ONE AND DONE
Short on players, Madrid bows out of cup in style.

Hitmen          2                   Real Ale Madrid 1
                                           Louis
                                           *Red Card - Trevor*
Saturday.
The temperature outside is 34 degrees.
Tack on the humidity and its pushing 40 without a doubt.

Real Ale Madrid took the field in the cup match up against a group of 20 year old portuguese lads in what was dubbed the best match up in the first round of this cup tournament. Small problem though for Madrid.....

Now let me see here. We have almost 18 players signed. So can someone explain to me why only 9 showed up this past saturday? why only 9 brave souls took to the field against a bunch of young 'uns in a game where we must win? one showed up with a garbage truck, another had a pulled back and was there, another missed a wedding and now sleeps in the doghouse squashing any chance of sexual activity for the next year!!!!

game kicks off and Madrid is playing conservative as the heat and lack of players leads them to conserve their energy. Little chances here and there for our lads as they try to control the tempo of the game in order to keep it slow.

For about 20 minutes.
In a movement of retaliation, Trevor tangles with the opposition and shoves a player to the ground in frustration. Out comes the direct Red and he is done, banished to the bar upstairs to watch Germany fall to Brazil in an air conditioned room with a cold pint in his hand.

A cruel punishment indeed.
The Hitmen strike before the end of the half, to go up 1-0 as the halftime whistle blows. we have nothing to be ashamed of as we are playing a good game.

Second half and a botched offside call by the ref leads to another goal from the hitmen and madrid trails 2-0. But their spirits are not dampened. Even though exhausted and dehydrated they continue to press on putting on a display of what its like not to give up. They didnt throw in the towel and had no intention of throwing it in.

About 15 minutes to go in the half and we have life.... Darren plays the ball to simon, who forwards it to Sean Reid who in turn places a through ball up the middle that finds the Greek int'l blazing through 4 defenders. and reminiscent of simons beautiful chip a couple of weeks ago, the greek chips the keeper from about 30 yards out to make it 2-1.

The rest of the game was all madrid. Chances becoming more available as they looked for the equalizer and came close......the greek hauled down in the box on an all ball clearance by the opposing defender....Baz missing just to the outside of the post with a shot on a loose ball...and others.

Alas, Madrid fell.
Those 9 souls who showed this past saturday walk with pride today. Willing to put their pitiful lives on the line in the extreme heat and posting only a 2-1 loss against a young and fit squad.

We f@ckin played better then we ever have so far on a tuesday with a full squad!
Respect to those listed below. The rest of you can learn alot from this lot.

Paul G, Simon, Ritchie, Darren, Sean Reid, Sean Rot., Roy, Louis, Baz.
And Trevor for about 10 minutes for all it was worth.