Thu 22 Oct 2026
1-11 v The Misfits
CB, DC 1 mom, CG (gk), RH, TW, AW
Our first semi-final in the new digs and the Nannas were full of optimism. We had the wind in our sails (or at least a mild endorphin high from having cycle-knighted to the game) and were ready to back ourselves with a real shot at the Finals. After much pre-game chatter regarding tactics (signal) and Jim’s helpful digressions (noise) it was something of a surprise for the Captain to take an entirely novel approach to strategy. The evenings game plan would be entirely dictated by a single word.
Panache!
Derived from the Latin pinnaculum, meaning “small wing”, panache originally referred to a showy, feathery plume or tuft of feathers worn on a helmet or hat. The word is now difinied as dash or flamboyance in style and action – stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things that makes people admire you.
And so it was that the Nannas™ arranged themselves around a singular noun – and proceeded to go 5 nil down within a matter of minutes. It was not pretty and rather lacking in either dash or flamboyance. The opposition had setup using another, more pedestrian noun – diamond – and it was really working for them. They also had a goalie with some pretty mad foot skills and the rest of their team were generally just a lot better at playing futsal than the Nannas™.
At half time, in a bid to increase our on-court levels of panache, I gifted each Nanna a plume from my metaphorical tail feathers, but it had limited efficacy and we were soon looking down the barrel of an 11-nil – pants well and truly off – drubbing. Thank god for Wally Wong! Running onto a lofted ball down the right flank, Wal had more less concluded he wasn’t going to reach it but threw out a leg anyway, he did in fact connect, lobbing the ball over the on rushing defender, past the goalie and into the penalty area. The author was on hand to tap home… pants on with 4 seconds to spare!
It should also be noted that even though he shipped 11, Gilby kept out at least twice that number, probably more. In one instance he saved saved 3 consecutive shots, literally shot-rebound-shot-rebound-shot, the dude shooting getting closer and closer each time, then the ref blew the whistle and called a penalty on Tao in the buildup (apparently a lifted elbow), but after 3 shots on goal, ffs! In any case Giller then proceeded to save the penalty!!! Panache!
There was literally 1 vote in it for MOM (4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2) Giller should have definitely taken it but everyone likes their pants on and forgot it was really Wal who made it happen. The pleasure’s all yours!
ps. Also see Jim’s anti-report.