Can't Buy a Goal!!!!!!

Sunday 16/11/08
Vernon Park 10:30am
Robin Hood FC v Dovecrest

A beautiful Sunday morning and a opportunity for the Robin to put behind them last weeks result and a chance for me to watch some football.

Things did not start according to plan, due to Do-Nut's over indulgence the night before I was sat waiting for my lift like one o'clock half struck, eventually it dawned on me that I would have to walk to the park. Arriving ten minutes after kick off I was greeted with the news that the Robin's day had not started well either and were already 1 - 0 down a first minute goal, defence mix up apparently but I missed it D'OH!!!! Robin Hood 0 - 1 Dovecrest. However Dovecrest did not seem to be offering up much else on the pitch. Charlie on the right had the run of the Dovecrest left back there was no way he could match Charlie's pace. The problems with shape the Robin had last week seem to be better and there was more structure to their play. The Robin begin to dominate the game so much so that even the left back Kebab is up on the edge of Dovecrest's area, GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only is Kebab helping the Robin attack but he busts the net that came from out of no where! Take a bow son! Robin 1 - 1 Dovecrest. A boost to the Robin to say the least their possession and attacks seem to be too much for Dovecrest but will they find the killer touch. The Robin continue to pile on the pressure and Skip has a thunderous effort from outside the box that forces Dovecrest's keeper into a good hand stinging save. Half time comes and Robin's domination has yielded no more goals

Robin 1 - 1 Dovecrest

Second half starts much as the first finished with the Robin on top. Efforts come and go, some last ditch blocks and tackles are keeping Dovecrest in it. But there is a feeling that Dovecrest could break and snatch one. The Robin need at least one more to sure this up and justify their domination. Sixty First minute and Robin concede a free kick on the left, crossed in to the box up pops a Dovecrest player at the far post to head home, NO!!!! Robin 1 - 2 Dovercrest. Completely against the run of play Dovecrest regain the lead. Time for the Robin to suck it in and show their metal. The game slips back into familiar territory with all the play with the Robin, they are literally camped in Dovecrest's half. But despite chances that decisive finish is currently alluding them. Dovecrest never really threaten again during the half as the Robin push for the equaliser. Five minutes to go who is a hero......... Unfortunately no one there are chances in the final five for the Robin but they go begging. PEEP PEEP PEEP.

Robin 1 - 2 Dovecrest.

Game over Dovecrest have some how managed to get all three points. The lads will be gutted by this all their efforts, good football, and chances yet they still lose. Frustration is the dominant feeling among the boys, all the money in the world could not buy them a goal today. That said there was still a lot to be encouraged by so chin up and move on.

Adventures in Baby Sitting!!!

Sunday 09/11/08

Vernon Park 10:30am

Robin Hood FC v Westdale Tavern

First of all let me apologise for the tardiness of this weeks blog. The combination of my own PC going kaput! and cheek of work actually causing me to be busy over the last few days has conspired to create this delay.

Thing is though I am not completely sure what to write about this weeks game? You see I was a little distracted through out by the constant attention of mini Gattuszola. Now those of you that know Gattuszola (Marco Della-Rocca) will know he is a small Mediterranean ball of energy that never seems to run out of steam (I think he could be used as an alternative energy source for the entire country, Take note Gordon Brown!) Well imagine all that energy concentrated into a four year old girl. Mini-Gattuszola is just that Gattuszola's MINI-ME!!!! So I was to take care of the mini tornado while big(ish) Gattuszola took care of business on the park.

So with my multi-tasking windows vista head on its time for the game(s) to begin.

