Ho ho, what was this? As the hard core/soft centre (…the jury’s still out on that one) of the Bulldogs assembled, our numbers were swelled by the grand sight of the return to ‘Dog colours of Rajan and Satbir, and cameo appearances also from Curt and Dev. Such an unfamiliar team forgot the First Commandment of the Bulldogs – Thou Shalt Concede a Ludicrously Soft Early Goal – and set about Blackheath with gusto. The goal when it came was a peach: a great surging run and clinical finish from Rajan. 1-0 Dogs. We were defending well, but then let ourselves down with 2 silly moments. Each time, a Bulldog defender was caught backing off towards goal, obviously thinking ‘pah, this goalkeeping lark can’t be that hard’, thereby blocking the view of the man at the back as 2 stoppable shots pinged by. Hmm. And so it was Half Time Bulldogs 1 Blackheath 2
Barely had the second half started when Barry did it again (see last week’s match report) with a scintillating finish to even things up. Nigel and Mike were as solid at the back as they are from the front, if you get my meaning, and with James Whirling-Dervish, Peter, Curt and Dev sewing things up in midfield, our attack of Rajan, Satbir, Max and Barry were a constant threat. Twice Max put us back in the lead (one thanks to an unfortunate ‘whoops where’s it gone’ moment for their keeper – but we’ll have it, thanks), they scored a cracker in between and, as the clock ticked down, we got ourselves in a tangle and paid the price as they sneaked another equaliser. Still there was time for a bit of a scramble their end, then they had a last gasp ‘Oh sh*t, he must score!’ chance smothered before, finally, it was Full Time Bulldogs 4 Blackheath 4.
A really good game and a fair result. Just enough spicy stuff between certain players on both sides to keep old limbs going too. Thanks again to Rajan, Satbir, Curt and Dev – always great to have you with us, guys, and to Paul Bussetti, Jimmy and the goalscoring Donald Dunbar who should all be ashamed of how well they played as guests for our shorthanded opposition. Much appreciated, guys – just don’t make a habit of it, ok?
Winston of the Week: Captain Fantastic – Peter, for being at the heart of most good things, and resisting the temptation to join in the fruity stuff, when it all threatened to kick off a bit in the second half.
Saturday, 26 January 2008
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Desperados (Home/Away/Take your pick): 19 January 2008
It was time again to teach these whippersnapper Desperados that there is only room for one set of Top ‘Dogs in this club.
So much for the theory. A first half in which we were under constant pressure finally yielded 3 goals against, all a bit iffy from our point of view. Heigh Ho. We particularly admired Nigel’s deft flick to divert a shot that was going wide just inside our left hand post. Hang on, who’s this familiar figure hurtling down the right, miles from goal?! On and on he went until, kerpow! Take that, you Desperados! A magnificent strike from the man with the longest name in Conference hockey: Barry Blimeythatwasgood-betyoursontaughtyouthatone-Scotton.
Half Time: Desperados 3 Bulldogs 1
Skittish to the last, the ‘Dogs began to play the 2nd half slightly later than our opposition, by which time GBB had made his first save and had his first big moan. And though Satbir and Paul Mangat added that extra something, the Desperados had even more extra something. 2 goals to be precise. We had lots of the ball but couldn’t quite apply that killer touch. We came close: an exquisite reverse stick shot from Peter ‘Gordon who?’ Taylor skimmed a post, Ian and Andy devilled away, while James, Nigel and Mike held up most of their attacks. But even a late strike by Max, given by John but then disallowed apparently by several Desperado defenders, didn’t change diddly. Final Score: Desperados 5 Bulldogs 1 – or was it 2? No, probably 1
Ok, well done Desperados: you whipped, we snapped.
Winston of the Week: James, unproven in goal maybe, but tireless and quite brilliant in the 10 other positions today.
So much for the theory. A first half in which we were under constant pressure finally yielded 3 goals against, all a bit iffy from our point of view. Heigh Ho. We particularly admired Nigel’s deft flick to divert a shot that was going wide just inside our left hand post. Hang on, who’s this familiar figure hurtling down the right, miles from goal?! On and on he went until, kerpow! Take that, you Desperados! A magnificent strike from the man with the longest name in Conference hockey: Barry Blimeythatwasgood-betyoursontaughtyouthatone-Scotton.
