TWFC

The club started the year with a fantastic full house of 12 members booked. We also welcomed back MSGomes, a player that we haven't seen since injury forced him to hang up his boots in October 2022. Researchers will know that on 30 March 2022 MSGomes scored 11 goals in one game. At the time this broke Danny's club record of 10 goals in an even sided match, which had stood since October 2013. MSGomes's new record stood until 23 August 2023 when it was broken by a guest named Alozie who fired in 12 goals and broke every record going on his debut. An interesting aside is that just before Christmas a newer player said they had heard of Alozie and assumed he was Fabio. Coach Hagenius at the time closed the conversation down with words to the effect of "Alozie is Alozie, no one else can be Alozie". I suppose if someone said to Jurgen Klopp they thought Diogo Jota was Salah then Klopp might have smiled and said "Salah is Salah...".

So, MSGomes second on the TWFC all time scoring list with 11 goals and Leon94 joint third with 10 goals took to the pitch together for the first time.

We thank BILZ96 for choosing teams. At first sight it looked like defence/midfield v attacking midfielders/strikers.

The first goal of 2024 was scored with a trademark power strike from about 15 meters out by VIIGeorgeVII. A frustrated opponent ruefully questioned through gritted teeth how of all people the club now had to record that VIIGeoorgeVII had the first goal. In truth with Austin in goal and Eddie117, Ellislewis123, Fabiocc17 and Leon94 attacking VIIGeorgeVII just started the new year where he had finished the last. At one point the White Bibs were 7 - 0 ahead without really breaking out of second gear. When scores like that happen, longer serving players will often be drawn back to 14 September 2016 when Austin on his debut teamed up with Barkball to oversee the comprehensive destruction of a team 12 - 0. That kind of thing haunts a player, so MSGomes first goal for the Mufti was celebrated by some for more than just the joy of knowing one of our best strikers was on the score sheet again.

If the match had been filmed, coaches might have looked askance at Leon94 and Eddie117, free as birds, on the edge of the Mufti area at least twice casually linking up to score without a defender in sight. Please do not worry if you got a feeling of déjà vu, a similar thing happened in the last match of 2023 but that time it was Jimmy9 and Mash. Speaking of attackers operating without a defender within touching distance, Fabiocc17 had enough time to take the ball to the Mufti's keeper and slot it through his legs. Then before the defence arrived he gave a short coaching session on how the keeper could make himself bigger without leaving large gaps.

The night probably ended up with Leon94 and Eddie117 contributing to about eight goals between them, Fabio scored about four too for the White Bibs.

MSGomes went on to score a hat-trick and as far as I can recollect Coach Hagenius and Shaun scored to ensure that the Mufti at least had a decent impact on the score sheet.

The first match of the year turned out to be a very important masterclass for both sides. The White Bibs demonstrated the fine arts of maintaining concentration, scoring at one end and smothering the opposition at the other.

The Mufti were exposed to the leveller of experiencing how they would react to losing in a competitive fixture. So many times BILZ96, Hagenius JonF and Shaun took possession and drove at the White Bibs but just could not get a clear opening. It is pleasing to note that, despite being stern with each other, the Mufti did not succumb to that little voice we sometimes hear that pleads for a reset and team change. The Mufti demonstrated the strength necessary to be resilient in the face of adversity.

VIIGeorgeVII is becoming like that teacher that you remember fondly years later. At the time they push you and put you through your paces and you hate every moment of it but as you grow up you finally know it made you better. In the same vein at the end of the match Leon94, who had won and helped orchestrate the comprehensive victory, seemed more upset than his defeated opponents. When spoken to he quietly explained his frustration that the Mufti had not set up in a way that could have given them an actual chance of winning!

We are now in the era of the purists and match analysts. Our matches seem to be dividing into

talented teams v teams containing talented players
captained teams v teams of captains ...

There was no fixture after us. It was agreed that the White Bibs had won the night and we would play another game, so we played on for an extra half hour until the floodlights were turned off. This second match was significantly closer, it gave the real Mufti more of an opportunity to kick start their year. The second game may have been edged by the Mufti but it was deemed a kick about so players decided it would not go into anyone's TWFC record.

Final Score

Mufti 5 - 13 White Bibs

Match awarded to the White Bibs.

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC