Battle of the Puns

Barely Athletic 5 The Bristols 1

Marcus

Nick              Danny           Colin               Batts

Darren         Ian           John R                     Mike

Paul         Adam

No subs. Sam played for The Bristols.

Such was the interest in this debut, inter-gender fixture from Barely perhaps next season's Sunday games should have an air of mystery to them. Not for a long time have Barely had so many players volunteers for duty have actually been turned away.

As it was numbers on both sides swelled to the point a full pitch was booked and, with Barely's 12 versus The Bristols ten, Sam volunteered to change sides so everybody got a full game.

His first task - as interim goalie - was to pick the ball out of the net as Barely began strongly. After Paul swung in a ball from the Barely right, it pinged around the box momentarily before Adam managed to catch it just strongly enough to watch it bounce between Bristol defenders and into the net. A series of Barely corners followed and it looked like their substantial advantage in experience - The Bristols play 7-a-side and are considerably younger - might make the game rather lopsided.

But The Bristols didn't come second in their fledgling season for nothing, and grew into the game. Their French maestro at the back, Elody, began carrying the ball out of defense and deftly avoiding attempted tackles. In midfield they started putting together little one-twos and playing triangles around Barely. Only in the final third were The Bristols blunted; a lack of firepower meaning Danny, Ian, Nick and Colin were mopping things up with comparative ease. And the Bristols emerging force in possession was undone when Mike added a second goal with around half an hour played.

The teams changed ends and had a water break, with Barely satisfied with the lack of scares and The Bristols hoping to build on the platform of their ability to play through the Barely midfield - which seemed to consist of John, abetted by Adam dropping deep, and whichever defender felt like breaking forward at the opportune moment. Adam regularly sped into the box though, and early in the second half he added to his tally with a neat finish.

Paul Tovey, despite picking up an injury, gave Barely a 4-0 lead by converting another pinball moment in the Bristol's penalty box. Then finally The Bristols got the moment their progressive forward play deserved, playing the ball around the Barely back line and converting neatly to bring the scores to 4-1. As the skies darkened there was just time for Adam to claim his hat-trick with a sublime finish from the edge of the box, before the teams called time in the gloaming.

Moment of the Match - many but perhaps Mike's long-range attempt from wide-left that would have sailed in if not for Sam's knee. Special mention to Batt's hat-trick of hitting the crossbar and both posts as well.

Man of the Match - there was no vote, but your correspondent is going for Adam for both effort and achievement.

Woman of the Match - Probably the elegant playmaker Elody who occupied central defence but regularly broke into midfield.

Both teams decamped to the pub, declaring the night a success and vowing to hold a rematch at Golden Hill some time in the Autumn.