Swift FC 2 Barely Athletic 3
Goal: Nick
Defence: Rich B, Danny, Ian, Tom P.
Midfield: The Other Tom, Andy, Richie, Sam.
Attack: Ioan, Mani.
Watching/line running: Steve and Bob.
Braced for a tough game with only a starting eleven, Barely produced a superlative performance on the day - the only blot on the copybook being Andy (in goal for the second half) punching into his own net in a desperate bid for attention.
Unusually Barely started the stronger, and the fact they went 1-0 down ten minutes in was nothing do with their usual bleary-eyed shamblings, but actually against the run of play. From a rogue corner the Swift number 5 dodged a challenge and swept the ball home through a crowd of players. Barely, looking collectively offended, leveled almost immediately when Ioan tapped a corner ball into the path of Sam, who released an 'exocet' (Richie) or a 'mis-hit cross?' (Mani) into the top corner off his usually inert left peg. Game on.
Barely were back in the box seat and passing the ball around to the manner born. Andy and Richie were bossing the midfield completely and Rich Batten was finding acres of space on Swift's right flank and causing them all kinds of problems. Andy, Bats, and Mani all shot narrowly wide as Barely piled on the pressure without quite realising the goal. Swift were quite capable of the counter-attack too, but Barely's defence was water-tight and the only shots Nick dealt with were in the main hopeful punts.
Half-time came and Andy went in goal for Nick as Steve and Rich negotiated the team shuffle. After some discussion Nick went wide right, Sam into centre-mid alongside Richie. Barely started on top, and indeed went ahead when The Other Tom scooped a ball home from a delightful Barely build-up that almost involved the whole team and is therefore too epic to explain here. Except to say Nick, who had a fabulous half, was certainly involved, turning his way past a challenge in the box and caressing the ball square to Ioan, who set up Richie, who teed up The Other Tom. Or something like that, anyway.
But despite the early blow for Swift, the signs they'd shown at the end of the first half of coming back from Barely dominance were still growing, and there followed a tense period were Barely were forced to defend more. But marshalled by Danny and Ian and with Tom P keeping an eye on Swift's danger man, the back line was resolute, broken only once when Sam - who had earlier scored that amazing goal, if you remember - was on hand to nick the ball off the number 5's toe as he set himself to shoot from close in. Well done, Sam!
However, Swift's leveller was still to come, and Andy, whose handling was otherwise immaculate, was cursing himself when a relatively easy save slipped off his gloves and into the net. It was a blow, but Barely never faltered. Despite the obvious fillip to Swift, it was Barely who saw out the remainder of the game on top - or at least shading things - and they got their winner when The Other Tom grabbed his second with a similar finish to his first to give Barely all three points.
This was a proper Casuals game - two very evenly matched teams playing the game in the right spirit, and credit to Swift for that, as well as some fair-minded refereeing. Of course winning helps too, coating as it does the post-game discussions with a gloss of elation. Man of the Match award voting was widely spread with such a great team effort, but Richie took the gong - metaphorically speaking, as it's still somewhere in the Pinnell household causing arguments - with a landslide 5-1-1-1-1-1-1 result. No Mike around to keep the team on a even keel though, so unfortunately there were lots of tiresome jokes about men in the showers. Come on Barely, really. You're too old for that kind of thing.
Sunday 8 November 2009
Monday 26 October 2009
Barely Victory Marred By Alleged Political Correctness
Three points undermined by Mike's refusal to toe the homophobic line:
Pass Masters 3 Barely Athletic 5
Unable to despatch a correspondant to what was something of a make or break game, the Barely Reporter relied on player feedback for this match, a notoriously big ask from a bunch of genius mavericks who have no time for rules, deadlines, or petty trivialities, like letting us know what the line up was for instance.