Now the hope was that the Robin would hit the ground running after the cracking last two results. But things seemed different from the start a few heads were not "On It" so to speak, with a little of that maybe coming coming from the fact that Calzaghe had fought (and won, well done son) at 5:00am that morning hmm! Any it was a typical opening few minutes to a Sunday league game but with the Robin struggle to find and maintain shape. Then a sucker punch Westdale Tavern take the lead less than ten minutes into the game!!. At this point the rain began to drive down and I was trying to convince mini-Gattuszola that a tree is nature's umbrella and staying on her feet was a preferable alternative to lying in the mud. Is this the same team I have gushed over in the last two posts, they do not look like it. The never say die attitude of the the recent Sundays has been replaced by something more sinister Empathy!! Empathy with Roy Jones Jnr who was convincingly battered, bruised, and run down by Calzaghe. Because from my sheltered vantage point that's how the robin looked sluggish. Westdale extend their lead further into the first half, no timings or elaborate description I'm afraid as I only just caught the goal whilst going about the other duties tasked to me. Distracted for the rest of the half respite came with the half time whistle. Phew a break. "Three soft goals" wait a minute have i missed something here???? checking with Skip he confirmed that before the end of the half Westdale Tavern had indeed taken their lead to three nil.

Half Time

Robin 0 - 3 Westdale Tavern.

The beginning of the second half, much the same as the first, running around picking mini-Gattuszola of the floor keeping her entertained oh yeah and the Robin were still struggling to find any shape. From what I saw a little of the fighting spirit had returned to the Robin and things were looking better this half. The game ebbed and flowed with neither team making any real chances. GOAL!!!!!!!!!! I managed to see that one Charlie! around the fifty seventh minute mark Robin 1 - 3 Westdale Tavern. Is this the start of a come back worthy of recent performances?? Sadly no. The game carried on, chances were made and missed, I missed things due to my mini charge and the game ended. Sorry lads bad result, heads were down but it is merely a blip.

Can I also apologise to the lads if i missed anything you did in the game that was particularly good and would normally warrant a mention in the blog.

Dovecrest next at home. I promise you'll have my undivided attention this week so make it worth my while and give me reason to enjoy writing about your heroics.

One for the Cameras

Sunday 02/11/08
Vernon Park
10:30am
Robin Hood FC v FC Digica

Section Cup

Hmmm the magic of the cup there is nothing like it. Any league pressures are off and the thought of a spectacular cup run enters heads. The Robins first cup game of the season and its at home against opposition they have already played this season in the league. FC Digica are the visitors to the fortress Vernon Park, now when the Robin faced these in the league it was not the best of outcomes as they lost four nil!!!!!!! but there has been something of a revolution over the last couple of weeks and the Robin have developed something that has been missing for a long time. Team spirit, yep I know it sounds like crazy talk but its there you can feel it, touch it, smell it (though that may have been the ruby I had the night before). So expectations were high for the game. Traditional Sunday league weather of light drizzle, bit of wind, and cold were the conditions for the day. The conditions could have been more bearable should the supporters side of the club not have been let down by Porn Stars incompetence in forgetting the tea and coffee tut tut Porn Star. But anyway onto the game!!!!

The first four seconds are dominated by the robin with 100% possession and a shot (off target) from Skip. The Robin look up for it today and everyone out there wants to win. But Digica have not come just to make up the numbers. The game ebbs and flows with Digica using the traditional crazy gang style of hoof it to the lads up front. The Robin have a bit more about there game passing it around trying to keep it on the floor with a lot of the play being dictated by "Young" Ali Brown and Marco Gattuszola Della-Rocca. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ant "Obi -Wan" scrambles the ball into the back of the net vauxhall conference style YEAH!!! who cares its in Robin take the lead. Robin 1 - 0 Digica. It galvanises the Robin and they are playing good football. Digica are not lying down though if the Robin are going to win this they are going to have to battle for every minute of the game. Twenty eight minutes in and Digica's hard work provides dividends as they peg back the Robin. Robin 1 - 1 Digica. How will the Robin react?? WELL that's how the react, they continue to play their game and concentrate on football. Which is even more impressive considering the ref and his seemingly unending ability to get most decision wrong!. Foul, edge of Digica's area the ball is placed discussions happen and Skip runs up and thunders a shot toward goal, its to hot for Digica's keeper to handle. The resulting fumble allows Gazza to nip in on the follow up and bury it in the onion bag GOAL!!! Robin 2 - 1 Digica. The remaining fifteen minutes play out like the rest of the half, back and forth between boxes but neither side find the cutting edge. First half finishes Robin 2 - 1 Digica.

