TWFC

The stars were in alignment for this match. On the fan front the sides somehow contrived to have Arsenal and Liverpool fans on the same side facing off against Everton and Spurs. Koonal was back from his tour of the southern hemisphere.

Milo came into the fixture with a 100% record and was reassured that if the numbers were uneven he was guaranteed a place on the numerically advantaged team (footballers are kind like that and an unbeaten record is a beautiful thing to behold).

Scott elected to have Milo in his team which meant that either his record or Milo's would go. Anthony had unfinished business after the last kick of the previous match fell just short of rescuing a draw. And in pre-match chats Arik had opened discussions on goal keeping so every keeper knew this was the day when strikers needed to be kept at bay. Yes tonight had it all.

As the sides were about to kick off the Mourinho style mind games from the previous week commenced anew as the Bibs 'kindly' offered to switch a player with the Mufti's in case they did not have enough 'runners'.

Given that the Mufti's had Koonal, one of the most tireless players known to the fixture, it was clear that the Bibs had no other aim than to sow early seeds of doubt into the minds of the Muftis. Once again the Muftis did not rise to this subtle sledging and the Bibs were gently told to get on with it and kick off.

With six on each side there was more of a requirement to exhibit close control and take chances first time with calm precision. Cometh the hour of close control and accurate shooting cometh Anthony, AlMaher and Johnny. Tiki-Taka 1 - 0.

Tiki -Taka 2 - 0.

With poise and industry the Muftis were suddenly 2 - 0 up. Countless times in the past players have learned to their cost that 2 - 0 is the worst score to try to defend in this fixture. It is a point where psychologically you feel yes we have daylight but the other side knows one goal opens the match up again and puts uncertainty into the minds of the leading team. With this in mind the forward line were exhorted to not rest on their laurels and after a cagey period of play a third goal was plundered. With Koonal full of running and tackling down his side's left wing it meant that the Bib's defence were pulled slightly towards him leaving AlMaher on his inside freer to combine with Anthony coming in from the right and Johnny sneaking in from the rear (OK you know I deliberately adjusted that last bit to pay homage to an old LL Cool J song, apologies I couldn't resist it). Bang! 3 - 0. The Bibs were rocking and not used to to this, they changed their goalkeeper again looking for the formation that would allow them to stem the Mufti's attack and mount some hitherto elusive counters of their own. JonF was back out on pitch and not best pleased with proceedings, it fell to Mark to mark him and Johnny to comment that it would be good just to stay close to him if nothing else. The compromise being that Mark would endeavour to stay goalside of JonF. It stopped being one way traffic and Scott began to combine with JonF but the formula of Mark making the Bibs have to do the extra work before getting a shooting chance meant they were often hurried resulting in saves from Niyi.

Boom! 4 - 0 to the Muftis. Now the next fear was could the Muftis go on to win from this position or would the taunt of '4 - 0 and you da da daaah' ring out through the ground later. Richshep had had enough of this and brought the ball in from his team's left and with only a fleeting glimpse of the goal he rifled a shot from all of 8 yards past the stunned keeper into the net. 4 - 1 and the comeback was on. Or was it? Determined to show that anything the Bibs could do they could match the Muftis hit back again 5 - 1.

Nathan unused to being on the back foot and knowing he would need to get closer in to score joined Richshep on the score sheet with a trade mark goal that had his body balanced one way and the ball going the other. This coupled with a cheeky dink from Richshep eventually brought the score to 6 - 3 to the Bibs and in the final third of the match everyone suspected the comeback really was on now. Steve ventured forward to get off a shot, Milo took the midfield by the scruff of the neck and waves of orange crashed down on the Mufti's goal. Frequently as they approached the Bibs lost the ball to Mark who with measured balance would block passes, tackle and when on the ball stretch his legs and thoughtfully go round one or two players while seemingly analysing the next three or four moves before laying the ball off to Koonal, AlMaher and Anthony to restore the pressure on the Bibs. It was a keeper's dream defence and Mark was eulogised as the ultimate 'full stop' bringing an end to stray passages in the play. Johnny also fell back to join Mark in defending before going off on his own patented mazy runs to punish the opposition for the temerity of pressing forward.

Ever a student of the science of these things Nathan noticed that he might have more success if he came in from the right as Mark could not be everywhere, with this in mind he received the ball and slotted it from the narrowest of angles that he had earlier seen Richshep use. He actually squeezed the ball past the keeper and tantalisingly hit the post, in slow motion the teams watched Nathan's shot then speed across the face of the goal, never crossing the goal line it hit the opposite post and ricocheted out and away from the goal before heartbreakingly bouncing back off of the keeper and crossing the line.

Bibs 4 - Muftis 6.

Second wind for the Bibs and as they moved to consolidate this it was left to the Muftis front three of Koonal, Anthony and AlMaher to combine for AlMaher to convert the perfect goal from the very edge of the area. The eagle eyed Scott spotted the slightest of area infringements and the otherwise beautiful goal was chalked out cruelly denying AlMaher his hat trick. This could have been the turning point as throughout the match Niyi had kept goal for the Muftis but the Bibs had rotated keepers giving themselves breathers and maintaining the fresher legs that would run at the Muftis in the final minutes. Despite this the Muftis hammered home their seventh and with the other team arriving and standing at the gate it seemed this week would not go down to the wire.

The other team whom we like as they are our unofficial timekeeper opened the gate.

A week of hurt erased for Anthony. Milo's one hundred percent record over.

Match awarded to the Muftis 7 - 4.

Things to Note

Records suggest that Milo now sits in the upper echelons of runs of matches in a row without defeat. Marty and Scott are believed to head that league. This will be formally checked when the 2013 to date statistics are eventually compiled.

http://cbdatabases.com/twfc