Nevertheless from various clues we can deduce the following: NIck was in goal, Steve P was also present but nursing various parts of his anatomy after being used as a chair, Tom was there, Rich B was there, and goals came from Lefils (also present) Andy (ditto) Richie C (we assume he must have been there), Tom and Rich B. Rich 'Action' Jackson was also hypothesised to have scored; but the midfield dynamo admitted 'in my dreams'. In which case we must also record several other goals that players have dreamt, making the ethereal score more like 11-6 to Barely. Either way, it amounts to a victory and a well-deserved one having been two-one, and then three-two down during the course of the first half. A man-marking job on the Pass Masters striker by Andy in the second half shackled the danger and freed up Barely to move in for the kill, which they did.
However, post-game the mood turned sour when Mike snubbed a long line of sexually insular footballing tradition and apparently openly embraced the idea of sharing this boisterious-heterosexuals world with 'the other', setting the proverbial cat among the pigeons. Despite the uproar, no-one has been willing to go into detail, though hints have been dropped that crisps were involved. Prawn Cocktail crisps, to be precise. Footballers do have an ability to close ranks when journo's come sniffing around, so we'll just have to wait for several otherwise-banal and drably-titled memoirs to come out when the cast in this particular act finally hang up their boots.
Until then, we have football.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
STOP PRESS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Breaking news in the Barely Reporter office - apparently Mike's defence of the realm was merely a sub-plot in the Steve-versus-Tom family conflict that broke out post-game. Tom's sexuality was questioned, as was Sam's (not present) who has since said he is flattered, but married and often too tired for that kind of thing anyway.
Pass Masters 3 Barely Athletic 5
Unable to despatch a correspondant to what was something of a make or break game, the Barely Reporter relied on player feedback for this match, a notoriously big ask from a bunch of genius mavericks who have no time for rules, deadlines, or petty trivialities, like letting us know what the line up was for instance.
Nevertheless from various clues we can deduce the following: NIck was in goal, Steve P was also present but nursing various parts of his anatomy after being used as a chair, Tom was there, Rich B was there, and goals came from Lefils (also present) Andy (ditto) Richie C (we assume he must have been there), Tom and Rich B. Rich 'Action' Jackson was also hypothesised to have scored; but the midfield dynamo admitted 'in my dreams'. In which case we must also record several other goals that players have dreamt, making the ethereal score more like 11-6 to Barely. Either way, it amounts to a victory and a well-deserved one having been two-one, and then three-two down during the course of the first half. A man-marking job on the Pass Masters striker by Andy in the second half shackled the danger and freed up Barely to move in for the kill, which they did.
However, post-game the mood turned sour when Mike snubbed a long line of sexually insular footballing tradition and apparently openly embraced the idea of sharing this boisterious-heterosexuals world with 'the other', setting the proverbial cat among the pigeons. Despite the uproar, no-one has been willing to go into detail, though hints have been dropped that crisps were involved. Prawn Cocktail crisps, to be precise. Footballers do have an ability to close ranks when journo's come sniffing around, so we'll just have to wait for several otherwise-banal and drably-titled memoirs to come out when the cast in this particular act finally hang up their boots.
Until then, we have football.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
STOP PRESS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Breaking news in the Barely Reporter office - apparently Mike's defence of the realm was merely a sub-plot in the Steve-versus-Tom family conflict that broke out post-game. Tom's sexuality was questioned, as was Sam's (not present) who has since said he is flattered, but married and often too tired for that kind of thing anyway.
Sunday 4 October 2009
Sun sets in the East for Barely
Barely Athletic 1 Easton Monday 7
Goal: Nick
Defence: Chris, Danny, Ian, Andy
Midfield: Rich, Sam, Tom, Mani
Attack: Colin and Lefils
sub: Steve
This was a game of two halves - in the first Barely were poor, but Easton's goals were a bit flukey. In the second, Barely were middling, but Easton were superlative. It all began rather lamely in Barely's eyes as they spent the opening 20 minutes camped in their own half as Easton's number 8 dictated the play - something he did for much of the game. The home side were missing their ideal equivalents; with Jim, Richie and Jacko all absent Tom and Sam tried to establish some kind of grip on midfield, to little avail. But Barely's attacking success, when it came, came down the flanks with Andy and Mani combining to good effect. Sadly though they were 3-0 by the time Barely woke up - two goals came courtesy of ricochets either in the finish or the build-up, and the third dribbled agonisingly between Nick's hands and legs - a double nutmeg, if you will.
