It was a good night for the three keepers this evening at Las Academias Decrepido.
Six close matches and only seven goals scored despite the efforts from some talented strikers.
Ricky DLTN didn’t have a lot to do but made a couple of great stops; Tug made three super saves and was unlucky with two he shipped but the Cat was the pick of the bunch with three great full length saves before he let the side down with a softy between his legs. But since the scorer was Wondy, returning Lazarus-like from his hospital bed, nobody begrudged him his goal.
Game one was a tough contest between Pinks and Blues decided by a single goal scored by West Ham Phil for the Pinkos. He was a danger on the left all night but has to learn from some of his striking bretheren and shoot first time. Russ ran the game despite carrying an injury he picked up at the weekend and linked well all night with Magic Wond, who is growing stronger by the minute following his return. Matty Longshanks had a great chance but blasted over from wide right where he had a good evening on the wing.
Game two was a dour nil-all affair, dominated by Team Tango. Deadeye Chris was hungry for more goals and saw Pink Rick save from him twice and shooting narrowly wide twice too.
Game three was the best of the night with the Oranges coming out 2-1 winners against the Blues. Deadeye got his eye in and scored two – one very unlucky for Tug – in short order. The Tugster got his entire body to the ball but it spun unkindly over him into the net. Oh my Cod’s reply for the Blues was sensational. He was fed through by Wondy, went wide and scored at the near post with a drive that the Cat could only paw at. Tug made a great stop from Beaky to keep the Blues in it and The Cat saved one from the Riddler before Tug got one in the mush from Deadeye going for his hat-trick. The Riddler tried to chip The Cat from close range but put the ball over.
Pinks v Blues in game 4 was a nil-all draw but the Blues were in total control thanks to Iron Russ and Wondy at the back.
But it was back to winning ways for Team Tango with a one-nil victory over Blues in game 5. And it was the goal of the night: Chairs was robbed on the D at one end and Deadeye and OMC exchanged three rapier like passes before Ali netted at the other end with a powerful strike that beat Rick all ends up.
Game 6 was the Cat’s glory game – he made three full-length fingertip saves from The Riddler, Longshanks and Peruvian Mick before making a twonk of himself letting a Wondy drive in through his legs with the last kick of the night. It cancelled out Beaky’s early goal at the other end and finished one one.
We welcomed Brian from Fairlight for his first appearance at the Academy and there was a lot of good football played with El Jay and Beaky impressing for the O’s, Longshanks and OJM for the Pinks.
Man of the MATCH: Our own Puffing Paul Hutton. He simply didn’t put a foot wrong all evening and was johnny on the spot time and again for Team Tango even using his not inconsiderable buttock TWICE to block goal-bound efforts.
