Knobs 3 Ashwell 0

The calm between the storms. Despite the deluges of Thursday and Saturday the pitch on Sunday was firm and playable. A comfortable enough victory whose margin should have been far greater but for careless finishing and some excellent keeping.
We should have been out of sight at half time courtesy of some excellent and at times patient football yet the score was only 1-0. The goal came from another good move down the left which was bobbled in by the supporting full back John Boyle following a Gavin 'dummy' or complete miskick from 5 yards. Take your pick! Gerry and Chris Cox deserve special mention for some sensible defensive work in the wide midfield positions, always tucking in to assist the excellent central pairing of Chris and Good Dave. Jamie sustained an early injury and replaced Dave in goal, ( who had made a good save from their only shot on goal before he took up his puffing and panting position at full back). Jamie had little to do but control a savage Tony backpass but his distribution was so good. Other keepers take note.
Second half started scrappily as the game became too stretched. Part of the fault lay with everyone being a little cavalier going forward and not having the puff to get back. Seemingly this tactic was known as 'doing a chairman'. There were lots of chairpersons that second half.
A little controversy as Gavin was cavorting to the by line he appeared to slip over his own shadow, the sun had actually appeared, and his penalty claims were turned down. I gave the full back a bit of the benefit and the sun was in my eyes and I wasn't well placed. The reward for having a geriatric referee. Worse was to follow when the benign Andy lost his blob after a robust tackle on the penalty spot from their usually gentlemanly though robotic centre half. I genuinely thought he went for the ball and a collision occurred due to Andy's speed. No penalty and a limping Andy followed. He was not deterred as time and again he outpaced their defence only to be denied in his final efforts.
The second goal was overdue. Oh here it comes. An immaculate Dave throw in, hands from behind the head, feet planted on the turf, travelled unerringly to Andy, some 6 yards away. Brilliant! Andy swivelled and hit an inviting cross into the area where Gavin racing away from goal retrieved the ball and had the simple task of turning on a sixpence and lashing a whizzbanger across the goal into the far corner. Much better than a penalty.
A third followed from Good Dave as he careered into the area and lashed in an unstoppable one.
Mark Mills played a sensible game for them and was not, by prior agreement, tackled by any of us since he wanted to enjoy a pain free Christmas. Unless you count a body check by, yes of course, Naughty Dave, or was he too knackered to get out of the way.
Brendan did not show so missed a certain 90 minutes, he went to a local gym where the showers were hot to prepare for next week's big game. Joel did not show?
A handful of us joined a handful of them in the Lytton for a merry repast. Alistair must have chewed his way through 8 drumsticks. There was one left for my dog.
Merry Christmas to you all!