Falkner Arms 1 v 2 Rose and Thistle FC          (Division 3 League Match)

The league, in their wisdom, gave us two free weeks - just what you want when your on a roll. That said it did give us a chance to search for more talented players and before the Thursday midnight deadline, ok 9pm, we had Tom Trigger and Carl “Hollywood” Milburn signed on.

Everybody was back from injury, and their court cases, it was always going to be a tough week choosing the side. 17 players turned up leaving two people not even able to make it to the subs bench.. Starting line up was the one that started in the 8-3 win over Phoenix United Conetta, Gray, Lindley, Goacher, Leach, Marsden, Waygood, Oakey, Gadsen, Holman, Miller SUBS: Harris, Trigger, Milburn, Winnard, Marshall Not chosen in the squad was Davison and Bunce. Unavailable for various reasons were Greg & Rik - Dickie Marshall back running the line following his suspension.

1st Half - A scrappy first half was to take place with both teams having chances but with Thistle looking very rusty. The match had a first game of the season feel about it following our long layoff. “Cup Cake “ Conetta was in fine form, some long kicks and making some vital saves. The defence were looking slightly out of sorts with air kicks occurring across the back line, little did we know this was to cause our downfall in the first half. With Falkner playing the ball straight down the middle Phil “leachy” Leach missed his kick, next up for the Can Can is Stu Goacher, his right foot air shot was somewhat cramped but still resulted in the ball marching on towards goal with the striker running alongside, Finally the last player in the line up , Mr Awesome himself... totally missed it. With Davison kicking the water bottles all over the place the striker kept his cool and knocked it in the net..1-0 Falkner Arms. Oh - the scores for the Can Can kicks are as follows - Awesome - 7, Goacher - 7, Leach 7 , a clear draw. More was to come for Awesome...

A crunching tackle involving Marsden found him coming off worse for wear, now Dave didn’t have a great game and was struggling with the ankle, First sub of the Match, BIG DAVE off “Hollywood” on. Dick Holman moved back in the middle with Capt Waygood and Milburn goes upfront with Pat.

Within a few mins disaster struck for Johnny Awesome, a clash of heads results in Jon sitting on his arse touching his head. With blood pouring out of a gash the new First Aid kit was put to use, with everybody telling Awesome to carry on he said no, he had a headache and after all the cut was awesome! With the Ambulance called Harris came on to replace Awesome at the back. A slight discussion occurred with Holman and Davison about the switch with Davison pointing out he was the manager after all - I’m always open to suggestions I just may not use them that’s all !. End of the first half 1-0 down.

2nd Half - No subs at half time as 2 were used just before the break .

It wasn’t long in the second half when the impossible happened , and it’ll be a long time before we stop hearing about it. A corner from the right found the ball traveling towards the back post, who was there? The one, the only, the pivotal (I was asked to say that) Adam “Eagle” Harris. He majestically leaped like a salmon, soared like an eagle, stretched his neck like a giraffe, headed it like a bullet, sprinted like a gazelle and screamed like a Chelsea play who had just been tackled. GOAL !!!!!! 1-1. Actually Harris likes to exaggerate the same as “Shinner” Waygood, Adam jumped too soon and on the downward part of the jump, the ball came off his forehead, bounced on the floor and into the net - but he likes his version better! 

At this stage the ambulance turned up and so Johnny Awesome laid on the floor pretending he was hurt.. honestly it was just a scratch, Terry Butcher carried on. Off he went to the hospital. The match was evenly poised, for some reason Harris & Holman had made a pact to really piss off the ref, this will have to be sorted out by me later, but suffice to say Dick Holman won as he got booked first! Adam, being frustrated with that spent the rest of game trying to rugby tackle players to the ground looking for a Red Card. Again during this half Toni was making save after save and keeping us in it, with a fantastic one handed save denying Falkner’s attempt to get back into the game. Well the winner had to come from us and it appeared courtesy of Carl “I’m a Brazilian Me Mate “ Gadsen. A freekick out side of the area, nice position for a left footer. Waygood, Gadsen and Harris having a chat about who to take it. Harris thought it was his and started pacing out his run up, Waygood standing right of the ball started his run up before Harris was ready, but he didn’t take into account Little Ol’ Gadsen who, with his left foot, curled it up and over the top of the wall and into the top corner.. What A Peach !!! Worthy of the winner - 2-1 Thistle.

Towards the end Dan the Man got a few mins run out to test the ankle with Oakey coming off., at last Sean is nearly match fit. Good news for us.

A satisfying day points wise, play was scrappy and hard work but we kept at it. As for mouthing off to the Ref this MUST stop, right now, its gets us nowhere. Still a very good start to the season and with new players coming on board its looks great.

M.O.M - Can only be one this week, kept us in it  *** Toni Conetta ***  just Bloody good saves mate !