Goals: Forland 4, Cowley, Rob

Expecting drop outs for an evening match far far away on a cold night is was a pleasent suprise to have an embarassement of riches (and the embarassing Rich) with a squad of 17  packed full of quality players, confusion over footwear and pitch description meant a starting 11 change as players went in seach of suitable footwear. 

4:4:2 Bertie (GK), left to right, MattT, Tel, Rob, Hemant, Joe, Hao, Stef, Ed, Cowley, Forlan 
We totally dominated the first half with some great passing football, although we were rather quiet on the pitch, players were clearly telephathic as our movement and interplay was some of the best all season leaving us 4-nil up at half time, goal highlights below: 

– Ed chipped the winger in our half made a long run down the wing, crossed to Forlan who headed in before the keeper could grab the ball 1-nil after 10 mins. 

– Short pass out by the keeper, intercepted and fed to Ed who put another cross in to Forlan, a bit high however Forlan flicked the ball from behind him, swiveled around and volleyed in to make it 2-nil after 15 mins in one of the goals of the season. 

– 15 mins later after strong pressure a floated corner skimmed of someone’s head and landed in front of Cowley with an open goal to head in for 3-nil. 

– After Ed gave away a free kick in our half and the only shot on target Bertie had to save, we broke forward and Forlan got his hattrick to make it 4-nil on the 25min mark. 

Changes at half time moving to 4:5:1 Bertie, JasonE, Colin, Tel, Ed, Varun, Tom/Rob/Scott Jamil, Forlan 

A bit more laid back in the second half however we continued to press, Varun picked up a ball in our half and picked out Rob on the left who ran to the edge of the box, with 3 players queuing up unmarked at the far corner Forlan stepped up and rifled home for his 4th to make it 5-nil with 15 mins left.

A tactical change to 4:4:2 Jamil up front, Scott left wing in the hope that the 2nd half lineup could try and match the haul of 4 goals in the first half.

A bored Bertie at the back had a mix up with Colin? which saw the ball chipped over their heads into the box, however Ed appeared from nowhere and executed a back flip to clear and keep our clean sheet. 

Forlan won us a corner and up stepped Varun, confused by this strange pole stuck in the corner of the pitch he removed it and was promptly booked by the ref and went straight to the top of the list for Mug of the day, moment later Varun on the penalty spot got on the end of a Scott cross and decided to go one better that Forlan in the first half and perform a bicycle kick which unfortunately went out for a throw – in, signs of jubilation from Cowley on the sidelines as surely there could only be one Mug of the day. 

A big turnout at Yorkshire (and a big unpaid bill at the bar…who left without paying?????)

In Varun’s absence Cowley went to odds on favorite for Mug of the Day and won by a mile, Ed edged out Tom for man of the match for setting up the first 2 goals and saving Bertie’s bacon. 

Next up our last 16 cup match, same style pitch as we just played so let’s keep our undefeated and clean sheet record of 2011 (nites & soho) going.