3 in 3 for the 3s

The first league game at Nonsuch for ages. It was good to be back on home (astro) turf, and this was a dominant performance from a team that managed to get out of third gear for the first time this season.

Captain and top scorer Richard Goalman decided to disappear on a stickless Tour to Bilbao this week, leaving yours truly in charge. With a 24-game unbeaten run to defend, it's safe to say that defeat would have resulted in a swift self-removal from the club, and probably retirement from hockey (or worse, a 'free transfer' to Epsom). The pressure was made worse by the outrageous propaganda link being circulated by members of the club in the build-up to the weekend.

Thankfully though, defeat was never really on the cards as SM2's best-dressed and most grammatically correct team spent most of the match camped in and around the Goan D. Mike Brown continued his strong start to the season with a neat top corner reverse-stick finish to break the deadlock. With his Mrs due to drop Mike Brown Jnr any time now, the rest of the squad are considering hiding his phone from him next week.
The second goal came from Gary Morley, slapping the ball home from a tight angle.

At half time we reflected on how much we were enjoying the game, and how the Goan players had spent the entire half moaning and ranting at each other. Some of the put-downs issued by their centre-back would have made Malcolm Tucker blush.

The second half brought a minor wobble, when a Goan player was allowed to wander through our midfield, caught the defence (me) flat-footed, and struck the ball home past a stunned Blossom from the edge of the D. Blossom's second touch of the match was retrieving the ball from the back of the net, and it was also to be his last. The heroes hit back swiftly with goals from Pube and Brandi.

Highlight of the match was undoubtedly James Morris's non-goal celebration. Having struck at goal from a short corner, he turned away with a jubilant fist-pump, only to turn around in disbelief a few seconds later realising the ball had hit the post. We've been waiting for a decent nickname for the Joe Oddy's look-a-like's-look-a-like, so James's parents were only too keen to suggest Postie. I prefer Fistie, but I'm happy to go with popular opinion on this one.

Second highlight of the day was Jonny celebrating in the bar having turned 18, and promptly 'pennying' Brandi for a whole jug of ale. Some people learn how to handle themselves in a drinking circle through years of practice, some just have natural talent.

Low-point of the of the day (and possibly season so far) was Gary Morley's personal view-point on the main benefits of turning 18. I can't print it here, but I'll cryptically say that it involves showers and a strong lifestyle choice. Frankly I'm just delighted I wasn't around for Creepy Gary's own 18th birthday...

This low-point (and a low-point is was), almost put Gary in trouble for Shashi of the Day. However, when #GaryAllen looks back on Saturday 17th on his death bed, he'll wonder at which point the day went wrong. He should start at the very beginning, when he got dressed. Turning up late dressed as an Estate Agent / Pimp, is always going to put you in a world of trouble.

Fair play to Goan, they were far friendlier in the bar than on the pitch, and a number of them were still in the clubhouse 5 hours after the game had finished.

Big game next week,
See you at training.