TWFC

Last week I mentioned that the sting of a ball can be quite warming on a cold winter night. With misplaced kindness the opposition helped keep Luteus warm by smashing the ball at him as he helped to bravely defend against their attacks. After about 20 minutes the score was 4-0 to the Bibs and Milo was heard to gently suggest to Anthony that perhaps the sides could be swapped around. Anthony politely declined this offer as the joy is in competing to the best of one's ability. Niyi on the other hand demanded that Milo not patronise the Muftis and be mindful that Newcastle had once come back from 4 - 0 down against Arsenal.

Following this fighting talk the Muftis got a goal back to make the score 4 - 1 and Danny ordered a new team shape. Then it was 5 - 1 as the Bibs' attack spearheaded by JonF, AlMaher and Nathan kept converting the chances fed to them by Mark and Milo.

Stung by the pain dished out by the Bibs, the Muftis at 5 - 1 down and having thrown Milo's offer back in his face had only one option and that was to invoke the legendary Spirit of the Toon (last seen in the match of 24 July 2013). With that suddenly the team was galvanised. Arik was seen to pull off what is now his trade mark move which involves standing with ones back to the goal marked by two to three defenders as the ball approaches. Ease the ball on with one foot while spinning on the other and bingo two men taken out of the game and a stunning attack mounted. No move of such seminal importance to our game has been executed since Steve first re-introduced the Cruyff Turn.

Shain, full of the Toon, was seen to traverse the length of the pitch with the speed and grace of an ice skater. While the less confident shouted pass!, he continued bearing down on goal and scored twice (yes if you are reading this in the Wanstead Tap Shain has officially brought Canadian Ice Hockey prowess into the UK soccer arena).

Anthony and Danny had also scored and rejuvenated the team, Luteus weighed in with assists and soon the score was reduced to 6 - 5 to the Bibs. At this point Nathan did what Nathan does and slotted home a seventh Bib's goal with the aloof air of a master not willing to let the upstarts get above themselves.

7 - 5 to the Bibs but Anthony was not going to see his first match of the year ripped away from him so easily. Suddenly it was 7 - 6 then much to the bewilderment of the Bibs they were being beaten to every 50/50 ball by the pace and determination of Arik and Shain and shots were still bouncing off of Luteus who was by now less than enamoured at the distributed warmth blasted at him. JonF was being harried and leant upon and Mark was not allowed to go on his mazy runs. Then out of nowhere the previously imperious Bibs were picking the ball out of their net at 7 - 7.

Yes 7 - 7 . At this point there was only one chant that could sum up the night and it rang out into the crisp night air 'Four Nil and you da da daah !!!!' . The legendary Spirit of the Toon had once again done its job.

Now picture this, Milo who has been unbeaten all year and had offered a swapping of a player when his team was 4 - 0 ahead, now had to respond to a crushing turn around against a team who were playing out of their skins. The Bibs' response was to somehow find a second wind and out of nowhere they pulled to 9 - 7 ahead. During this period of play Steve was seen to spread himself to make two brilliant saves on the edge of his area to deny the Mufti's sure goal scoring opportunities.

The players of the next team started to arrive. The Mufti's knew the match was almost over, everything was thrown at the Bibs and this battering resulted in a goal to bring the score back to 9 - 8.

As more of the next team arrived they were heard to mumble unconvincingly 'time'. The Muftis were told to play until the last possible second, it was our version of 'Fergie Time'. With the ball at Anthony's feet 15 yards out he was urged to attack. The bolt of the gate scraped as the next team opened it. 'Shoot' Anthony was urged. As he pulled the trigger the next team got the gate open and began a long drawn out piercing whistle to end the match. The Mufti's keeper screamedSHOOOOOT!!!! . Everyone seemed to freeze, even the next team, as the shot was unleashed from 12 or so yards out. I n true Roy of the Rovers style like an arrow the ball thundered towards the goal . Could even Steve stop this shot?

It narrowly went over.

Match awarded to the Bibs 9 - 8.

Things To Note

Luteusmaximus is congratulated on a manfully sterling debut in one of the most nail biting matches of recent times.

Milo's 100% record for the year remains intact (played 5 won 5).

Records suggest that the Spirit of the Toon does not actually help anyone to win, it just enhances players' natural grit and determination to bring themselves back into the game against all odds.

Five new players joined us in the January transfer window and three of them have played. We look forward to welcoming Kevin and Michael to future matches.

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