Barely were largely shite at this point, as Lefils was willing to testify in the strongest terms. He and Colin hardly touched the ball the whole first half, and at the break - still 3-0 down - Steve and Rich understandably changed things around. Nick went to right-back and Steve in goal, Sam went to right-wing with Colin dropping back into the centre alongside Rich Batten. Tom pushed up front and Chris ran the line - he had a good half.
Barely improved, but you wouldn't know it in the opening ten minutes as Easton gave them a lesson in football, capitalising on mistakes far up the pitch to swarm forward and finish confidently - one a spectacular diving header. The game lost, all Barely could do was dig their heels in and try and play a bit of football - which they managed, to an increasing extent. Mani might have scored when his shot ploughed into the side netting, but he made amends shortly afterwards when a decent Barely move ended with Lefils heading the ball into his path and Mani swept the ball home with aplomb. Not bad.
However by then - or shortly afterwards, it's all a bit of a blur now to be honest - Easton added a seventh just to really confirm how one-sided this match was in terms of potency. Barely can - just - hold their heads up after an improved second half, but they could do with their absentees back asap.
Man of the Match was Andy - never gave up, and kept Barely's heads up with a series of exhortations.
Goal: Nick
Defence: Chris, Danny, Ian, Andy
Midfield: Rich, Sam, Tom, Mani
Attack: Colin and Lefils
sub: Steve
This was a game of two halves - in the first Barely were poor, but Easton's goals were a bit flukey. In the second, Barely were middling, but Easton were superlative. It all began rather lamely in Barely's eyes as they spent the opening 20 minutes camped in their own half as Easton's number 8 dictated the play - something he did for much of the game. The home side were missing their ideal equivalents; with Jim, Richie and Jacko all absent Tom and Sam tried to establish some kind of grip on midfield, to little avail. But Barely's attacking success, when it came, came down the flanks with Andy and Mani combining to good effect. Sadly though they were 3-0 by the time Barely woke up - two goals came courtesy of ricochets either in the finish or the build-up, and the third dribbled agonisingly between Nick's hands and legs - a double nutmeg, if you will.
Barely were largely shite at this point, as Lefils was willing to testify in the strongest terms. He and Colin hardly touched the ball the whole first half, and at the break - still 3-0 down - Steve and Rich understandably changed things around. Nick went to right-back and Steve in goal, Sam went to right-wing with Colin dropping back into the centre alongside Rich Batten. Tom pushed up front and Chris ran the line - he had a good half.
Barely improved, but you wouldn't know it in the opening ten minutes as Easton gave them a lesson in football, capitalising on mistakes far up the pitch to swarm forward and finish confidently - one a spectacular diving header. The game lost, all Barely could do was dig their heels in and try and play a bit of football - which they managed, to an increasing extent. Mani might have scored when his shot ploughed into the side netting, but he made amends shortly afterwards when a decent Barely move ended with Lefils heading the ball into his path and Mani swept the ball home with aplomb. Not bad.
However by then - or shortly afterwards, it's all a bit of a blur now to be honest - Easton added a seventh just to really confirm how one-sided this match was in terms of potency. Barely can - just - hold their heads up after an improved second half, but they could do with their absentees back asap.
Man of the Match was Andy - never gave up, and kept Barely's heads up with a series of exhortations.
Sunday 13 September 2009
Shipham by name...
Shipham FC 1 Barely Athletic 6
Goal: Nick
Defence: Rich B, Tom P, Andy
Midfield: Rich J, Sam, Richie, Mike, Mani
Attack: Ian, Jim
Sub: Colin
Tactical wizardry: Steve P
First things first - Shipham really don't deserve that smart-arsed headline, so apologies. The wordplay (Ustinov would have been proud, eh?) was just too tempting to resist.
