Shortly after 3pm, sufficient numbers of Desperados and Bulldogs happened to have gathered together to start a game of hockey. So we thought “why not?” and did so. Since we had begun barely 15 minutes late, it wasn’t long before Rajan turned up, too. Followed closely after by Postman Sat. But there was more. No honestly – he was back, just 32 weeks to the day since that nice mannered Neanderthal from sarf east London had dumped him late and almost repentantly into the ground, then West Mid A+E. Who, who, who? Clue: “’Dogs, Turn ROUND!!” Clue 2: “FACE!! FACE!!! FACE IT, BULLDOGS” Clue 3: “Aw-a-a-a-a-AAAYYYY!” Yessirree, the pigeons and parakeets of Sweet Fortress Teddington had their feathers trimmed again, and the bark was stripped from unsuspecting nearby trees, as our very own GBB – collarbone mended, lungs in fine fettle - settled back in between the Bulldogs’ posts.
Anyway, back to the game. Short on numbers and even shorter on fitness, a competitive but genteel first half ended goalless. Both goalkeepers, truth be told, had produced some smart stuff to keep it that way, nothing better than Matt’s “off the post, along the goal-line, nah, only kidding guys, hoof it to touch” moment. A couple of very good Desperado chances had gone begging but, in fairness, this is not really the place to mention Nigel Scandrett’s profligacy, nor Gordon’s early season rustiness (“Not only did I stop it, but I actually SAW it coming, too!” GBB). HALF TIME: ‘DOGS 0 DESPERADOS 0
The second half carried on where the first had left off. And then suddenly it didn’t: Neil crashed one home from near the top of the circle. 1-0 Dogs. Ha! Take that, Desperados – what do you say to that?! Sadly, they went and answered the question. Neil was doing all sorts of annoyingly good stuff on the right with Martin and sure enough, pressure told. Nigel gave up – at the fifth attempt, was it? – trying to push the ball through a prone GBB and passed it to Paul Mangat who finished smartly then, just before the end, Gordon found himself alone at the top of the ‘Dogs D. Before you could say “uh-oh, if he smacks it from here, there goes the other collarbone” he’d walked the ball through and rolled it in for a neat finish. And that was that. Those with breath left in their lungs consoled themselves that we only have another 8 months of this physical torture until the end of the season. Bravo and well played Desperados, you deserved it on the day. FULL TIME: BULLDOGS 1 DESPERADOS 2
Monday, 15 October 2007
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