AFC Lightning 0 Wendover 12 (officially 10)

No need for the special powers of gummy bear here. The AFC lightning team have had a good few heavy beatings this season and, to be frank, the game looked up before kick-off. Our boys looked athletic and bristling with confidence, theirs slump-shouldered and reluctant. On the sidelines, there were more Wendover supporters than AFC, which says a lot about the unfortunate state of their team. I would add that we were much better looking, as well as being far more savvy than them. Nonetheless, we enjoyed a threat and controversy free game, which is more than could be said for recent games against yobbish opposition and previous games against AFC.
To some, especially the usual Wendover groupies, the highlight was most probably the ref., who sported a pair of tight shorts from the late 70’s and thus revealed a good pair of thighs and appropriate tackle. Joking apart, he was actually a very good arbiter of the rules, my son commenting with no provocation that ‘he was really nice.’ And that’s important, in fact. So top marks for the ref, who did get it all right, in my opinion. And top marks for the AFC supporters and coaches who were very nice.
The match quickly reverted to type, with Wendover playing down hill. We had pace and quality (as Mr Seaton would correctly have it) all over the pitch, whilst they had nothing much to offer except a willing goalie who kept the score down to sensible numbers. Josh scored 3 or 4, Max scored 3 (one a header, reminiscent of two years ago), Ben S. scored 2 (I think) Ben W. scored 1 or 2, Ed scored 1 (goal of the match, of course) and I think that was it as far as goals were concerned. There was such a cavalcade that it was difficult to keep up.
Max was man of the match, which is fair enough. He scored 3 and his work-rate was 110% (no football report would be complete without it). They were all pretty good or better. Jack was again very confident, although he was probably the only cold player on the pitch, as he didn’t have that much to do. Rory was very good again, showing skills beyond that of a normal full back. Jake seemed back to his imperious best, with his outstanding reading of the play in front of him. Must be his best position. Luke was fantastic, again. Heads, kicks with both feet, good pace… Brandon, brilliantly effective as usual. Stretchy legs in the tackle and good passing out of defence. Dan was mobile, passed into space, tackled beyond his weight. Typical Dan. Ben W, destructive and increasingly constructive. Fantastic stamina and scoring goals again. Ed was absolutely brilliant, as ever. Plays ‘heads-up’ football , mixed with the ability to dribble at pace. And has the best-looking dad on the sidelines. Lines are now open for guessing who is writing this report. Georgi was unfortunately hampered by a repeat injury on that inflicted by the savages of Widmer End. Nonetheless, he supplied a couple of good crosses and was millimetres away form a goal of his own. Ben S. was typically tenacious and finished with venom any chance that came his way. Let’s hear it for Tony Oxley’s legendary Samba team, from which both Ben and Ed graduated. Josh was electric. His pace put the fear of god up the defence and his finishing was immaculate.
So it’s Aylesbury next weekend. We need to win that one. We should do, but the league seems to have become much less predictable.
P.S. If anybody knows any ‘bruisers’, could they bring them along to the Widmer away game. It would be nice to see if they are quite as excitable if we could drum up a couple of ‘Martin Johnsons.’ And that reminds me…..Irish absolutely lucky to win the grand-slam! Cheers !
Any comments on this report welcome, but they will be ignored.