So: a new season for Barely Athletic. A new manager. A new formation. Steve's 3-5-2 line-up above caused a ripple of disbelief when he ran though the team before kick-off, and sure enough, like ancient Greek astronomers convinced the sun orbited the Earth only to be told it was the other way around, Barely just weren't ready for the paradigm shift in thinking required to make the conceit stick. Just as the ancient star-gazers thought about Aristarchus' wild hypothesis for ten minutes before saying "Nah", so Barely stuck with the 3-5-2 for a similar period before reverting to the Earth-centric model of the universe - which in this case was 4-4-2, with Ian at the back.
In fairness though, Barely had started well and were unlucky to go behind when Nick's save at the feet of an attacker bounced kindly for another of the Shipham number. 1-0 down and it seemed that perhaps Shipham's idyllic home pitch - surrounded by greenery and rolling hills - would not inspire Barely to great things.
But it did. Minutes after Barely restarted, Rich B sent a looping deep cross to Richie, who rifled in from a narrow angle on the left. Moments later Mike gave the visitors the lead when his narrow shot from the right ricocheted through defenders to put Barely two up. It was Mike who eerily prophesied "more goals" at half time as well. Maybe he should get his own show on cable.
For sure enough the restart was still visible in the rear-view mirror when Jim put Barely 3-1 up, capitalising on some sustained pressure when firing in off the keeper. Steve reshuffled the team with Colin making an appearance at right-back and Mani going off. Ten minutes later Sam turned inside a defender and chipped the keeper from a wide position - which looked like being the goal of the game until that inveterate show-off Tom twatted a free kick into the top corner from 30 yards. 5-1 and Shipham were out of it. Andy's late boot into the net when his initial shot was blocked was the icing on the cake to leave the score at 6-1 and a very well-tempered game wrapped up with Barely getting points on the board. After last season' custard pie salvo in the opening games there was much relief and pride all around.
Shipham played the game in good spirit - and supplied sandwiches afterward! - and the ref deserves a mention for excellent officiating. Man of the Match was Jim for his usual display of phlegmatic shimmering, plus the goal of course. But the Barely Reporter reckons everyone in the team deserves a pat on the back today - a solid, at times silky performance. There will be harder tests, no doubt, but as openers go they don't get much better than this.
Goal: Nick
Defence: Rich B, Tom P, Andy
Midfield: Rich J, Sam, Richie, Mike, Mani
Attack: Ian, Jim
Sub: Colin
Tactical wizardry: Steve P
First things first - Shipham really don't deserve that smart-arsed headline, so apologies. The wordplay (Ustinov would have been proud, eh?) was just too tempting to resist.
So: a new season for Barely Athletic. A new manager. A new formation. Steve's 3-5-2 line-up above caused a ripple of disbelief when he ran though the team before kick-off, and sure enough, like ancient Greek astronomers convinced the sun orbited the Earth only to be told it was the other way around, Barely just weren't ready for the paradigm shift in thinking required to make the conceit stick. Just as the ancient star-gazers thought about Aristarchus' wild hypothesis for ten minutes before saying "Nah", so Barely stuck with the 3-5-2 for a similar period before reverting to the Earth-centric model of the universe - which in this case was 4-4-2, with Ian at the back.
In fairness though, Barely had started well and were unlucky to go behind when Nick's save at the feet of an attacker bounced kindly for another of the Shipham number. 1-0 down and it seemed that perhaps Shipham's idyllic home pitch - surrounded by greenery and rolling hills - would not inspire Barely to great things.
But it did. Minutes after Barely restarted, Rich B sent a looping deep cross to Richie, who rifled in from a narrow angle on the left. Moments later Mike gave the visitors the lead when his narrow shot from the right ricocheted through defenders to put Barely two up. It was Mike who eerily prophesied "more goals" at half time as well. Maybe he should get his own show on cable.
