The sign of a good walking football team is 21 shots on goal in 40 minutes.
The sign of a great team is the patience to wait for the goal to come.
It took 38 minutes for Hastings United to finally beat the Crisp Walkers’ keeper.
And it was Massive Mark who got the goal following an inch- perfect 20 yard kick-in pass from El Jay.
The big fellah had no fewer than nine efforts on goal – including three in the first three minutes – before he broke his duck.
He forced the CW keeper into his only error of the match, letting the powerful shot spill through his hands into the net.
Ref Mark – who had a good game – earlier ruled out a MM goal for running and then cancelled a second goal because he adjudged Mark’s foot to be on the line.
It was only a matter of time before our Mark scored but let’s say he left it a bit late.
Hastings were all over CW from the off mainly because of a towering performance from Iron Russ at the back. He had no fewer than 36 touches during the game and sprayed the ball all over the park. The Coach’s best moment was an incredible block and tackle in the second half when the Walkers’ looked certain to get through on goal.
Mark wasn’t the only player with a thirst for a goal, Blakey had four shots, as did Cookie Monster and El Jay chipped in with two of his own.
The problem was, Hastings were getting so desperate to convert their pressure into points, that they were getting in each other’s way. Jay would have done better to square the ball to MM on one of his chances and that position was reversed 30 seconds later when Mark shot instead of putting the Spanish lad in.
When Mark took the ball off Cookie’s foot just as the tireless midfielder was about to shoot it looked as though we would never get our goal and this was perplexing as the same teams played in Eastbourne, and Hastings stuck three in without replay.
The big difference today was the keepers. Phil in the CW goal had a great game and made seven good saves – his best going to his left from Massive Mark.
At the other end, Ricky DLTN had another super game. He made a decent stop early on which boosted his confidence and pulled off six good saves – his best a one-handed tip over which saw the ball lodge high in a tree behind the goal. How Speedy Wolf Christina managed to get it down remains a mystery.
Our keeper was equal to anything the Walkers threw at him and their only goal was ruled out for a foul with the ref clearly blowing before the shot was taken.
Wondy played really well in midfield and the link up play was good from the back to the front line. Hastings dominated for long periods but have to be careful to keep their heads – as they lost it before Mark’s goal. It gave CW their best five minutes of the game and only two good saves from Rick kept us in it.
In the last 90 seconds when Russ was screaming for United to hold onto the ball, our keeper made a great stop to give Hastings the win.
MoM: Mark for a great effort up front and the Walkers’ keeper for keeping the away side in touch.
The Wags did their bit with a super repast after the game: Carol on food and Sarah on drinks. And the sooner we ditch the vegan option the better. Real men eat meat!
