Knobs 6 Old Minchendenians 2

In the end, well after about 15 minutes it turned out to be a comfortable win. A return to form?Not really this was a new Knobs, the immediate future, on the whole strangers to each other on the 'turf' of the Rec. Probably the youngest Knobs team out for many a year and each and everyone of them looked comfortable and involved. The old guys John Boyle and Dave helped them settle in.
Some good football was evident from the off with Knobs showing verve and pace. I can hardly remember all the details of how the goals went in what with trying to referee and working out who I am! Yet the first saw their centre half fall victim to a bouncy pitch when his sliced clearance was seized upon by Andy and comfortably slotted home. Murmurrings from their number 4! The second was headed in from a corner by Ali, not that Ali, and the murmurrings grew.
The third was goal of the game as Steve launched a delicious pass down the right which was gathered swiftly by Andy. He wasted no time in crossing to the far post where the newly arrived Gavin, in a game, on the pitch and on the spot headed his first. We were threatening frequently and could have been more than four up at the interval. Number 4 was ankle tapping, though it was all out of my vision anyway he got me neighbour chirping. A murmur here and a chirrup there, all very spring like.
What else happened first half? Dave's flying save or was that second half? There was also a terrific drive which the keeper tipped over, probably a shot from Phil. A wee altercation between Vinnie and their midfield general.
Second half saw them come a little more into it, but only a little, but by then they were 4-0 down courtesy of a fiercely struck shot/cross from Andy out right which flew into the net via a post. An impossible angle? No such thing obviously.
A Knobs penalty appeal for blatant handball had been turned down at 3-0, for several very good and intricate reasons . Occam's Razor, Tony, cut through the rhetoric, "you bottled it"! Probably a tad correct. The fifth goal was a nice one. A first time pass from Phil took out their defence for Gavin to speed onto and delicately put away. They scored from an unnecessarily conceded corner, an own goal at the near post. Gavin's speed off the mark, terrible boots by the way, saw Knobs get a sixth and they scored a second somehow. I was coming to terms with my identity crisis and wasn't paying close attention. Don't remember. The last 15 minutes was goalless as substitutes came and went in the glorious sunshine at the rate of one a minute.
New players Joel, Craig, Ali and Jamie put in good shifts- and attended the pub afterwards. All in all some excellent effort and enterprise which was pleasing on the eye. Huge crowd, mainly travelling support.
Next week it's Mother's Day and away to Sandy- an improbable mix. Hope a team will emerge to compete.
See you all at the Team Meeting in Old Stevenage next Friday night.
Au revoir.