For sure enough the restart was still visible in the rear-view mirror when Jim put Barely 3-1 up, capitalising on some sustained pressure when firing in off the keeper. Steve reshuffled the team with Colin making an appearance at right-back and Mani going off. Ten minutes later Sam turned inside a defender and chipped the keeper from a wide position - which looked like being the goal of the game until that inveterate show-off Tom twatted a free kick into the top corner from 30 yards. 5-1 and Shipham were out of it. Andy's late boot into the net when his initial shot was blocked was the icing on the cake to leave the score at 6-1 and a very well-tempered game wrapped up with Barely getting points on the board. After last season' custard pie salvo in the opening games there was much relief and pride all around.
Shipham played the game in good spirit - and supplied sandwiches afterward! - and the ref deserves a mention for excellent officiating. Man of the Match was Jim for his usual display of phlegmatic shimmering, plus the goal of course. But the Barely Reporter reckons everyone in the team deserves a pat on the back today - a solid, at times silky performance. There will be harder tests, no doubt, but as openers go they don't get much better than this.
Monday 27 April 2009
Lefils puts the Fizz in Barely
Swift FC 3 Barely Athletic 5
Goal: Colin
Defence: Rich B, Danny, Ian, Chris
Midfield: Tom (3), Dave, Chris (2), Sam
Attack: Andy, Tom
Sub: Lefils
With the absentees list reading like a rollcall of Barely's great and good - Goalie Steve, regulars Phil, Mike, Mani, Rich Jackson, Ioan and Nick were all missing, not to mention co-managers Jim and Richie - Barely had to put out more feelers than a gang of radioactive centipedes to get a team for this game. In came Wednesday regulars Dave and Colin for their 11-a-side debuts, Chris 2 returned from a long sabbatical for a composed stint in midfield, and PC Tom took up a regular beat up and down the left wing.
With Lefils running late, manager-in-waiting Rich B started with Tom Pinnell and Andy 'the engine' Lillford upfront, and the rest of the side basically picked itself. But it also had to pick itself up, as Barely's long tradition (see most previous posts) of starting slowly was staunchly upheld, and they conceded early as the Swift left-winger outpaced both Sam and Chris and slotted neatly in at Colin's far post. Barely, by any stretch, had started poorly, though they were showing in little flashes what they were capable of. However with Lefils' warming up on the touchline Rich opted for an early change that paid dividends. Chivilrously making way himself, he moved Andy to left-back and put Fizzy up front with Tom. From Barely's kick off the talismanic Frenchman darted through the opposition and finished neatly to put Barely level. And within the next ten minutes Barely had, in a dramatic role-reversal, gone 3-1 up and were bossing things. Chris' and Dave's composure in the middle of the park was starting to assert itself and Lefils and Tom were combining to devastating effect - they set each other up for a goal each to put Barely in the box seat before Swift saw a shot parried by Colin and the loose ball prodded in to put the score at 3-2 as the play broke for half-time.
It had the feeling of a game where anything could happen. As well as Barely were playing Swift - who were uncannily fielding several players from last week's opposition - were looking capable of getting back in it. Their left-winger was dominating Barely's right-hand side, where Sam's groin-strain was hampering his usual scampering approach. Equally feeling the pain was Colin, who midway through the second half had to be replaced in the sticks by Tom P. Barely were feeling the stretch. By this time though Barely - who started the second half in polar contrast to the first - were 4-2 up as Tom had scored his second as incessant pressure on the Swift goalkeeper finally paid off. Rich B added a fifth from a narrow angle, but Swift pulled another back before the goals - thanks in part to Tom's long limbs - finally dried up. Neither team gave up trying to score, but the gods of football decided eight was enough on this particular day.
It was a good day for Barely - on a day when both attacks seemed to dominate they outscored the opposition, and there were plenty of defensive interceptions in the second half that kept things that way. Tom P and Andy tied for the man of the match vote, though Barely played pretty well all over, and certainly Lefils' impact cannot be overstated. Rich Batten will be happy to with his managerial debut in advance of taking over the strings for next season - a win and a goal is pretty much ideal.
