It was an afternoon probably best forgotten, but will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons, like mud, mud and a lot more mud, oh and 9 conceded goals. The game was a lot like my 9 year old’s match in the morning where his team lost 9-3. Still he told me that he enjoyed it. I lied and said I enjoyed my game too.

It’s fair to say that the Oppo coped with the conditions better. Their passes consistently made it through to their players. Our passes just got stuck in the mud. When they went forward they scored. When we went forward the ball got stuck in the mud. You get the picture.

And give them credit, they came out with much more intensity and desire, whereas we looked a little slow out of the blocks and lacking belief. They made their pressure count and were 5-0 up before half time. After that it was about doing our best not to totally capitulate. And actually for a while the second half performance had us more in control. We were finally picking out a few passes. From a Mark O free kick, Yasin leapt highest and headed over the keeper into the net. It was unfortunately something of a false dawn. The Oppo went down the other end and scored. Matt pulled another one back. The big come back fizzled out when Oppo scored another. Ah well. It was disappointing. Not the start to 2022 we wanted. But hey it was a game of football (in the mud). Let’s hope it doesn’t break the washing machine.

Player of the Match brought to you by 11 Plus House

Mud