A great comeback by the Blueberries tonight in an exciting session at the Stade Geriatrica.
The eight-a-side contest saw two pretty even teams fight it out in three 20-minute segments and it was a great advert for the kind of walking football we are playing in Hastings.
In period one it was all Pink for the first ten minutes and The Cat only had to deal with a dangerous Assassin back pass. At the other end, Ricky DLTN was given the eyes by Big Andy who slotted home the only goal following a neat assist from Massive Mark.
The Cat had to make five good saves in the second ten minutes but the Blues couldn’t find a way to beat him. El Jay curled a beauty past him only to see it fly off the post. He was definitely looking dangerous with the ball. Mehdi, in defence, was calm and collected and the Pinks were coasting.
In period two they turned the screw. New signing Mick struck first, latching onto a ball from Matty, and Andy finished beautifully with an assist from Massive Mark for his second and the Pinks’ third. At 3-0, the Blues’ heads were down. El Jay pulled one back with a solo effort once Mehdi went forward leaving the Pinks exposed at the back. But when MM finally got one on target, after skying his only other chance, the 4-1 score line was still comfy.
Then the Pinks woke up, the Blues also awoke and the game changed. Trigger made it 2-4 with a close-range effort that The Cat could do nothing about, and El Jay’s second into the left corner had the goalie sin-binned for swearing.
Going into the final period, it was anybody’s game at 4-3 Pinks. The Cat made one great stop from a Marco van Gasman thunderbolt but he was tiring fast. MM struck again at the second attempt after White Cliffs went in goal to make it 5-3, and The Assassin increased the comfy lead to 6-3 with a typical close-range effort. When MvG beat the flopping Cat with a 20 yarder which went under him, the game changed at 6-4. Medhi got his second gh special to make it 7-4 but the Blues were now all over the Pinks. Good goals from Trigger, the Riddler and El Jay with his hat trick brought it all square with minutes left. With Med and Mark hungry for more at the other end, only Cliffy stood between them and disaster and he made three great saves to keep the scores level.
When MM got his third it could have been all over but the Pinks would not lie down and be beaten. With minutes left Cookie finally got in on the act and netted the 8-8 all equalizer. It was a remarkable lesson in never surrendering.
Man of the Match: For his triple and hitting the post twice – El Jay. And Cliff gets a mention for his bravery in the other goal.
