Gina G to run onto. Advancing into the D Gina G played a speculative cross which inadvertently deflected off the Ladies defender into the goal to complete the scoring.
Overall an enjoyable game which was much more competitive than the score line suggests. With so many of our younger players involved the future is bright, though not orange, for the Might Chap.