But we all agree that the goal was magnificent. I'm saying he was 20metres out. There was an opening that no-one else saw. This ball moved in a graceful horizontal arc through the air, completely bamboozling the keeper with it's spin as, with minimal elevation, it hit the back of the net at head height.
Shame it was an equaliser, and not a match-winning moment.
I think we'd all say that we're satisfied, however, with a 1-1 draw against the Smurfs.
It was clear from the outset that this was a more aggressive Boffins outfit than the mob that let in four goals over ten minutes when these teams last met. Was it the absence of supportive offspring?
Perhaps it was the presence of Boffin Matt in defence. Smurf attackers quaked as the growling battle cry of Matt bore down on them relentlessly. Wave after wave of attacking Smurfs were mown down in high velocity, high impact tackles that inevitably involved legal foot-on-ball contact. It was a delight to watch from the vantage point of the goal mouth. Matt's record of not playing in a losing Boffin team this season remains intact.
Boffin Stu stood up. Eager to prove that he has a worthy contribution to make, the Super-Sub was an immoveable object in defence. Stu did more from the deck than any other Boffin, perfecting lethal sliding tackles that fulfilled what must now surely become the Boffin defensive hallmark:
1. Ball cleared
2. Attacking player felled.
By the time the Smurf attackers made it through the oomph had gone from their shots. The Doc, in goal for the Boffins, seemed to have the ball on a string. Apart from on errant effort from Smurf Malcolm in the middle of the first half, Smurf shots seemed to regularly smack into his palms. He'd also taken a leaf from Matt and Stu's book, and tried a few low-but-legal tackles. One particular high impact collision has left him, like Boffin Pete, feeling his age a few days later.
But the memory of Boffin Jenks deploying an f-bomb to dispute a line call seem to be getting him through! Hilarious aggression. Good stuff.
We had luck.
We had them psyched.
It was wonderful to see Smurf Jim - lethal in previous encounters - lacking confidence to shoot. I could almost see the synapses firing as his eyes darted around. 'The ball's at my feet. Is that Matt I hear behind me? Should I shoot before Stu arrives? Are we aiming it at the keeper's hands tonight?'
And therein, Boffins, lies my one concern. Did they play for the draw? What does this do for our position on the ladder? Were they playing with a final in mind? Is there a final?
The night delivered far more than I'd expected. Well done, Boffins.
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