Wilbury 2 Knobs 2

The unbeaten run continues. An exciting game, fairly played on a dull and cold February noon.
First pitch too wet, second pitch too lumpy, the third pitch just right and little Goldilocks blew her whistle and the diddy men were off and running. Alistair expected a modicum of respect to be shown to the female referee but then went a little apoplectic when she played in the same colours as us. His entreaties for her to change her shirt went unheeded, she wasn't getting them off for these lads. After Steve's accurate pass to her feet she deigned to put on a green top after 15 minutes and on we went again.
Paul performed heroically in goal if somewhat in unorthodox style. A poor goalkick straight to their man was lobbed back in with aplomb. 1-0 down. Immdeiately we hit back but Mike "I was stuck in the mud" failed to react to a goalline chance. In fairness it came to him sharply.
They missed a couple before halftime as we enjoyed donating them the ball from the back. Our play lacked a certain reassurance and a distinct frustration was setting in when John Boyle replaced rusty Ron on the left. Could Darren have scored in a six yard box scrimmage and could he have laid it back to the hovering and screaming Chris Wilson? Dunno but he didn't. Someone had a header blocked on the line- own up if you want credit.
Second half Brendan replaced John Twigg and proceeded to have a blinder. Made every tackle, every interception, passed accurately and got forward to telling effect. Chris Cox was in the wide awake club hurling himself round in the mud and things weere looking better, though they continued to look dangerous. Steve Bull was enjoying some possession and was passing well and he set John Boyle away on the left, he found Chris C. making a diagonal run- he swivelled and netted well. 1-1. This is where age lets me down did we take the lead or them? A canna remember! I think it was us but it could have been them.....I think it was them but it could have been us.... I think... anyway both teams scored. Our goal came from a fortuitous penalty so I was told- I was in Wenger mode. Steve hit an unstoppable beauty. Another poor clearance fell straight to their forward who lobbed home unstoppably from 25 yards. We had a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed for offside when Mike put in John who missed but the ball fellfrom two of their players into Brendan's path- he was behind the ball- and he scored. Had to be a goal!
Then we should have got a third when Brendan again hurtled through the middle and was in on goal before being felled by a desperate hack from behind. Adjudged to have been an inch outside the area. The ensuing free kick from Steve from 45 or 20 yards- ask around- hit the bar with the goalie static. Nae luck as they hacked clear.
I enjoyed being linesman and was kept warm flagging their centreforward offside the entire second half. In 50 years plus I've never seen anyone so inept at staying onside, was he blind or finding the gravitational magnetic pull of the goalposts impossible to counteract? Almost our best player second half so many of their attacks did he spoil.
After a refreshing freezing shower and several circuits of an estate we arrived at the Pelican public house where all the beer was chilled but there was a hot beef stew-did anyone not vegetarian survive?
No game next Sunday due to demise of Birchanger but perhaps Steve or Tony might arrange a Hatfield game.
Am away.
Ron