Simon 1
Another agonizing defeat at the semi-final stage for the Thursday squad. A
poor performance by the ref did not cause the loss but it did not help the
plucky lads and lasses of the over 30's team. This first ever crack at an
indoor over 30's squad ( herein known as Plutonium 05) could be deemed a
success if you are a drooling idiot who worries about celebrity break ups
and which failed actor is left on some demeaning fake reality show. However
a winning regular season record gave pause for some optimism heading into
last nights semi-final against a team that had beaten us twice over the
regular season (read that again. It does make sense). Plutonium 05 started
poorly as it was discovered at an early stage that the Stella was pouring a
little foamy. Right after kick off, with several bubbling pints threatening
to swarm back to the surface after a rebelling stomach rejected the warm
oysters and brine consumed at supper, Plutonium 05 were overrun. However
returning legend Warren Parkes kept Plutonium 05 in the game long enough for
Plutonium 05 to find some form. With all the players tuned into the
quick-shift-swift-half game plan, the pace was frantic from the first
minute. But back to the game. After about, oh lets say....10 minutes, Simon
scored a goal that I did not see. I was too busy getting me girdle fixed on
the bench. However Simon assures us all it was an absolute screamer from 6
inches out. Plutonium 05 ran into some penalty trouble as the ref (who shall
remain anonymous) took his favourite whipping boys Roy and Mark to the box
for some rough treatment. Now Dean the ref (ooops) is a lovely chap off the
field but he can be a right one on the pitch and he was last night. 68'ers
kicked and hacked at the delicate ankles, muscular thighs and bulging calves
(and that was just Lynn) all night but Dean chose to ignore it all. Now of
course Plutonium 05 are not completely unfamiliar with those tactics having
applied them to great success against better teams in the past so there were
no complaints about the way the 68'ers played. The only problem was the lack
of action on behalf of the official who let blatant fouls go unpunished.
Well enough of the ref. 68'ers never give up and duly equalized in the
second half. Another goal I missed as me garter had slipped. At 1-1 the game
was an end to end affair and by all rights Plutonium 05 should have scored
several. However after killing yet another penalty to Mark, Plutonium 05 let
a squeaker in with 1.32 left on the clock. Alas, a comeback was not in the
cards and another banquet goes flying into the mist.
So the over 30's end the session on a whimper, the Friday squad was out of
it years ago and let us not even talk about the Co-ed team which tackles the
first place team in a playoff game tomorrow that the bookies will not touch
with a 10 foot pole. or Swede. I forget what the saying is..
cheers
Paul Grimes.