Goal: Colin
Defence: Rich B, Danny, Ian, Chris
Midfield: Tom (3), Dave, Chris (2), Sam
Attack: Andy, Tom
Sub: Lefils
With the absentees list reading like a rollcall of Barely's great and good - Goalie Steve, regulars Phil, Mike, Mani, Rich Jackson, Ioan and Nick were all missing, not to mention co-managers Jim and Richie - Barely had to put out more feelers than a gang of radioactive centipedes to get a team for this game. In came Wednesday regulars Dave and Colin for their 11-a-side debuts, Chris 2 returned from a long sabbatical for a composed stint in midfield, and PC Tom took up a regular beat up and down the left wing.
With Lefils running late, manager-in-waiting Rich B started with Tom Pinnell and Andy 'the engine' Lillford upfront, and the rest of the side basically picked itself. But it also had to pick itself up, as Barely's long tradition (see most previous posts) of starting slowly was staunchly upheld, and they conceded early as the Swift left-winger outpaced both Sam and Chris and slotted neatly in at Colin's far post. Barely, by any stretch, had started poorly, though they were showing in little flashes what they were capable of. However with Lefils' warming up on the touchline Rich opted for an early change that paid dividends. Chivilrously making way himself, he moved Andy to left-back and put Fizzy up front with Tom. From Barely's kick off the talismanic Frenchman darted through the opposition and finished neatly to put Barely level. And within the next ten minutes Barely had, in a dramatic role-reversal, gone 3-1 up and were bossing things. Chris' and Dave's composure in the middle of the park was starting to assert itself and Lefils and Tom were combining to devastating effect - they set each other up for a goal each to put Barely in the box seat before Swift saw a shot parried by Colin and the loose ball prodded in to put the score at 3-2 as the play broke for half-time.
It had the feeling of a game where anything could happen. As well as Barely were playing Swift - who were uncannily fielding several players from last week's opposition - were looking capable of getting back in it. Their left-winger was dominating Barely's right-hand side, where Sam's groin-strain was hampering his usual scampering approach. Equally feeling the pain was Colin, who midway through the second half had to be replaced in the sticks by Tom P. Barely were feeling the stretch. By this time though Barely - who started the second half in polar contrast to the first - were 4-2 up as Tom had scored his second as incessant pressure on the Swift goalkeeper finally paid off. Rich B added a fifth from a narrow angle, but Swift pulled another back before the goals - thanks in part to Tom's long limbs - finally dried up. Neither team gave up trying to score, but the gods of football decided eight was enough on this particular day.
It was a good day for Barely - on a day when both attacks seemed to dominate they outscored the opposition, and there were plenty of defensive interceptions in the second half that kept things that way. Tom P and Andy tied for the man of the match vote, though Barely played pretty well all over, and certainly Lefils' impact cannot be overstated. Rich Batten will be happy to with his managerial debut in advance of taking over the strings for next season - a win and a goal is pretty much ideal.
Sunday 19 April 2009
Barely crushed by Flying Saucer
Barely Athletic 2 Flying Saucers 3
Goal: Steve
Defence: Rich B, Phil, Ian, Chris
Midfield: Jim, Mani, Sam
Attack: Nick, Richie
Sub/ref: Mike
High drama played out under the shadow of the doomed Cadburys factory in Keynsham as two closely matched teams fought to improve their league standing. It might possibly have ended in a draw but Flying Saucers took advantage and made off with the points.
