 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click
Here to
DOWNLOAD
This is a
2131x1334 high quality image i.e. very large. Click on the picture for the full
size version then right click and use save as to download it. Or Email me for a
copy. 24 secs on 512kbs a flash of your eye on multi Mb broadband.
For a smaller version 1024 x 641 please
CLICK HERE Use the same method as above to download it.
|
RETURN TO CURRENT VETS NEWS PAGE More of The Vets Sunday Night Match Reports Updated 30th May at 23:56
QUICK NAVIGATION
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright © Get Your Kits Out 2005 - All Rights Reserved - football is a habit which you just can't kick |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and
deservedly found themselves top of the pile. Chris Todd was on fire
early on belting them in from everywhere, obviously drawing
inspiration from his new kit which caused quite a stir. The lads
nick named him "Black Mambo" and a couple of others which would be
quite inappropriate to publish here. John Goodwin looked a happier
bunny tonight scoring a hat trick in a later game. The goals flowed
throughout John's team with Paulo smacking in a couple of his trade
mark volley's. Robbie failed to reach the dizzy scoring heights he
set himself last week but team mates Rick Pott and Mike Adrio both
managed some very tasty strikes.
and we enjoyed a really difficult but, testing hour and a
half. Two best out of ten games left us at one match apiece and both
by the odd goal. Goals were very hard to come by mainly through some
excellent defending rather than poor finishing. Zsu Zsu returned
from his trip to troubled Ireland, suffering a deluge of disgust at
the behaviour of some of their Priests and the inability of the
ageing German Pope to quell the unrest. This didn't prevent the old
Cockney hippie from putting in a blinding contribution to what's
left of Mary's Moaners. From my vantage point in nets I had the
privilege of watching Robbie's superb input as the last line of our
defence. Robbie really has found his true position and a very
frustrated Rick Evans would surely back that up as the Baggie had
him in his pocket all night. Nigel Caldwell worked just as
hard for the Moaners and was instrumental in their success, so much
so that he was approached in the dressing room to join the Mary's
boys. For me that would be a severe no no unless he found a way to
learn how to badger the ref and swear like a trooper....
Three
full 5 a side teams allowed me to stand down and give my ever
improving knee another weeks rest. No outstanding team this week but
plenty of action and no shortage of goals. What a pleasure to see
the lads giving it the Full Monte without any bother. Zsu Zsu showed
early doors that as the most senior player on view he could still
rasp 'em in with a salvo of quality drives. Paulo Garner chipped in
with one of his trademark volleys and we were also treated to a few
of Mike Adrio's master-class cameo's which defy description. Young
Chris Podmore looked as sharp as Ron's tongue which took all of 35
minutes to ignite. I swapped places with Zsu Zsu for the last couple
of games but found it hard to match the old hippies contribution to
Mary's Moaners squad resulting in a heavy defeat and a hard fought
draw. All in all this was probably yet another fine turn out by the
vets and a great example of why the lads keep rolling up week after
week for their 5 a side fix.
s
back home in London, not I might add to compete in the London
Marathon. More like slopping down the old Pie and Mash, probably the
most inedible food on this planet only ever consumed by Cockney's.
With one aging playmaker unavailable I had to step back into the
breach enabling me to inspire my team to a full session, without a
win. No excuses from the not so magnificent five who stumbled from
defeat to defeat with the odd draw thrown in. Great for me though to
complete a full session without any problems from my long injury
nightmare, I was beginning to think that was my lot!! 
r
League but Matt Pink's Owls are dumped back into the 3rd rung now
called division one. So not surprising Matt was one of the many
absentee's this evening who missed a mixed session contested by
eleven good men. In fairness the Ron Buttery Rotation System is a
good way to organise a game with eleven participants but there's no
substitute for a good thrash with three squads. At times the
football wasn't as keenly contested as it should be but we all
enjoyed a good kick around played in good spirit. Ron and myself
were both handicapped by limbs which refused to operate at their
optimum levels due to a mixture of inactivity and ability to support
the weight they were carrying. Still I personally doubled my number
of goals from last week to two, and Ron in my opinion had a decent
enough night so that was two of us who were happy to hand over our
fivers. Chris Todd started brilliantly banging in the goals and
really getting stuck in. Great to see Rick Pott smacking a couple
past Ron after the big fella had been giving him some serious stick.
