A Performance to Remember

On the day of remembrance both teams observed a period of reflection impeccably prior to the game. It was then to be Chap who gave a performance to remember.
With Tomahawk Bandit and Bambi sitting this one out injured, Boss Hogg returned to the line-up along with Gina G and Von Ryan. In goal Samwell Tarly (aka Crumpy) returned in place of Big Dave. Reg Holdsworth had the umpires whistle and was trialling some new fangle-dangle headsets with his Sheffield counterpart.
The sand had risen on the pitch making it slower than usual and this affected the early stages of the game. Chap had virtually all of the possession and camped out in the Sheffield half but a few passes were under hit on the slow surface and Sheffield were able to clear their lines. Earlier in the season frustration would have set in but this team are learning to be patient. The amount of times the ball was recycled through defensive players such as Hutch, Boss Hogg, Typhoo (the player formerly known as Homer), Big Foot and Shep, to switch play, was a pleasure to see. After 10 minutes patience gained its reward. Shep, Flavio and Iceburg combined on the right hand side to set up the previous week’s Gigolo, Dan Dare, to finish past the Sheffield keeper.
This Sheffield team admittedly were not the strongest team faced this season but they say you can only play the team in front of you. Chap had recognised the weaknesses and now went for the jugular. Chuckle#2 was completely controlling the central areas and has learned how to hold the position. Together with Hutch they intercepted any Sheffield clearances and then probed the balls down each wing. Fitbit was supporting Mad Max down the left and Gina G had come on right hand side to support IceBurg. The space that all 4 had in these areas lead to an inevitable 2nd, the ball coming from the right hand side for Mad Max to pick up on the back post to make it 2-0. Von Ryan then replaced Mad Max on the left wing and the result was the same, the ball again coming from the right hand side before a pull back to Chuckle#2 who found Von Ryan on the back post to make it 3-0.
The team were now enjoying themselves and the Gigolo Dan Dare added a fourth shortly after and Von Ryan added a fifth with a carbon copy of his previous goal.
There was one moment of alarm for the Chap side when Sheffield had a breakaway and gained an unexpected short corner. Samwell Tarly made the initial save but as the ball trickled sideways Hutch cleared on the line as the Sheffield forward tackled, the ball eventually hitting Hutch on the foot. To the horror of Hutch, Reg signalled a penalty stroke but his blushes were spared by the Sheffield umpire who, forgetting the walkie talkies, ran the full length of the pitch to indicate the ball was travelling away from goal at the time. There was no such drama from the second short corner.
The half was rounded off by another Chap attack that saw the ball come from wide right before being pulled back for Gina G to meet and add a sixth goal of the half.
The second half started with a few changes. Hutch and Iceburg were withdrawn and some of the junior players given more responsibility. It took a little time to get back into shape, but with Hutch threatening to come back on, Flavio advanced into the D to smack a shot past the keeper for 7-0.
This settled the team and with Shep, Typhoo and Bigfoot advanced and setting up the play the team settled back in their rhythm.
An opportunity was taken to rest the ever energetic Fitbit with IceBurg coming onto the left wing. This initially upset the rhythm but when Iceburg swapped wings with Mad Max there were instant dividends. The left axis of Von Ryan, Chuckle#2 and Mad Max linked well to set up IceBurg for an eighth of the day. The favour was returned shortly after with Gina G, Shep and Iceburg linking well on the right to set up Mad Max for number nine.
There was still time for a bit of comedy moment. Mad Max found himself unmarked on the back left post with an open goal beckoning. His sweeped effort caught the toe of his stick and set off across the line to the right post where Gigolo Dan Dare had the same open goal opportunity. In the worst case of DOUBLE jug avoidance ever seen he also managed to get his feet all wrong and the chance went begging. IceBurg though wanted to increase his percentages so he made no mistake with a chance shortly after to bring the team to double figures.
After match festivities saw 8 different names nominated for MOM Starblazer in the first 8 votes. Mad Max was to eventually emerge the winner for 2 goals and excellent wing player.
Hutch sneaked the DOD Hot Dog for threatening to ‘take his jumper off and come back on’ in the second half.