Nannas 7 plays Orangers 11

Att: CB (MOM), DC, JH (MOM), RH, TK (MOM), AW, TW

And so there I was, sitting behind this dozy woman who proceeded to fill up her tank with petrol extremely slowly. The ETA on the map clicked over to three minutes past the start of the game.

And my feelings turned to anxious. Seeing a free bowser two lanes up, I went to reverse and backed up a few yards only for an angry horn to parp from behind. I had to wait.

And so there was I screaming down the freeway winding back the ETA. I had the vehicle on cruise, the speedometer said 118 KM/H, whereas the velocity provided by Google clocked me at 115.

And eventually I pulled into entrance of the school. Now five minutes early, most Nannas had arrived.

And there in front of us was the team in orange who I had played on my last visit to indoor. They beat us 11-3 on that occasion.

And once again I thought: the administration of this comp leaves a lot to be desired.

And there I was on the sideline as the game began. The orange ones were having fun, while the Brown men were flailing around in their wake. They had us two goals down in as many minutes.

And Andy was subbed in.

And then I yelled at Cocky to drag his sorry arse from the fray.

And was it really me who got our first goals? They were two by that stage.

And I can’t remember either if it I scored first from the corner, or the pull down from the Chas long ball, turn and bang home. After the latter (if indeed it did come after) the ref sung my praises.

And my goals provided the inspiration for a mini-Brown-valanche. We went to four. They remained on two.

And then I heard Cocky say, somewhat foolishly, we’ve got this. That’s when the oranges hit a few and pegged us back to remind us that we didn’t really have anything.  

And we went to half time, although I am unsure what the score was.

And on the other side of the break we re-commenced battle. They pulled up apart, passed around and through us, and scored many. For our part, we did offer them up the ball exactly where they would have wanted it (in midfield with our defence not set), but we also scored more too, just not as many as them.

And I remember a couple of Chassy goals. The one where he had an open net but whacked it at their keeper, who managed to hit it into his own goal, was memorable. So was Cocky gagging for me pass it to space in an open forward line. I did as much and he scored.

And they were better. But we were quite good. If we can control the ball a little better, and perhaps take a moment and size up a better pass instead of giving it away cheaply, we will improve and test many teams.

And I think that has been said for at least twenty years.

And afterward we went to the Union where a happy birthday was sung in my honour. I felt honoured.

And honourable mentions go to Chas. They call him the man in form. But also Kondo. His shot stopping was immense.