Rose & Thistle FC 8 v 3 Phoenix United           (Divison 3 League Match)

After last weeks result, which I hasten to add I got wrong - it was 6 not 7 - mind you it felt like 10 when you’re the one being beaten, we needed to get back on that horse and ride off in to the sunset. What the heck am I on about?

With everybody back in contention it was a tough call for Davison to make. Oh sorry I forgot Dan “The Man” Marshall was injured in last weeks Cup Match and so is out for at least 2 weeks - but like I said the important people were back and made it difficult for the Manager. The team this week Conetta, Gray, Lindley, Goacher, Leach, Marsden, Waygood, Oakey, Gadsen, Holman, Miller SUBS: Davison, Harris, Bunce, Winnard, Scales Out for this week, Dan- Injured with cold peas on his foot

Before the match started there was great expectation of the ref calling the game off as the lines could hardly be seen. A quick chat with both teams found the ref pointing out that any back chat about the lines would mean a postponement. GULP !

1st Half - Gets underway with blues kicking left to right, or right to left, or up to down or down to up - It all depends on where you stand. With Harris making way for “Big” Dave , Davison was hoping the extra pace would help - he wasn’t to be disappointed. For many years we have taken the piss out of Dave for missing point blank headers, but not today. Dave must have felt at home in his new passion of bus spotting as, like London buses , all of his seasons goals came at once. With Oakey playing out on the right and proving that he wants the spot for the rest of the season, he sent over the best cross I have seen for many a year. EVEN Marsden couldn’t miss - BULLET HEADER 1 and in to the net 1-0 Thistle. With Gadsen playing his little socks off on the left, another beauty of a cross - sorry I meant another of Carl’s shots - came drifting over, BULLET HEADER 2 - Dave on the end of it 2-0 Thistle. A few minutes later “Shocking” Gadsen sent over another shot, Dave on the end of it BULLET HEADER 3, 3-0 Thistle. It could be said by some that Dave has done his bit for the season now and so can be rested until next September, only time will tell. With Thistle looking good up front the back 4 were looking out of sorts. Lindley & Goacher not playing as well as they have done found themselves flat on a number of occasions. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear the back 4 were shy as they didn’t get close to their men. The first reply from Phoenix hit the corner of the net 3-1. The second a very poor goal, the lino, Dick Marshall, flagged up, the players stopped and admired Dick’s fancy waving, trying to work out what he was spelling, Phoenix meanwhile were in denial and carried on - Goal ! The Ref, who in my view had a good game, pointed to the centre spot 3-2. Dickie was not happy, he didn’t have Dan to moan at this week and so decided the Ref was his target. The Ref wandered over following Dick’s view of him being born out of wedlock and after a short discussion was promptly sent off to be replaced by a new linesmen - Davison.

It doesn’t end there..oh no. In true Sunday football standards more was to come. Holman, back from his “Club Gay” weeks holiday, was put through on goal, however the defender didn’t realize it was Nick and so promptly tripped him up just outside the box. The ref was going to book him for Gay diving but then thought better of it and sent off the defender in stead. Phoenix down to 10 men. Davison having a chat with the sent off defender made matters worst when explaining to the guy that as it was Nick on the 1 on 1 it would have been better to watch the ball as it balloons wide or over...Only joking Nick, it would have gone straight to the keeper. Thistle pressed on and I must admit I have forgotten who scored being lino and manager is tricky. I think Nick Holman got a goal with the 4th and some how Gadsen got the 5th. If they send in their description I’d be sure to forget to include it.

So just to recap at half time - No lines on the pitch, Goose shit everywhere, Marsden Groundhog Day hattrick with his head, Dickie Marshall replaced as Lino after being sent off, Pat opening up his account, Harris being very quiet and angry after being dropped, “Shinner” Waygood booked and not even a sniff of a goal of any sort. 

Must mention Phil Gray in a sentence on his own cos he’s sooooo great and is just the best player we have, arh yes and he got booked for being stupid.

PHEW... Time to make the tea, get the biscuits out and settle down for the second half. And if you think its bad reading this drivel, just remember I have to write it !

2nd Half - No subs at half time but some players looking tired.

With Johnny Awesome’s Dad taking over the line from Davison, it meant the manager could concentrate on the match. Well you would think so but I can’t remember who scored next , I think it was “Windy” Miller next to score to make it 6-2. Phoenix still not giving up pushed again and after the ball wasn’t cleared they scored a 3rd, 6-3. Captain Waygood was taken off as with one booking already in place, and the Ref taking a shine to him, it was a wise move. Waygood off, with no goals scored, Harris on. Oakey was also looking tired and was also replaced by Rik “Silky” Scales, Pat going over to the right and Rik becoming last man upfront with Dick Holman, Special Agent! Captaincy was passed to “Cup Cake” Conetta who made his voice heard.

Still more was to come, Phoenix not content with making it hard for themselves with an early sending off had another man leave the pitch. Booked for kicking at a player after the ball had gone he promptly called the ref a twat...OOPs . So 11 against 9. I do remember Johnny Awesome’s goal, a crafty header over the goal keeper following a long throw from Rik, 7-3 Thistle and still pushing for more. Marsden nearly added another to make it his 4th but the keeper made a good save with his balls, Scales had a 1 on 1 but the keeper somehow managed to scoop the ball up and Gadsen had a curling corner headed off the line. However Carl “Look at mi Cannons” Gadsen wasn’t going to be stopped and a fantastic drive from the left went thumping into the top of the net 8-3 Thistle. Bobby came on towards the end with Gray coming off just in case he got booked again.

A satisfying day as far as the result goes, but the defending needs work on again, but hey 3 more points a good start to the seaosn and a good bounce back following last weeks heavy defeat.

M.O.M - Again it was easy to say that Waygood wasn’t going to get it this week, but it was very difficult to say who was going to get it. Now I really couldn’t split these two on the pitch today so MOM goes to two players again, no its not a cop out, Marsden & Gadsen both had good games, both had times when they were out of it but both played hard and dug in deep. WELL DONE lads.

One Final Thing to say - keep paying up the subs and get to Adam before he gets to you, turn up before 10 am not after, and above all keep the team effort going, it shows in the games how much we ALL want it.