Five minutes into the second half and a hopeful ball up to one of Digica's front men see Wayne doing his job and ushering the striker away from the danger area, PEEEEEEEP!! the refs blown for something, WTF!!! a penalty! where did that come from even Digica's players look confused but are happy to accept this gift. The ref waves away the protest from the Robin. Calmly taken once again Digica equalise (if in a contensious way) Robin 2 - 2 Digica. This causes a little disruption in the Robin ranks and tempers are beging to fray, Keep it together boys!. Digica seem to have be rejuvenated by their equaliser and put pressure on the Robin. The Robin absorb the pressure and look to hit Digica on the break using the frightening pace of Gazza and Charlie. Disaster the Robin switch off allow Digica to sneak in GOAL!!!! Robin 2 - 3 Digica. Now Robin what you going to do, don't let a game in which you lead twice slip away. The afore mentioned team spirit seemed to kick into overdrive at this point and there was no way the Robin are going to let it end like this. Pressure switches and its Robin that are on the hunt now. Eighty minutes a shove from a Digica defender in his own box PEEEEEEEP! Robin Hood penalty. After the way the ref gave Digica there penalty there was no way the Robin were going to turn this down. Gazza places the ball on the spot GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F**K YEAH, Robin 3 - 3 Digica. Can the Robin find the winner with just ten minutes left, if not this is going to extra time! Full time is drawing ever closer when the Robin break. Gazza lightening pace sees him clear off the digica defence on the left hand side, Charlie is belting it to support Gazza. A great square ball across to Charlie, open goal surely! Charlie a hero. WHAT!!! NO! Charlie hit it wide. Gutted. The ref blows. were are going to have another thirty minutes of football people.

Extra time. There are some tired legs out there now. Both sets of players have battled hard over the last ninety minutes. Extra time pans out in a similar fashion to the rest of the game Robin playing some good football but lacking the finishing touch. Digica continue in there style and do force Adam to pull of some cracking saves. One particular fine save where he sprang up like a salmon on migration to deny an excellent effort from Digica (though some would argue it was a bit over dramatic and for the cameras ha ha). Both teams best efforts yield no results, so this game is going to be decided from the penalty spot!!

Penalties the best and worst way to settle a game, today villains will be made and hero's created but which will you be.

The formalities are sorted and its time to get underway.

Digica are first up, Their player runs up strikes the ball SAVE!!!!! Adam quality gets the right side and gets down quick, a bad start for Digica.

First up for the Robin is Gazza, placing the ball.............. GOAL! Robin go 1 - 0 up

Digica's second...................... GOAL!, 1- 1

Next up for the Robin Kebab............... Foot through it GOAL! 2 - 1 to the Robin

Digica's third.......................... GOAL!, 2 - 2

Up steps Gattuszola.......................... No problems the back of the net bulges GOAL!, 3 - 2

Digica's Fourth...................... GOAL!, 3 - 3

Things are getting tense as Chrissy steps up.............. BOSH!!! GOAL! 4 - 3

Digica need to score this to stay in it............ NO!!!! ADAM again great save! Robin have done it the next round of the cup beckons, Robin win 4 -3 on penalties HUZZAH! Next round of the cup and Robin's first win of the season.

Gentlemen enjoy your glory for it it deserved now use this as the springboard to even greater things.

Player Ratings
Adam - 9
Welshy - 9
Obi-Wan - 9
Wayne - 9
Kebab - 9
Skip (J) - 9
"Young" Ali Brown - 9
Charlie The Lob - 9
Pone - 9
Gattuszola - 9
Gazza - 9
Subs
Terminator - 9

Chrissy - 9
MOM
in association with "Sausage and Bread"
"For the Cameras" ADAM!!!

From where I stood it looked like it was going over.

