Smurfs and Bandits

Too much!  

Although I found myself looking forward to the match during the afternoon, Wednesday evening was too much for this Boffin blogger. 

For starters, I was required to adjudicate the Smurfs v College match prior to the Boffins v Bandits main event. 

I hate refereeing.  

I'm more of an observer than an interventionist.  The whistle is too slow to my lips.  And when the Smurfs are playing, the ref needs to get on the whistle early to bring them into line. 

Well, that never happened.  Never actually happens in any match.  So what eventuated was not too far away from some of the more classic come-from-behind tackles illustrated here. (NB you might want to turn the sound down.  The music doesn't help convey the message).

Ultimately a bit intimidating for the young college side.  Even mild mannered Mr A couldn't hold back from giving the ref a verbal spray.   (Note to self: do better next time!  And maybe get Mr A a bottle of red?) 

Suitably discomfited, I joined the rest of the Boffins as we lined up against the Bandits.  

But hang on a minute, lads.  Where's Stu the starring super-sub?  

As play began I scanned the pitch in search of the secret weapon.  He hadn't told me that he was going to miss the match.  

Dan had. He'd sent an apology picture: 

The Bandits had seemed under-manned prior to the match.  But they took the pitch with seven men...

The Boffins started well.  We were hitting some sort of rhythm, and finding our way to the Bandits goal time after time.  But every time we were repelled by a player  in blue who I'd never seen before.  His crashing horizontal tackles, taking out player and ball simultaneously, reminded me strongly of our missing......

Stu!  Hang on!  That's our Stu.

That was our Stu.  We'll have to convene some sort of emergency meeting to consider whether we still regard Stu as one of us after he stopped at least three attacks that otherwise would have resulted in certain goals.  He had a pearler of a game.  He didn't sub-off.  Mighty impressive. 

Ant was back, with his ankle recovered, and contributed a goal in the second half after we went to the break nil all.  Bob/John also scored.  Jenks sent headers into the goal mouth from Dave's crosses and corners all night, but I don't think he scored the third goal.  Can't recall who did.  I know for certain it wasn't Dave.  Matt had a wayward crack, but asserted himself in the backline again and consolidated his record of never playing in a losing Boffins side.  Hammy left his wife in labour to play his last guilt-free game of soccer.....

Just kidding.  The baby hasn't come yet.  And anyway, Hammy's not the kind of guy to feel guilty about leaving his wife with the newborn to spend a bit of time with the lads.....

Not when they win three-nil.