The Big Draw

A cracking game tonight which started in a cock-eyed manner, the shirts conceding a sloppy goal within seconds when the entire side was caught napping by the hungry Norwegian snapper-upper.

From early domination, the greens found themselves under the cosh. Plenty of fluent passing moves, with Gier, Zak and Darren slicing through those bibs. A few disputed decisions brought out the schoolyard best in Stef and Guy, but before long this game locked into a tense battle and was played at a terrific pace and ferocity.

Although (by his admission) he missed one or two, Rich's finishing was excellent, and the supply was plentiful. Slick moves and eager pressing kept the shirts on top, holding a two goal margin into the second half of the game. Darren was up and down the field, typifying the shirts' battling attitude.

Then came the seige. Stef and Guy were bossing midfied, and Goody and Frazer giving width. Plenty of balls into the D, but Barry, Sam (different class) and the massed footmen of the coloureds were blocking everything on the ground and in the air. The shirts were pinned in their own box for long periods - they seemed to be relishing it - even Roberto was sucked back into defence, throwing his head at the bombardment of crosses ... but some deft, sucker-punch breaks saw Gier and Zak providing quick service for Rich to punish the over-commited bibs.

But the greens kept coming back, and stayed within reach. They showed some quality finishing too, taking it in turns to bomb into the box ... Only Tom remaided an ever-present at the back. Thor and Marcus joined the final waves of attack, which finally paid off with the last goal almost as comical as the first: Stef's mis-hit pass (go on, admit it!) slipped through the normally staunch coloureds' defence and bobbled into the box for Goody to finish. A draw ... but a hugely enjoyable one.

A well-fought, evenly matched contest, without many moans once the flow of the game took over. If every Friday is as much fun as this we're laughing ...