Ashwell 1 Knobs 3

The last post!
A dreary sort of morning that owed nothing to the early start. It was bliddy freezing.
We all eventually arrived at the right place after a little detour. Mark Mills arrived- then Mark Mills went, so it looked like our 11 against their 10 until Brendan relinquished the linesman's flag and it was our 11  against their ......
They started slickly on the astroturf but hardly reached the half way line in their approach play- something  better than a fundamental belief in keeping it on the ground was needed. Up stepped Ali, who began with the energy of a train , swerving and dribbling past men at will. A neat move gave him possession in the area and he neatly tucked away Knobs first. Soon after Richard might have notched with the head but the keeper saved. This became the mantra of the match...."and the keeper saved". He certainly did, time and time again, his forte being the elegant tip over the cross bar, time and again, including an overhead kick from Dave late on!
Did I mention Dave's overhead kick? Well he had his back to goal and he kicked it over his head.
First half proceeded with it being one way traffic in Knobs favour. Mr Boyle risen from his sick bed- a nearby bar stool - relished the astroturf and one blistering shot from a narrow angle- should he have squared it back?- was saved by keeper Del- playing his first ever game in goal. After a lot of joy down the right through perceptive Steve, Ali, John and Darren play, Brendan was removed- by them- their 11th man had turned up. They threatened not. Dave punched a cross away and pulled off one competent save. Little changed till half time which Knobs led 1-0.
Second half saw a little bit of Ali's renowned feistiness as he was pulled down from behind (literally buggered actually) but he had the last laugh when he surged into the area and was chopped by the defender before stumbling, struggling for verticality before crashing to earth- penalty which Steve converted, same cool, same position.
Paul now in goal aimed a kicked clearance right at their centre forward 25 out and he dispatched into an empty goal. From then on the scoreline remained tight though the result hardly seemed in doubt, mind we've suffered from certain errors all season. Alistair sold a brilliant dummy down the right- one and six, no change- surged to the by line and squared. From feet out John Boyle of all people contrived to spoon over. The goal keeper kept tipping over and Dave in his fifth position of the game, no. 69 I think, had a commendable overhead kick tipped over.
Another piece of Ali strength and skill saw him work a chance onto his left in the area then start all over again to get it on his right. This he managed before side footing neatly home, no tipping over this time.
The game finished in good spirits. The showers were filled with aching, steaming, naked bodies but all the talk was of Dave's curious overhead kick, especially by Dave. Off we all went home, the kit left for poor old John Boyle to wash.
I chose a lift from Dave if  only for the pleasure of being regaled by him on the sheer, brutal mechanics of that overhead kick which was, as we all know, tipped over the bar!
How did he do that? Ask Euclid.
A small gathering in an empty Station, a little mirth then yem. I hate to see John on the Pepsi- seems such a waste.
Have a nice summer when it comes. See some of you hopefully for the game v St Albans City on July 1st. Trevor is in goal I think.
AGM is next Sunday at the Lytton where new officials will be picked. Good luck.
Ron