After two weeks of sheer mayhem in the life of Knebworth Old Boys, we looked to the heavens for inspiration and today, the great Lord of football delivered.
Many of us met at the station and we looked at our manager Ron and sang ‘Guide us, O Thou Great Redeemer’ and he turned round and said, good luck chaps but Chairman Al is in charge, I’ve got things to do. BUT before he went off on his merry way, he handed the 12 commandments to Al, (otherwise known as the team sheet) and all was calm in the world.
At Blunham’s new ground in Caldecote, the team all introduced themselves to each other and we strode onto the pitch as one. The KNOBS, the mighty KNOBS. And it was clear within the first 5 minutes of play, we were there to win and win we would. No animal is more dangerous than the wounded one and after the shenanigans of recent times, all was forgiven and a new era was born of pressing football and some lovely triangles and one touch play. We had a few opportunities in the first half but we only had one goal to show for all our pressure and that was Gavin slotting home from a tight angle, thanks to nice work beforehand from Martyn and then Paul. The only chance they had was Chairman Al trying to nod home from one of their crosses.
In the second half, the game opened up even more but again, we looked untroubled. James at the back was a rock and anything he missed (which wasn’t a lot) was swept up by croaky Tony. We eventually won by two goals but it should have been more. Paul on the wing, was a Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer and put a beauty of a ball onto the head of Martyn who found the back of the net. Inexplicably it was flagged offside. The worst decision was to come though. After Paul had netted our second after a weaving run and pull back from Gavin, he found himself running onto goal and was brutally hacked down by their centre back. No penalty was given. Even their players couldn’t believe it but as the ref says, he can only give what he sees. One assumes he was looking the other way at that point. But it didn’t matter in the end. An away victory. And some nice grub as well put on by the Blunham football club.
Normally you’d be looking around for a man of the match but in this victory, team was everything. There is no I in TEAM and Together Everyone Achieves More. Working from back to front, Tony C was cool and collected in goal, he held the ball with thy powerful hand and offered no Cruyff turns. Chairman Al was solid at right back, as was Brendan who is Mr Consistent. The centre-halves have already been mentioned but as a back four they looked solid the whole time. Darren A and Nick in the centre midfield hassled and pressed the whole game and knocked the ball about nicely. I’m still surprised how well Nick hangs in the air being a little fella. As Brendan said, he’s like LeBron James. It must be his magical ‘tache. Don’t shave it off Nick or you’ll be like Samson. Martyn has already been mentioned but his all round play was very good and always supported the forwards. Gerry was his normal energetic self on the right hand side, working well defensively and offering an attacking option. Chris Cox came on at half time and got fully involved in the action and the two up front complemented each other well. Paul is getting better with each game he plays, although he’s got to watch those yellow cards!!! And Nick. A disgrace. RESPECT!
So onwards and upwards. When it comes to that kind of football, feed me till I want no more. Feed me till I want no more. KNOBS were born, KNOBS had died, KNOBS have come again.
Goodbye Sir Ronald
Quack quack
Monday 25 November 2013
Monday 11 November 2013
Knobs 1 Welwyn 5
Again lack of personnel affected a game we should have been more competitive in. Joel again failed to turn up. Why? I dunno. We played with the bare 11 and competed well until half time by which time we'd had some telling moves but were 1-0 down. The goal came early, a goalkick straight to their man who avoiding a challenge strode forward to score unopposed. Paul is a stand in keeper, he is a doughty opponent when playing out but between the sticks he is just a brave person who is prepared to sacrifice his Sunday morning to help us out by volunteering to play in goal.
The fact that he forgot totally today what his hands were for is no criticism. Who else was prepared to pull on that particular unheralded jersey. No fucker, except me, as I say no fucker! So in spite of a competitive performance by outfielders our goalkeeping would have made sense to some of Jamie Carragher's observations (sub titles please). Mind you they missed a few as did we but their keeper was a keeper and ours wasn't.