Proudy was handicapped by an aging team which had an average age of
over 50 which in it's own way is quite an achievement. The other two
teams battled it out for the honour of being top team but in the end
I spent much of the time trying to get air into my lungs that I
never managed to notice who indeed ended on top although, I suspect
Matt's team may have shaded it. Matt had one of those night's where
the goals wouldn't flow as normal but with Mike Adrio and young
Richard Westwood both hitting the mark that wasn't a problem. Young
Richard made the mistake of using his speed to go past John Goodwin
in one game but he couldn't escape the assassin who gave him a
gentle tap to remind him no to take the p. Chris Podmore again had a
useful night with Paulo and Rick Pott both chipping in with some
fine strikes. Again a really enjoyable 90 minutes football which
leads me into new territory next week as I hit my sixty fourth year.
I look back to when we first started in June 1988 and Mooro said to
me, "I wonder if we can still be playing when we're 50 Malc?"
Well we both made that and set the next target at sixty which we
also managed. I can tell you now from this point it gets harder each
week with the knocks, wear & tare taking longer to heal. Monday
mornings can be more painful than losing to the rags but, no time to
stop because when you do it's good night Irene hello to old age. Now
I set my targets a little more sensibly so my next one is to be
playing when I pick up my Pension if my ailing body allows me. Zsu
Zsu is not far behind and fingers crossed we'll both be still
setting our targets well into the future.
up
his habit of banging in one of the goals of the night and Mike Adrio
mesmerised us with his trickery which included a rare headed goal. John-boy blew his top a couple of
times and Ron gave his team mates the benefit of his years of
bollacking's a much unappreciated airing. Nigel scampered around
tackling like a dog after a bone giving no quarter and Rick Pott
continues to score spectacular goals with the regularity of Haley's
Comet appearing over New Mills. The main thing that never changes is
the regularity of the boys turning out every week to give us the
opportunity to keep doing the thing we all look forward to each
Sunday that is to kick lumps out of each other, have a good old moan
and hopefully play a game of football.
from
a serious bout of late drinking, Chris Anthony, Nigel and myself all
found the going on the tough side managing only a single win. Ron
inspired his squad to take the honours for the night with Chris
Garlick and Mike Adrio forming a very good partnership. Rick Pott
put himself about as he always does and typifies what the vets are
all about, much effort and full commitment. Rick's off to
Lanzagrottie next week where he will no doubt rest his battered body
before returning as keen as ever. Zsu Zsu Mastin had Chris Podmore
back to liven up his team and the boy gave it a real old go, oh to
have those young legs again. John boy gave us a reminder that the
Silent Assassin still lurks within his aging frame as he gave Chris
Garlick a tickle round the ankle, you hardly saw John blink and the
boy was on the deck rolling round like Didier Drogba. I set myself
to prevent Mike Adrio making a mug of me with his habit of nut
megging his opponents, it makes you feel so useless. I managed it
until late on when I was in goals and he drew me to the edge of the
area to slip it straight through the old pins for a late winner.
Tackle of the evening was Ron's straight forearm smash on Nigel who
never even got a free kick!! Did Nigel moan, no he just got up
dusted himself off and carried on, classic Nigel.....
.
I didn't hear anyone even mention it at the Leisure Centre tonight
as the lads turned out for their weekly fix. Only eleven tonight but
I must say it was an extremely competitive session which I
personally enjoyed immensely. Who couldn't have admired Keith Mastin
for wearing probably the most outrageously naff pair of trainers
ever seen at one of our 5 a side sessions. The Reebok Gold and
Silver numbers were acquired in a closing down sale in Morecombe for
the princely sum of £7.50 - he was robbed believe me. Did they make
the old hippie play better, errrr, no!! Another master class from
Mike Adrio was one of many good performances tonight including a
much improved Chris Anthony along with 90 minutes of all action from
Chris Podmore. 
bolstered
by the return of Steve Gerrard who looked like he had never been
away. Steve and Proudy set off like an express train sweeping Zsu
Zsu's much younger team aside with some great finishing. Slowly the
much younger squad began to get back into the game and at 8-8 took
advantage of a couple of misplaced passes and a bunch of super saves
by Rick Evans to take the first game 10-8. Heads dropped and Mike
Adrio inspired his team to an easy win in the second match to lead
2-0 overall. A much more all round team performance saw my squad end
the night on a winning note with a fine 10-6 win. Super stuff from
all the lads. 
Zsu's
mish mash outfit the proverbial run around. The extra man turned out
to be a handicap as Mike and Chris Podmore ripped them to shreds
with their passing and pace, well young Chris's pace and Mike's
passing really. Nigel defended superbly and Rick never gave up all
night. I'm not sure why Zsu Zsu's team failed to gel but they just
didn't hit it off together. Poor passing, poor shooting and poor
defending is never going to win you games but strangely after losing
three best of ten games it all clicked - a 5-1 win in the last of
the night, funny old game 'aint it...