Sunday 26/10/08

Ellis Guilford School

10:30am

Pheasant Inn Sunday v Robin Hood FC

Cor blimey guv'nor, you'll never Adam and Eve it, the Robin have managed to have two games in a row!! Well that's worth a good old knees up!!! Blah! Sorry bout that came over all Cheeky Cockney!! But its true for once the Robin Hood don't have a break after a previous game which is just what they need, the opportunity to form some sort of consistency. What a better place to test themselves than at top of the table Pheasant Inn Sunday, who's record going into the game was played four, WON!!! FOUR, scored twenty one, and conceded eight, a formidable start to the season and on paper would have had this down as a banker for them given Robins start to the season.

So to the game, The pitch at Ellis Guilford was top draw flat and recently mowed, perfect for football. Like the few games already gone the Robin start on a front foot forcing in corner after only two minutes, a delivery from "Young" Ali Brown sees Jay (Skip) head just wide. Positive stuff from the Robin and it continues on six minutes when good football ends in a cross from the left, but again the resulting effort on goal goes wide. More pressure and another header wide by Skip, The Pheasant are not offering much in midfield but it becomes apparent that the two young strikers up front and fast and good little footballers, this being the case the Pheasant seek every opportunity to launch it toward them. Eight minutes and this is turning into a fast paced match as "Young" Ali Brown work a long range effort for their keeper to save the resulting break from the Pheasant see them go closest so far with the ball coming off the wood work. Quite a battle this is shaping up to be. Nine minutes GOAL!!!! The Robin score huzzah cheers ring out NO NO the ref has pulled it back OFFSIDE!! protests are waved away the game remains 0 - 0. Another long ball over the top to one of the Pheasant's strikers this time it works GOAL!!! Pheasant 1 - 0 Robin. The Robin disappointed as their own effort had been disallowed, but the Gaffer and the Guru are not gonna let them put their heads down. OH F**K!!! three minutes after Pheasant's first goal a cross comes into the Robin box and bosh! GOAL!!!. Pheasant 2 - 0 Robin. Motivation Robin that's what you need, its a set back but the game is far from over. Corner kick to the Robin, Kebab up from the back see his effort fly wide. Twenty six minutes Gazza one on one with the keeper but fails to capitalise. This good work continues, thirty five minutes and Skip again just wide, a goal is coming its just a matter of time surely!!! Thirty Nine minutes Robin break a deft ball from Gazza to Gattuszola, F**KING!!! YEAH!!! GOAL!!!. Pheasant 2 - 1 Robin. The wind is at the Robins backs now will they use it. More pressure but no more goals, first half ends Pheasant 2 - 1 Robin.

The Robin need to use the moment gained at the end of the second half and go in search of the equaliser. Unfortunately a contentious back passed decision from the ref see the Robin concede a free kick just yards from goal. Smashed into the back of the net by The Pheasant not the start to the second half Robin wanted. Pheasant 3 - 1 Robin. Surely this is the point the Robin's heads go down and it becomes a case of damage limitation. NO! fifty second minute great football and individual ability and the Pheasants defence is ripped apart for Charlie to finish, GET IN! GOAL!! Pheasant 3 - 2 Robin. The game becomes very much end to end stuff both teams having chances and Adam pulling of a fine fingertip save. What the F**k! GOAL!!!! Charlie again a great ball over the Pheasant's defence from Obi-Wan and Charlie from a tight angle lobs the keeper. "From where I stood it looked like it was going over" was the general consensus on the sideline. Great goal magic! Pheasant 3 - 3 Robin. The Robin are buoyed by their equaliser and continue to work hard. Seventy eight minutes and a superb individual effort sees the Pheasant regain their lead. Pheasant 4 - 3 Robin. Well it was a good effort lads, but these are top of the table so there would be no shame if it finished this way its been a great team performance. The Robin were not finished, hell no there was no way they were giving this up they had worked to hard!! The Robin's just desserts came at the latest time possible ninety minutes, another ball over the top of the Pheasant defence and GAZZA finishes it YEEEEEEAAAAAH!!!!!! there is jubilation and dancing on the sidelines brilliant!!! Pheasant 4 - 4 Robin. No time left the ref blows up and the Robin are clearly delighted with the result but they should be more pleased by the display, brave, determined, and a never say die attitude that has been lacking in the Robin as of late. Well done boys you deserve this, the first team to take anything off the Pheasant this season. Lets hope this is the spring board for even better results. Lets hope so.