First half showed the mettle of our lads, well done but in the second we were always battling a losing fight.
Gavin did manage to be become cosily acquainted with the woodwork on two occasions, once striking a post with ferocity after an incisive move and the other doing ever so well to round the keeper before inexplicably striking the bar- gravity?
Excellent performances by the dogged Gerry and Brendan (no the other one) at fullbacks and an immense performance from Richard at centre half. Tony played steadily at the back always organising and I thought they did well. I don't think Brendan misplaced a pass throughout the game and Gerry mixed long punts on a heavy pitch with cunning step a sides before feeding Gavin who was particularly threatening in the first half and indeed throughout. The combatitive Nick in midfield was great but subsided somewhat in the second half but did get opposition mentions in the pub afterwards, 'always been a dirty bastard'! I didn't notice. Chris Cox, 58, played his guts out after a long absence and Steve, in possibly his last game strove. He notched his usual penalty after the surging Richard was toppled in the area. I've always rated Steve, a bit of class and a bit different but always available to play and always organised. I shall miss him should he venture forth to pastures new and/or different. Up front new boy Paul strove in for him an unusual position wide left and was on the whole bereft of any switch play especially first half. Vinnie, God bless him bludgeoned around in his own area often defending sturdily on their corners but was so often on his own going forward - not a lot of service. Gavin threatened throughout , as he should, so don't call him an enigma, he knows what it means.
So I say well done, the result was a bit exaggerated but there you are.
SEVENNNN!
Paul, the valiant keeper was sporting a lovely shiner in the pub courtesy of punching himself in the eye. Honest! Others attending in the pub were Tony, Steve, bought
me a
pint on my 68th birthday, Brendan Wren who bought me a pint and Gerry who offered me a pint. Also there in a tiny group of us enjoying white sausages and 'pizza' were Bolton Brendan and shiner Paul. They, Welwyn, were all there, gloating bastards.
Still Newcastle beat Spurs, the Makkems won and unfortunately so did Man Utd. All 1-0's, a visual feast.
Next week an away league game in Enfield which I very much doubt will take place. We are in a very crap place, it's now all up to the so called membership to think about priorities and wonder what we are going to do in the future. Me? I'm an old man, what I think is irrelevant. Anyway I opened the doors, sorted the keys, went home to find pegs in the garage, stood and watched, cleared up the dressing rooms with Paul, locked up and had to take the kit home to wash, 2 weeks out of 3 and I didn't even play! (It's washed and liberally sprayed with itching powder for the next game, should get a reaction).
Once Knobs had a committee, regular season meetings. Now it's all just a joke! Things don't just run on a wing, prayer and a joke! Where do we go- play on or fold you tell me!
Love to you all.
Howay the lads!
The fact that he forgot totally today what his hands were for is no criticism. Who else was prepared to pull on that particular unheralded jersey. No fucker, except me, as I say no fucker! So in spite of a competitive performance by outfielders our goalkeeping would have made sense to some of Jamie Carragher's observations (sub titles please). Mind you they missed a few as did we but their keeper was a keeper and ours wasn't.
First half showed the mettle of our lads, well done but in the second we were always battling a losing fight.
Gavin did manage to be become cosily acquainted with the woodwork on two occasions, once striking a post with ferocity after an incisive move and the other doing ever so well to round the keeper before inexplicably striking the bar- gravity?
