Knobs 5 Sandridge Rovers 1

A keenly fought contest deservedly won by the home side. Never seemed to be a feeling that this would be anything other than Knobs day even though at halftime the score stood at 1-1.
First half some neat approach play was exhibited by both sides without either keeper being particularly busy. A flighted Bully corner was emphatically headed in by Vinnie, helped in no little way by a speedy decoy run to the front post by Gavin. More of this sort of initiative at set pieces please. Static is bad! They broke for an equaliser, a nice move, well finished. Knobs desperate appeals for offside fell on Brendan's deaf ears (he being linesman at the time).
Voices were raised in anger at half time in the home ranks as demon Dave, the new Arsene or was that Arse struggled to get his points across. Something along the lines of "don't pass to Bully or summat....". I were miles away trying as ever to adopt a posture of neutrality whilst cleaning sputum out of me whistle so I'm hearing this second hand like.
Second half we kicked down and raided frequently and often effectively, scoring another four and perhaps should have had more.
Gavin really started to motor and arguably was the main difference between the two sides, they had noone remotely as quick either defending or going forward. Tearing downfield and in from the left he was scythed down from behind as he approached the goal . Steve Bull made no mistake from the spot. A similar run saw him in on goal again before the last man buggered him, just outside the area this time. Steve's free kick , left to right, was a beauty with height and pace into the top corner.
Another Gavin sprint saw him kicked down from behind just feet short of the try line. Another penalty another Bully goal. Mr Bull has achieved a hattrick and this on a morning when Tony and himself put a whole net up by themselves! The professionals!
Moaning re refereeing?
I can only note that not once did I butcher Gavin down from behind. The opposition's intent was to stop him scoring by foul means. They did not care if he, during his descent to earth, was injured! People are amazing. I rest my case. Except to say at least two of the fouls on Gavin when he was in on goal would have led, according to our modern rules, to two men being sent off. Kindness and lenience were not acknowledged.
The fifth goal was a piece of slack defending on their part. A cross ball was ignored except by Gavin-pants-on fire who kept it in near the by line , squared it across goal for Chris Cox to sidefoot home unopposed.
Dave's use of the ball from his hands (he was keeper) was a tad on the slow side and was irking the oppo. We did learn that Dave can count to 10, some even said 11, and next week he starts on his letters. After a warning his distribution thereafter was exemplary. I don't like teasing opposition when you're on top, very poor form, just go for the next goal that's how you show class. Olay out, play up and at 'em in.
Some good moves today, particularly one leading to one of Gavin's slaloms. Jamie defended in his own area, flicking over an attacker's head, thrust forward, retrieved the ball and sent Gav on his merry way. Very pleasing.
Man of match , despite the emphatic dispatching of two penalties and a free kick by Steve, must have been Gavin I would have thought. What do yous think?
A good turn out out by both sides in the pub where the absentee list for next week grew at an alarming rate. It's me and Brendan with Dave in goal.
TIP of the week, "Don't tackle Vinny!"
Yer ould mate.
PIKEY

Knobs 4 Therfield 1

Got a bit mouthy second half- wondered where my headache came from. Still there's humanity for you- all shapes and sizes hurtling toward decrepitude and oblivion. But for the moment you are there. Knebworth Rec on a Sunday morning- centre of the universe, nothing else matters!
A poor first half saw Knobs get away with things in that the wide open route down the middle only led to a single goal being conceded. Four across the middle with the outer two not tucking in to crowd and help out in the centre and with Chris Cox following the lively young lad to both left and right led to numerous situations where Steve was alone to shore up the centre. Anyway they scored with one long ranger from such a situation and that was that. Knobs equalised with an opportunist, edge of the box punt looping over the keeper. Well done Chris Cox.
1-1 halftime, the second half would inevitably test their energy kicking uphill and so it proved.
Despite our attacks it felt uncomfortably close until Vinnie slotted home the fourth from a nice square ball from Jamie, with 10 minutes to go.
Immediately from the kick off at the start of the second half, Steve arrowed a ball forward to the sprinting Gavin
(great) and found him in acres of space in their penalty area. With goal of the season beckoning Gavin tried the outrageous lob and got it wrong somewhat (not so great), two touches and he was walking it in unchallenged. Still twas very enterprising.
Gavin was to cause them untold problems with his pace and he subsequently lashed in two goals for himself, the second and the third, the break where his shot found the net from the underside of the bar was very pleasing to the eye. Well to most other people's eyes, I couldn't see if it was in. No technology you see. It was obviously a goal, none of them disputed it!
At 3-1 they claimed hard done by when a penalty was refused them. Bloke does a drag back in a congested area and falls down complaining. At best he kicked into the innocent defender as he was weaving his magic (shite) and propels himself to the ground. At worst he got tired and fell over. (He was a livewire nevertheless and a decent "young" lad). After this the murmurrings on the right were rising hysterically, as John B and their man, the one with the humour of a coffin lid feuded verbally for the last half hour. There's history there.. zzzzzzzzz..... As long as it remains banter what's the problem? Another victory for the Knobs, where is this leading? Unbeaten for the rest of the season? Sandridge next week.
Hard to choose a mom- Vinnie excellent some dainty exquisite passes and some ennervating crunching tackles. Chris Griffiths read and played things well. Steve mixed the sublime with the ..... not so sublime. Gavin was a pest for them the whole game and Chris Cox had a very steady midfield game. Jamie hit one gorgeous left to right diagonal ball and everyone contributed. So take your pick.
After a hard afternoon's housework I was returning home after walking the dog around 7.30 and swaying down Watton Road came an inebriated Spurs fan returning from Knobs lunch time post match celebrations. "Hello John Boyle, neighbour and friend, whose Therfield friends call 'Big Nose' (true!!), what ails ye lad?" Och, Spurs got beat and apparently I must have missed that shit Nelly kicking Parker in the head. Well I missed a few things today!
Go thee well young John and may your headaches be small.
Toodle pip!

