TWFC

JonF has checked and the sports centre will allow us to keep playing for now. Thank you Jon. However, from me - a very important message is that we do not have our own formally responsible kit person, as such we cannot keep wearing bibs. The easiest solution is each player should bring a dark and a light top to matches please. Players will then wear the top colour they are selected to play for.

No more bibs for now please.

Match Report

The Assorted Tops rushed into a 3 - 1 lead. JonF arrowed a shot into the bottom of the net from distance for the Assorted Tops. Dark Tops defence and keeper, taken by surprise, looked helplessly at each other. Those who watch our match videos may hear that JonF has long been urged to let his inner striker out and shoot like he used to. His goal truly rolled back the years and was good to see.

There was much consternation about the Dark Tops just not converting their own chances.

Following his sterling performance the previous week, Israel90 was asked to move to a central attacking role for the Dark Tops and get things sorted out. Interestingly this led to someone on the pitch chanting 'Izzy' to the tune of the chorus of the Notorious B.I.G. song Hypnotize. As different players thoughtfully contributed, this gradually became

Izzy, Izzy, Izzy can't you see

Sometimes your game can hypnotise me.

We just love your flashy skills

That's why you score each time you play.

In football we know old school classics and can be poets too. Israel90 joins Eddie01 as a TWFC player with his own song, which if we had terraces would echo around the ground.

The match became quite lively. The Assorted Tops issued and encouraged multiple rule challenges:

A 'play on off the keeper' save was challenged as a breach of the spirit of the 'head height' rule.
The rule of not being able to score from ones own half was questioned.
Multiple free kicks were demanded for what seemed to be the lightest of contacts.

Whilst this did seem to get in the heads of the Dark Tops, it did not stop them from drawing the game level and moving ahead.

Guest Brighton scored at least two goals for the Dark Tops. He joins the list of players who have scored multiple goals on their debut.

There was a point when Shaun ran virtually the length of the pitch tackling every Dark Top that he came to. The Dark Tops outfield players were politely, but sternly, asked to explain what was going on, and why Shaun was being allowed to play like Messi, Ryan Giggs or Son Heung-Min. MSGomes philosophically advised the Dark Tops keeper that this might be the future of football if players could not be tackled without fouls routinely being called.

Despite the Dark Tops alleged fear of tackling they were still able to draw themselves 7 - 4 ahead. Sadulla was also able to take some time out to show that no one could take the ball off of him. Israel90 scored as requested and expected.

At different points in the match Shain pulled off some important saves in the Assorted Tops goal, he then came on pitch as part of their policy to rotate keepers. In his most recent matches back at TWFC Shain has demonstrated the ability to quietly slip unmarked into dangerous positions up front. The knack of consistently doing this has not been seen since the days of the player known as Decimal Dave who seemed to quietly ghost around the pitch at will. The practice finally paid Shain dividends. Whilst others disagreed about the rules Shain actually got on the end of a move and scored out of nothing for the Assorted Tops.

At 7 - 5 to the Dark Tops Guest Ellis correctly identified that the Dark Tops keeper had actually committed a penalty area infringement. Without any quibble the Dark Tops awarded a penalty to the Assorted Tops. Rules are rules. Our self refereed games rely on an element of fairness.

Guest Ellis took the penalty and struck it hard and true down the middle, slightly to the keeper's left at mid body height. As I understand it, a theory of penalties is that keepers often dive so a ball down the middle, struck with force, normally scores. Niyi did not dive and got a left hand to the ball to save it.

Time ticked away and the score remained at 7 - 5. A time check eventually revealed it was after nine. Our rule is we now stop at 9PM on the dot. The Assorted Tops were not in favour of this. The long unused principle of Last Goal was invoked. Once this is called without dissent, irrespective of the time, it is understood that no player can stop until a goal has been scored. Interestingly it seems rules are rules, but some rules are more equal than others.

In pressing forward the Assorted Tops were hit on the break and Dark Tops scored again. Of those present only JonF and myself would have known that the rules also allow for a player in a losing position to shout 'OK best of three'. In the past players have even been known to further extend the game by insisting upon 'best of five'. These 'rules' have been deprecated by the sports centre's respected position that matches will end on the hour paid for.

Final Score Assorted Tops 5 - 8 Dark Tops.

Match awarded to the Dark Tops

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

Things to Note

Earlier this month we placed a video on the front of the TWFC website calling on players we haven't seen for ages to come on home. Only one player has responded, and he is not from TWFC. We can live with that because he is one of the best in the world, has won four Champions Leagues and he is back at our mighty neighbours.

Long time readers of this blog will know that we had dreamed of this as far back as the last line of the 24 January 2018 match report.

On this note I say

Welcome Home Gareth Bale.