Half Time: Desperados 3 Bulldogs 1
Skittish to the last, the ‘Dogs began to play the 2nd half slightly later than our opposition, by which time GBB had made his first save and had his first big moan. And though Satbir and Paul Mangat added that extra something, the Desperados had even more extra something. 2 goals to be precise. We had lots of the ball but couldn’t quite apply that killer touch. We came close: an exquisite reverse stick shot from Peter ‘Gordon who?’ Taylor skimmed a post, Ian and Andy devilled away, while James, Nigel and Mike held up most of their attacks. But even a late strike by Max, given by John but then disallowed apparently by several Desperado defenders, didn’t change diddly. Final Score: Desperados 5 Bulldogs 1 – or was it 2? No, probably 1
Ok, well done Desperados: you whipped, we snapped.
Winston of the Week: James, unproven in goal maybe, but tireless and quite brilliant in the 10 other positions today.
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Match report: 12 January 2008 Kenley Away
The ‘Dogs opened their 2008 account, with more than a whiff of Desperado about them, as they took to the field, past Kenley’s elegant cricket scoreboard (more of that anon). Among the many team changes was the latest return from injury of the GBB. Back to Black perhaps, but less Amy Whitehouse than Frank Sinatra: he Does it His Way and has surely made more comebacks than is wise. But there cannot be a more practiced goalkeeper in the Conference at affecting a nonchalant ‘Am I Bovvered’ air as he fishes yet another soft early goal from his net, which was quite reassuring when we conceded yet another soft early goal.
Undeterred, we sought an equaliser straight away. Gordon had several radar malfunctions, including one huge whoopeedoo that almost threatened something on final approach to Gatwick before, finally, we equalised. But then while Ian, Peter, Rupert C and Nigel made mischief up front, their forwards made even more mischief our end. We conceded again, and so did they, and so did we. A breathless first half ended with everyone puffing: HALF TIME: KENLEY 3 ‘DOGS 2.
Then we made a big mistake: we scored a neat 3rd equaliser from a short corner, and took the lead for the first time, from another short corner. Hereabouts, the crucial moment. Rupert, unused to so many goal celebrations in a single Bulldogs game, pulled something in his hamstring and had to go off, leaving us one man short on the left. Even Nigel’s brilliant ‘Boy Stood on the Burning Deck’ cameo, with able help from James, Martin, Matt and couple of grass eating saves from GBB, could not stem the tide. Kenley equalised and then, cruelly, stole a very well taken winner, as one final valiant attack by the ‘Dogs was thwarted. And so Kenley’s elegant cricket scoreboard (see, I told you we’d get round to that bit eventually) told the final, heartbreaking story: FULL TIME: KENLEY 5 ‘DOGS 4.
But it was a great game, played in good spirit and very well umpired by Jimmy and their bloke. Huge thanks to the Guestperados – Kevin, Matt, Rupert C, Gordon and Martin who, along with the regular ‘Dogs, went down by the single goal in 9, but fought to the last and never gave up.
WINSTON OF THE WEEK: Nigel, for a magnificent all round display.
Undeterred, we sought an equaliser straight away. Gordon had several radar malfunctions, including one huge whoopeedoo that almost threatened something on final approach to Gatwick before, finally, we equalised. But then while Ian, Peter, Rupert C and Nigel made mischief up front, their forwards made even more mischief our end. We conceded again, and so did they, and so did we. A breathless first half ended with everyone puffing: HALF TIME: KENLEY 3 ‘DOGS 2.
Then we made a big mistake: we scored a neat 3rd equaliser from a short corner, and took the lead for the first time, from another short corner. Hereabouts, the crucial moment. Rupert, unused to so many goal celebrations in a single Bulldogs game, pulled something in his hamstring and had to go off, leaving us one man short on the left. Even Nigel’s brilliant ‘Boy Stood on the Burning Deck’ cameo, with able help from James, Martin, Matt and couple of grass eating saves from GBB, could not stem the tide. Kenley equalised and then, cruelly, stole a very well taken winner, as one final valiant attack by the ‘Dogs was thwarted. And so Kenley’s elegant cricket scoreboard (see, I told you we’d get round to that bit eventually) told the final, heartbreaking story: FULL TIME: KENLEY 5 ‘DOGS 4.
But it was a great game, played in good spirit and very well umpired by Jimmy and their bloke. Huge thanks to the Guestperados – Kevin, Matt, Rupert C, Gordon and Martin who, along with the regular ‘Dogs, went down by the single goal in 9, but fought to the last and never gave up.
WINSTON OF THE WEEK: Nigel, for a magnificent all round display.
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