With the Saucers only managing a 9 player turn-out Barely agreed to play with ten men in a chivalrous gesture, however chilvary was thereafter fairly low on the agenda, as one of the Saucers berated Mike's (and later Rich B's) refereeing at length. Flying Saucers took the lead early as they looked livelier than a lethargic Barely, but as the home team slowly awoke from their torpor the complexion of the game became more even. Barely had a goal ruled out for offside - correctly - however the subsequent Saucers goal from an offside source was allowed to stand - incorrectly, as far as a furious Steve was concerned. The perceived lack of honesty after Barely had volunteered to have their own goal chalked off set a slightly fractious tone for the game, but as aggrieved as Barely were they could have no complaints when the verbose Flying Saucers striker let fly from distance and put the visitors 3-0 up. Morally dubious or not, they were three goals to the good and making light of their shortage of personnel.
Then from the kick-off Barely found a chink of light. Richie and Sam combined down the right to set up Mani for a deftly headed finish, and as half-time arrived the score was 3-1. Nick and Steve swapped positions and Chris took the whistle for 20 minutes. Feeling they hadn't done the Barely name justice, the home side began the second half like a team possessed, and were very soon back to 3-2 when Mani slotted in at the near post. At this stage it was all Barely, and your correspondant felt sure that a draw was the least they could expect. But credit to Flying Saucers - they rode out the storm and as the full-time whistle beckoned, Barely looked tired. They did create chances - Rich B headed into the side netting, Steve headed over the bar, and Richie was distraught at firing over late on - but Flying Saucers held on for the points, and mounted the odd counter-attack of their own, prompting a couple of decent saves from Nick.
Jim picked up Barely's Man of the Match award, though Richie ran him close and Mike and Mani - with some fine finishing - also featured in the voting. There was a general sense of disappointment that went beyond the result, but as well as the debated goal Flying Saucers also displayed very good possession play and great defending. Barely must now pick themselves up for next week's game, and perhaps make sure they bring a referee!
Goal: Steve
Defence: Rich B, Phil, Ian, Chris
Midfield: Jim, Mani, Sam
Attack: Nick, Richie
Sub/ref: Mike
High drama played out under the shadow of the doomed Cadburys factory in Keynsham as two closely matched teams fought to improve their league standing. It might possibly have ended in a draw but Flying Saucers took advantage and made off with the points.
With the Saucers only managing a 9 player turn-out Barely agreed to play with ten men in a chivalrous gesture, however chilvary was thereafter fairly low on the agenda, as one of the Saucers berated Mike's (and later Rich B's) refereeing at length. Flying Saucers took the lead early as they looked livelier than a lethargic Barely, but as the home team slowly awoke from their torpor the complexion of the game became more even. Barely had a goal ruled out for offside - correctly - however the subsequent Saucers goal from an offside source was allowed to stand - incorrectly, as far as a furious Steve was concerned. The perceived lack of honesty after Barely had volunteered to have their own goal chalked off set a slightly fractious tone for the game, but as aggrieved as Barely were they could have no complaints when the verbose Flying Saucers striker let fly from distance and put the visitors 3-0 up. Morally dubious or not, they were three goals to the good and making light of their shortage of personnel.
Then from the kick-off Barely found a chink of light. Richie and Sam combined down the right to set up Mani for a deftly headed finish, and as half-time arrived the score was 3-1. Nick and Steve swapped positions and Chris took the whistle for 20 minutes. Feeling they hadn't done the Barely name justice, the home side began the second half like a team possessed, and were very soon back to 3-2 when Mani slotted in at the near post. At this stage it was all Barely, and your correspondant felt sure that a draw was the least they could expect. But credit to Flying Saucers - they rode out the storm and as the full-time whistle beckoned, Barely looked tired. They did create chances - Rich B headed into the side netting, Steve headed over the bar, and Richie was distraught at firing over late on - but Flying Saucers held on for the points, and mounted the odd counter-attack of their own, prompting a couple of decent saves from Nick.
Jim picked up Barely's Man of the Match award, though Richie ran him close and Mike and Mani - with some fine finishing - also featured in the voting. There was a general sense of disappointment that went beyond the result, but as well as the debated goal Flying Saucers also displayed very good possession play and great defending. Barely must now pick themselves up for next week's game, and perhaps make sure they bring a referee!
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