Gibbons was on edge! If both teams wear white shorts, how will we know who to pass to? Passing has never been in our tactics, and with players dropping like flies, dribbling seemed the only option! Baile had arrived, but had forgot his kit and set off home to get it. Stand in skipper Omo suggested starting with 10 and locking the car park gate!

With a bare 11 (Moodley first name on the team sheet, last to arrive) we kicked off 15mins late, Baile returned in time to run the line. The back four of Naylor, Sniffer, Markham and Kent set out their stall. Stand in skipper Omo, Wilkins, Moodley and Kinchin were working hard in the midfield and McGregor partnered Gibbons up front.

Things looked bad as MMB raced into a two goal lead. A well struck volley, followed by a long ball over the top saw the Tiffs Vets facing an uphill battle. It was uphill and into the wind in the first half. The move of the match saw Gibbons pull one back. A good finish, easily picked out by his team mates as he had changed to black shorts. Shortly after Omo still wearing white shorts was taken out by Sniffer and had to leave the field with a cut to his eye!

MMB had a third ruled out for offside and also saw a shot hit the bar, the Tiffs were holding on. The magic man Ahmeti had come on to replace Omo, and he is a treat to watch. So much so Kinchin even paid his match fees early for the privilege, even if the currency was complimentary mints left over from settling his curry bill from the previous week.

Half time the bruised, Omo, Rocky, rallied the troops with shouts of “ADRIAN” and returned to the fray. Big shout out to Wilkins, your scribes POTM, put his marriage on the line to play the full 90 minutes including a late kick off! He was everywhere, great engine, great pace and great talk of his buttocks in the bar after! Can’t vote for him on Teamer, so Naylor got the vote, solid with Sniffer in defence. Could have gone to anyone, Baile locked down the right, Moodley the left. Shaun was putting himself about, Kinchin who coaches football delivered a foul throw! Omo, Ahmeti, Markham  and Kinchin were all putting in shifts. Gibbons got his second and the equaliser (but he does not like to talk about it) with a calm finish following  good move down the right.

In the last few minutes, the ball struck an outstretched Tiffs arm and MMB had a chance to win it from the spot. A well struck penalty was heading to the bottom left corner, but Smith got there first to turn it around the post. Tiffs finished the stronger with a couple of corners, but were happy to settle for a point.

2021 has been a funny old year but not as funny as a Saturday afternoon spent with these blokes. Never a bad time and always the highlight of the week. Wishing you and yours a Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

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Wilkins