Excellent performances by the dogged Gerry and Brendan (no the other one) at fullbacks and an immense performance from Richard at centre half. Tony played steadily at the back always organising and I thought they did well. I don't think Brendan misplaced a pass throughout the game and Gerry mixed long punts on a heavy pitch with cunning step a sides before feeding Gavin who was particularly threatening in the first half and indeed throughout. The combatitive Nick in midfield was great but subsided somewhat in the second half but did get opposition mentions in the pub afterwards, 'always been a dirty bastard'! I didn't notice. Chris Cox, 58, played his guts out after a long absence and Steve, in possibly his last game strove. He notched his usual penalty after the surging Richard was toppled in the area. I've always rated Steve, a bit of class and a bit different but always available to play and always organised. I shall miss him should he venture forth to pastures new and/or different. Up front new boy Paul strove in for him an unusual position wide left and was on the whole bereft of any switch play especially first half. Vinnie, God bless him bludgeoned around in his own area often defending sturdily on their corners but was so often on his own going forward - not a lot of service. Gavin threatened throughout , as he should, so don't call him an enigma, he knows what it means.
So I say well done, the result was a bit exaggerated but there you are.
SEVENNNN!
Paul, the valiant keeper was sporting a lovely shiner in the pub courtesy of punching himself in the eye. Honest! Others attending in the pub were Tony, Steve, bought
me a
pint on my 68th birthday, Brendan Wren who bought me a pint and Gerry who offered me a pint. Also there in a tiny group of us enjoying white sausages and 'pizza' were Bolton Brendan and shiner Paul. They, Welwyn, were all there, gloating bastards.
Still Newcastle beat Spurs, the Makkems won and unfortunately so did Man Utd. All 1-0's, a visual feast.
Next week an away league game in Enfield which I very much doubt will take place. We are in a very crap place, it's now all up to the so called membership to think about priorities and wonder what we are going to do in the future. Me? I'm an old man, what I think is irrelevant. Anyway I opened the doors, sorted the keys, went home to find pegs in the garage, stood and watched, cleared up the dressing rooms with Paul, locked up and had to take the kit home to wash, 2 weeks out of 3 and I didn't even play! (It's washed and liberally sprayed with itching powder for the next game, should get a reaction).
Once Knobs had a committee, regular season meetings. Now it's all just a joke! Things don't just run on a wing, prayer and a joke! Where do we go- play on or fold you tell me!
Love to you all.
Howay the lads!
Monday 4 November 2013
Harpenden 3 Knobs 3
Lovely day, a bit windy. And an explosive ending. New centre forward Paul showed his paces, nearly scoring in the first seconds. A comfortable first half should have seen us five ahead rather than the two. Unlikely as it felt to me, 2-0 half time was nowhere near enough with Harpenden somehow dominating second half going downhill with the wind behind them. I had thought we were comfortably enough placed to sacrifice Vinny for a rest at half time! How wrong I was.
A nice move in the first half saw the ball break to a rejuvenated Nick who shot firmly home. Vinny could have added a second if he'd rounded the keeper rather than taking a shot early but he made no mistake in a similar situation, rounding the keeper and blasting in from an inch. Gavin was back and showed what we'd missed in September and October, cespecially first half. He hardly got a pass in the second.
Second half saw them territorially superior and a couple of crap goals ensued. The first an unchallenged header from a corner at the far post followed by a freak 20 yard looping own goal from Chris- a ricochet off their man's foot ? Their wide man then wriggled beyond Gerry to square into the six yard box catching our defence off balance and it was rolled in for them to take a 3-2 lead.
Steve was coming into his own in this half. All the drama, wonderful. First he took a blasted ball smack up the hooter which felled him, but apart from a bruise , a bit of blood and no doubt a smidgeon of pain none of this was sufficient to count him out. Gavin who had decided to try his luck on the right burst forward on one of his nippy runs and ignoring an errant offside flag (their linesmen were partisan to say the least- indeed crap) raced into the box before being comprehensively flattened. An excellent referee, not being fooled by the latest hoisting of the jolly roger immediately awarded a penalty which Steve converted straight down the middle. 3-3.