Knobs 4 Harpenden 2

A short blog- cos time's short perhaps some commenteers can fill in the missing bits.
A frosty pitch, bonehard and barely playable at the start softened up nicely as did Harpenden after their ascendancy for the first half hour. They didn't score six only one before we woke up and realised the ball was our friend and their goal could be attacked within the rules of the game.
I guess the start could be put down to us being far far less adaptable to a far from friendly, untrustworthy surface which Harpenden worked on with energy.
John Twigg, in goal, pulled off a full length diving save before they scored from an ill defended corner. We scored from our second attack after half an hour when the younger Ali entered the fray, replacing a bemused Brendan (the hogger of Bully's space) and made and scored himself a goal which showed skill and determination. They scored from a direct free kick after Monsiuer Boyle was adjudged to have fouled their guy out on the left. the bastard never waited for our wall! Cos he didn't have to.
Vinnie scored , hit the post and generally created a bit of mayhem before half time intervened.
Second half Harpenden rarely threatened except for one sitter of a header missed when they were 4-2 adrift. Some superb, calculated passing and a much higher energy output saw the Knobs dominate the second half. The John Boyle goal saw us play the ball out silkily and swiftly from from our left back position diagonally to the right where John ran onto it before smashing it home from an oblique angle. He loves those angles and rarely misses, shades of 5 a side. Vinnie got his second from close range with an assist from a foraging Gerry, as he did his first if my degenerating memory bank serves me well.
Brendan came back on to occupy a bit more space, then hobbled off with an ankle knock and jet lag. Can we have a nano Brendan who doesn't take up any space?
Everyone contributed especially in the last hour. New Ali was excellent in the40 minutes he played, Gerry was mom for industry, endeavour and guts over the piece but there was some very nice football so pleasing on the eye.
Next week the village of Therfield bring the pride of their loins to compete with us at Fortress Knebworth make sure you are there.

Knobs 9 (or 8) Litlington 1

Happy New Year.
Three weeks off and a desire to play leads to a comprehensive victory. Should I have less fixtures if this is the response to a long break? It makes me wonder- please tell us the committee before next seaeson's fixtures are arranged. Lots of vets sides don't have as many fixtures as I squeeze in to the calender!
After a slow start- five or so minutes, we got on top and slaughtered the oppo. Mind you it was a matter of time before we hit somebody.
I really can't remember the goals as they went in, but I enjoyed several of them. I know some sumptious passes by the man they call Bull led to some lovely finishes. The first saw Andy hasten toward goal before smashing home unstoppably. The second saw Vinny put through and he steadied before picking his spot. The third Andy's cross shot saw the goalie parry but Vinnie was there to tap home. They scored one on the break with Paul Berry (ex Knobs) scoring before my favourite goal of the game, saw Bill (aged 55 ) coursing foreward and receiving a Bully pass, steady himself and chipping the keeper. Half time 4-1.
Chris Wilson was having a blinder and all others were competence personified, Before scoring, new keeper Dave had saved with an immaculate punch from a dangerous cross. Well doneall!
Second half we just controlled things and got better- I think. New man Jamie showed his paces and Gerry contributed well. Goals came regularly apparently Vinnie notched four and so so did a rejuvenated Andy. I can't remember them, except for a Jamie cross coming back off the bar and Andy slotting home. One Andy scored which I thought fine but was abused by the oppo for offside after their bloke cannoned it back into his path- I may be wrong with the rules nowadays but we were 7-1 up at the time and the abuse from one or two of them was both out of order and unnecessary.
Wankers !
Next week it's Harpenden, how many heroes will play?
Pub saw a big turn out though the delay in the food by the Station was crap. Can we urge them to be a bit more on the ball next week and the following four weeks please?

Man of the match for me Chris Wilson. Steve Bull excellent first half and Andy and Vinny score 4 each. Tony back to his best. tackle of the game John Boyle ,why was their bloke whingeing?