Gentlemen you were a joy to watch today and should be proud of yourself.

Player Ratings

Adam - 8

Wheshy - 8

Obi-Wan - 8

Wayne - 8

Kebab - 8

Skip (J) - 8

"Young" Ali Brown - 8

Charlie The Lob - 8

Pone - 8

Gattuszola - 8

Gazza - 8

Subs

Kyle - 8

MOM

As award by The Pheasant Inn

"Young" Ali Brown

Messing About on the River

Sunday 19/10/08
Victoria Embankment
10:30am
Dovecrest v Robin Hood FC

Two weeks, two bloody weeks and no game whats that all about!!! Well after a significant lay off for the international break (not sure what countries any of our boys were playing for, though I'm sure I saw Downsey come on for Heskey against Belarus?!?) It was finally time for the Robin to play another league game. So the stage was set, Victoria Embankment next to the picturesque River Trent (hmm!) Opponents Dovecrest, who like the Robin had yet to experience the joy of winning this season. Dovecrest were understrength in fact they were one player short, but showing the determination that so embodies the Sunday league spirit they were still up for it. The Robin were also missing influential goalkeeper Adam, but bravely Chrissy Sykes steps up to the challenge.

So the time rolls round and the geriatric ref gets the game underway (no doubt oxygen on standby)

The first minute and Della has a effort after early pressure straight from kick off. Things are looking good for the Robin in the opening encounters of the half and after ten minutes some good work from Powne down the left sees his shot go out for a corner. OOOH! almost for the Robin Marco and Charlie combine but Dovecrest manage to clear it off the line. Despite the good work for the first fifthteen minutes the seventeenth minute brings what can only be described as a soft soft goal, some shocking defending from the Robin and they find themselves 1 - 0 down. Dovecrest 1 - 0 Robin Hood. A shock for the robin as a mere three minutes later they go 2 - 0 down after a moment of madness from stand in keep Chrissy. Its 68 days till Christmas but Dovecrest were happy to accept an early gift from the Robin. Dovecrest 2 - 0 Robin Hood. Ok ok now is the time for the Robin to pull together and make their numerical advantage count. A turn of pace on the thirty third minute from Charlie sees him clear of the Dovecrest defenders but a good bit of goal keeping denies him a goal. More pressure is put on by the Robin resulting in two long range efforts just before the end of the half from "Young" Ali Brown and Ant "Obi-Wan" Sykes both not getting the desired result. Half time Robin trail by two goals.

The second half starts as the first ended with the Robin pressing their advantage, a good switch from left to right from Welshy give Della a chance on the forty seventh minute but his shot is saved. The forty ninth minute brings just what the Robin needed as the ref awards the Robin a penalty!!! Huzzah the cries ring from the sidelines, this is the turning point of the game. "Young" Ali Brown steps up take it D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!! Dovecrest's keeper saves it NOOO! FFS!! what do the Robin have to do to score. Pressure keeps building surely the Robin will score, fifty nine minutes Della breaks through but sees his shot sail over the bar. Sixty fourth minute and "Young" Ali Brown thunders a shot against the upright! The frustration palpable it fills the air. BREAKTHROUGH!!! finally the Robin hit the back of the net sixty eight minutes and Gazza manages to stare the ball home! Dovecrest 2 - 1 Robin Hood. Sadly the equaliser is not to come, the Robin pile on the pressure in the remaining twenty minutes but Gazza's goal remains their sole contribution to the score line. The game ends and it is obvious the lads are not happy they know it should have been different but mistakes and the inability to finish were the deciding factors in today's game.

So the Robin continue to look for their first win of the season, its coming I know it and when it does it will be the avalanche to start the season really going.

Player Ratings

Chrissy Sykes - 6

Terminator - 7

Downsey - 6

Wayne - 6

Kebab - 6

Powne - 7

"Young" Ali Brown - 7

Obi-Wan - 7

Welshy - 8

Gattuzola -7

Charlie - 6

Sub

Gazza - 6

What No Burger VAN!!!