It was left for Tony to bravely come between players to catch a cross during which he was flattened. Their conviction that no one touched him left one dubious when Tony emerged from a howl with a gash on his cheek the size of a fifty pence piece! Someone whether accidental or not must have touched him or was it self inflicted, elbowing himself in the cheekbone for a bit of sympathy. Spouting blood he continued for the last two minutes. Two minutes which were not to take place. Steve emerging with a ball from our penalty area was being enthusiastically harassed by their centre forward. Steve passed wide to Richard and his follow through 'inadvertently' caught matey in the knackers. Scream, curse, shove ended with Steve landing on him. Now if Steve wants to land on you the only option presumably is to adopt the brace position and hope to minimise any damage intended or otherwise. Several others piled in either to assist or warm themselves en masse from the biting cold wind I know not. The game resumed with the referee blowing the final whistle. Honours even. The referee did not see the incident so end of matter.
Gerry and Brendan had good games in full back positions, Nick had a storming first half and all in all we should have won if we'd been a bit more clinical first half. I could not see them coming back even from 2-0 at half time but they did.
Carpenters Arms- real ale pub- some lovely Harveys beer from Sussex. Steve showed his cuddly side by being inseparable from the pub dog, which was seemingly some sort of breed without a head. Narf took a liking to Steve's feet. He left before any real sexual overtures were made!
Next week a battle against aspiring champions Welwyn who actually lost to Sandridge yesterday. Come on you Knobs.
A nice move in the first half saw the ball break to a rejuvenated Nick who shot firmly home. Vinny could have added a second if he'd rounded the keeper rather than taking a shot early but he made no mistake in a similar situation, rounding the keeper and blasting in from an inch. Gavin was back and showed what we'd missed in September and October, cespecially first half. He hardly got a pass in the second.
Second half saw them territorially superior and a couple of crap goals ensued. The first an unchallenged header from a corner at the far post followed by a freak 20 yard looping own goal from Chris- a ricochet off their man's foot ? Their wide man then wriggled beyond Gerry to square into the six yard box catching our defence off balance and it was rolled in for them to take a 3-2 lead.
Steve was coming into his own in this half. All the drama, wonderful. First he took a blasted ball smack up the hooter which felled him, but apart from a bruise , a bit of blood and no doubt a smidgeon of pain none of this was sufficient to count him out. Gavin who had decided to try his luck on the right burst forward on one of his nippy runs and ignoring an errant offside flag (their linesmen were partisan to say the least- indeed crap) raced into the box before being comprehensively flattened. An excellent referee, not being fooled by the latest hoisting of the jolly roger immediately awarded a penalty which Steve converted straight down the middle. 3-3.
It was left for Tony to bravely come between players to catch a cross during which he was flattened. Their conviction that no one touched him left one dubious when Tony emerged from a howl with a gash on his cheek the size of a fifty pence piece! Someone whether accidental or not must have touched him or was it self inflicted, elbowing himself in the cheekbone for a bit of sympathy. Spouting blood he continued for the last two minutes. Two minutes which were not to take place. Steve emerging with a ball from our penalty area was being enthusiastically harassed by their centre forward. Steve passed wide to Richard and his follow through 'inadvertently' caught matey in the knackers. Scream, curse, shove ended with Steve landing on him. Now if Steve wants to land on you the only option presumably is to adopt the brace position and hope to minimise any damage intended or otherwise. Several others piled in either to assist or warm themselves en masse from the biting cold wind I know not. The game resumed with the referee blowing the final whistle. Honours even. The referee did not see the incident so end of matter.
Gerry and Brendan had good games in full back positions, Nick had a storming first half and all in all we should have won if we'd been a bit more clinical first half. I could not see them coming back even from 2-0 at half time but they did.
Carpenters Arms- real ale pub- some lovely Harveys beer from Sussex. Steve showed his cuddly side by being inseparable from the pub dog, which was seemingly some sort of breed without a head. Narf took a liking to Steve's feet. He left before any real sexual overtures were made!
Next week a battle against aspiring champions Welwyn who actually lost to Sandridge yesterday. Come on you Knobs.
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