SCFC Vets 4 v 1 Old Woodhouseans

First game of the season against Old Woods & a good turn out from the Vets with only one cry off (an issue with tracking back from the Ryder Cup I believe) & one no show (you know who you are…!).
It also marked our first game at the new home ground & we marked that return to a venerable institution with a venerable team – Timpson between the sticks, a back line of Clifford, Jones, Shah & Wingrove…. ‘energetic’ midfield of Wakeford, J Anderson, Bisogno & Ross combined with a ‘dynamic’ front line of D Anderson & Frazer.
The oppo were short of players & a ref, so Kirk volunteered to do a half for them & Dickenson picked up the whistle.
That decision to start with the oldies first either paid off, or backfired (whichever way you look at it), as we quickly lost Matrix followed by Kirk to injury.
Hassan replaced Matrix up front & County quickly got in their stride with some good passing moves. However, that was mixed with some comedy moments as the legs often weren’t up to the same speed as those astute footballing brains.
County took the lead when Wakeford & Ross interchange passes & the latter crossed for Wakeford to volley home. A belter of a opener!
Hassan was keen to get in on the act & having been put through on left he calmy slotted past the keeper to make it 2-0.
However, County weren’t having it all their own way & Woods got one back through the penalty spot after Wingrove charged down a shot (with his hands!).
So, 2-1 at Half time & the team talk was all about less Hollywood & more simple football. Dickenson replaced Shah at the back, the latter picking up the whistle, whilst Lamont came on for Wingrove at left back who went over to play for the oppo allowing Bateman to resume his place in the County midfield.
The second half continued in a competitive manner with ‘Judas’ Wingrove finding some form in a yellow shirt that had been mysteriously absent in the blue of County. Indeed a long range effort from the turncoat was fantastically tipped onto the bar by the leaping Timpson; obviously terrified of the thought of hearing about this screamer ad infinitum!
At times it was end to end stuff, but County pulled clear as first Ross (back on as a rolling sub) curled it around the keeper having been put clear through to make it 3-1.
Ross continued to cause problems on right & in another attack he was flattened by keeper in crossing the ball to Bisogno who, with the goal gaping, was duly upended from behind by the oppo. Jeff Anderson calmly slotted penalty home to take us to 4-1.

With the clock ticking down, Robbie ‘Neymar’ Ross found himself clear through on goal again…. Time to bamboozle the keeper with a Step over, Step over, Step over, Fall over….. the duly bamboozled keeper almost failed to pick up the ball whilst he cried with laughter…. Priceless!
A great turn-out & first game of the season for County Vets with many beers back at the club as we relived some of those comedy moment & the past years.
Thank you all for your help, particularly Cliffy, & let’s have another good turn out for the next game against Old Finchlean’s at ours on the 21 Oct.