Sunday 28/09/08

Clifton Playing Fields

10:30am

FC Digica v Robin Hood FC

Ah! Clifton playing fields means only one thing the Dirty Burger Van, poor quality meat, rubber cheese, and even poorer tasting tea! but that's the charm of it all. The disappointment was too much the Burger Van was not there!!! NOOOOOO! Nothing for it will just have to watch the game burger-less.

A grey Sunday morning, the threat of rain hanging over the game, but overall a nice enough morning not cold just right. No doubt the brisk cold mornings will soon be upon us adding that little extra element to watching Sunday League Football.

So after a week with no game it was time for the Robin Hood to get back to the all important matter of a competitive league game and get some points in the bag. Digica had won their first game of the season but otherwise were an unknown quantity to the Robin. 10:30 rolled round and it was time to get the game underway. Within the first two minutes the chaotic tone was set as a mix up in the Robin defence leads to a narrow miss for Digica. The Robin see a couple of early chances from Obi-Wan and "Young" Ali Brown saved by Digica's keeper. Then disaster seven minutes in a long ball from the back causes panic in the Robin defence and they fall apart GOAL!!! for digica. FC Digica 1 - 0 Robin Hood. Not the best start its early in the game but things are looking decidedly shaky for the Robin and all thoughts of playing a good passing game seem to have been replaced by the obsession to lump it. Twelve minutes Digica break the Robin defence again to score but controversy the linesman had flagged for offside, an offside which was plainly seen by everyone on the touch line, but the Referee dismissed all protests claiming the player was onside, GOAL!!! given. FC Digica 2 - 0 Robin Hood. This seemed to enrage the Robin into motivation and they began to play a bit. Eighteen minutes a long throw see Gazza miss at the far post and on twenty minutes in the words of Jules "Ali shanked it over an open goal". The Robin continue to have chances with Gazza going close again only for the keeper to get a slight touch past the post. Thirty minutes and surely the breakthrough the Robin had been waiting for, Penalty!!! up steps Chrissy Sykes the penalty is struck well enough, but despair as it cannons off the right post. Half time FC Digica 2 - 0 Robin Hood, not the best half at all.

The second half starts and the Robin are on the front foot, surely they will be much better this half. More efforts from the Robin go begging. Some personnel changes sparks a bit of life into the Robin and they start to play football, this is it the Robin are going to get back into this game. The second half ebbs and flows but no goal comes for the Robin. Its getting late and the Robin are being eluded by this goal. Disaster!!! eighty fifth minute the defence errors of the first half appear again as the Robin defence fails to deal with a long ball from the back Digica striker slots home. FC Digica 3 - 0 Robin Hood. Things get worse for the Robin when a carbon copy of the last goal makes it FC Digica 4 - 0 Robin Hood. A comedy of errors at the back caused the Robin all their problems and the lack of the killer touch up front lead to a flattering scoreline for FC Digica which does not give the full impression of the game.

Ah well, Rome was not built in a day the Robin Hood will get their first win, and hopefully that will have a snow balling effect. No Game next week, so a training session to see if the Gaffer and the Guru can iron out the wrinkles that caused the problems this week.

Man of the match for the Robin awarded by FC DIGICA

Marco "GattuZola" Della-Rocca

Player Ratings

Adam - 5

Chrissy - 6

Downsey - 5

Shaggy - 5

Kebab - 7

Swiney - 6

"Young" Ali Brown - 7

Jay "Skip" - 6

GattuZola - 6

Obi-Wan - 6

Gazza - 6

Subs

Welshy - 6

Ben - 7

Out Jumping Downsey

Out Jumping Downesy,

Blog-Boy's Morning Training with the Robin Hood

Sunday 21/09/08

No Game, Training Woodthorpe Park

Ok ok, Sunday morning and no game again!!! A alignment in the stars and Jupiter passing through Uranus have combined to give the Robin Hood a buy into the next round of the cup. This being the case it meant a free Sunday, not that it would be a opportunity for the lads to relax as the Gaffer organised a training session.

