Old Tiffinians IIIs 0 – 3 Actonians Association VIIs
Sometimes you start the season with so many players that you have to turn people away before a game. This season has not been like that. So as we move into the slightly colder, wetter and more miserable part of the year player availability becomes a bit of an issue.
So, a mixed group of brave Tiffinians showed up for a game, safe in the knowledge that their availability was prized higher than any other footballing stat. These are the games where you fall back on footballing cliches, experienced legs and muscle memory alone. A game where you field a midfield three with a combined age of 137 (one hundred and thirty seven) and convince yourself of the saying that “if they’re old enough, they’re good enough”.
The game played out as many had predicted, with Tiffs struggling to find any real rhythm or control. In the first half Actonians were able to score a couple of goals, nothing much to write home about, as Tiffs put in a poor showing. A half time rocket (which is technically one down from a bollocking and a few short of a hairdryer) sent Tiffs out with more determination and clearly had some impact. Tiffs were a little snappier in the tackle and a bit more spirited in staying in the game. Sadly the best chances came from set pieces, which were wasted in turn by Alex and then Conrad, before Actonians scored a third, underwhelming, goal.
There was just enough time left for a fourth Actonian goal to be ruled out for a fairly obvious handball. Apparently, Actonians had no problem with the award of an obvious free-kick, they just felt it took too long to make the decision, and so the goal should have stood. An odd train of thought to wrap up a comfortable win for the away team.
POTM: Sergei Suverev