I considered this the perfect opportunity to join in and show the lads how deadly a left shin could truly be. The Gaffer had a few ideas in his head on how to make the training before a mini game "Fun". A good turn out saw the Gaffer and the Guru split us into two teams of seven. I was on Ant (Obi-Wan's) side called (surprisingly The Obi-Ones, get it its a play on words ha ha hmm anyway) our opposition was lead by the Robin Hood's very own Gattuso, Zola hybrid Marco (Della's Warriors). After a light jogging and stretching session the Gaffer explained that there would be a few games between the teams and that for each game won the winning team would be awarded a goal in the later mini game.

Della-Rocca (Gattuso, Zola hybrid)

The first mini game was a test of ball control and speed, The object was to dribble round a set number of cones the return a pass to the next member of your team, repeat until everyone had done this twice and returned to the original starting point. The banter began, derogatory comments exchanged between each team in regards to the level of skill they posses, then it was on. It was a tight race, there was some interesting interpretations of dribbling and some even more wild passing. But eventually The Obi-Ones emerged victorious, in no small part down to my own Usain Bolt turn of pace (ha ha maybe not).

Round two. Sprint test. The Gaffer placed a ball at the end of a paced out distance and explained the objective. The first person in the line would sprint to the ball pick it up and sprint back to the team handing (not throwing) the ball to the next team member. Then the next team member would sprint and return the ball sprint back and tag the next member to go. Repeat till all team members had completed it twice. CONTROVERSY!!! The teams contested the event and it was edged by Della's Warriors, how ever independent adjudicator (The Guru) had judge that Della's Warriors had been throwing the ball not handing it over and called for the race to be re-run. This time a different result as The Obi-Ones claim their second victory of the morning.

Round three. Keep ups, ball skills. Right The Obi-Ones are 2 - 0 up and the third round was all about how long you could keep the ball in the air between your team members. After a few minutes practice it was time to start for real. Della's Warriors were first up displaying the sort "ball in the air skills" which would make the Brazilian Ladies beach volley ball team proud. A target was set and it was up to us The Obi-Ones to beat it!!! Now despite my electrifying pace lighting up the first to rounds (ha ha) In this round I was found wanting. Despite the best efforts of my considerably more skillful team mates I let them down and the round went to Della's Warriors.

Round four, Final round. Penalties. Pretty self explanatory this round, the Gaffer between the sticks each member of the teams to take one penalty. Up first the victors from the last round Della's Warriors. A Stirling performance from the Gaffer in goal stopping Della's Warriors from scoring all their penos! Next up The Obi-Ones, another display of cat like reflexes from the Gaffer but The Obi-Ones just edge it so go into the mini game 3 - 1 up!!!.

Finally the game got under way, players were restricted to three touches of the ball. The game started at a good pace and I was put in a position by my team where I could cause less damage to them and probably Della's Warriors to!. If I thought it was going to be friendly I was wrong as a number of collisions with Downsey left me battered, cut, and with a dead leg! I think he went in like that as earlier I had out jumped him for a header which everyone saw despite Downsey's protests (The reason he would not be happy with this is that I'm five foot fuck all and Downsey is about eight foot tall!) Anyway the game continued. A controversial tackle on GattuZola which lead to Jules scoring, caused a some what heated debate between GattuZola and the Gaffer. It calmed down and the game continued.

Half time and I have no idea what the score is.

The second half gets underway and the three touch rule still applies. I start between the sticks and immediately make an impact as Charlie places a shot right between my legs to score. Midpoint into the second half and the three touch restriction is lifted allowing the full range of silky skills possessed by the Robin Hood to shine through. A few nut-megs and many goals later and the game is brought to a close and I still do not know what the score is??? but that does not matter as the only real concern for me is to make sure Downsey has not cause me any lasting damage (ha ha).

Another good turn out for a training session at what must be a frustrating start to a season where only one competitive game has been played. But no fear cause normal service is resumed next Sunday 28/09/08 as the Robin Hood take on FC Digica at Clifton Playing Fields, 10:30am. Feel free to come down and cheer on the boys and if we are lucky the burger van will be there. HMMMM Burgers!