Match report: 12 November 2026

Nannas 4 plays Riff Raff Athletic 9

Att: CG, JH (2, MOM), Junior (1)*, TK (1), AW, TW

*Played only the first half.

Two weeks into a new season and the Nannas will have to improve, and quickly, if they are going to pick themselves off the floor and compete for the finals.

It’s early in the season, but some old issues will need to be ironed out, with one new problem raising its ugly Brown head.

The first old issue, which is as old as time: getting a team on the pitch. Admittedly, when Daniel went down, and couldn’t raise himself for the game (despite James’s sweet murmurings) this put the Nannas at four players. Takeshi came to our rescue (driving many hours to do so). Thank you Kondo. But it was all a bit confused, really, the uncertainty getting to Chas who, hearing the words Facebook chat group, promptly called: FORFEIT!  

Junior also came to our aid, playing the first half, but this just goes to show how desperate the Nannas were, and how unsettled their line up was.

The Captain (and I refer to Chris Gill here) will have to look at his roster, ringers, plus others to see who can come in, given we are consistently struggling to field a team. Let it be said here that the Nannas need at least five solid step-ins they can call on, in the event of absences.

The second old issue (this didn’t used to be an issue, but it’s becoming more one as things go on), and which also relates to subs: our stamina.

Let it also be said here that the Nannas need at least one sub every week, if not two. The Nannas ran out the game pretty well last night, given we were five for the last half, and Junior went off in the first half for at least five minutes after getting a wallop to his shin, but it did feel like, especially in that second stanza, that most of the Brown energies were put toward defence, and there wasn’t much left over for attack.

If Junior had been able to play the full game, the Nannas would have been more competitive, not just because of what Junior brings to the table (which is a lot) but because the Brown would have had more in the tank.

The last old issue is the Nannas giving away possession too easily in mid-court, only to see that possession turned into punishment.

In case you were unaware of what losing the ball mid-court usually leads to, let me spell it out for you: D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R.

We are defensively solid when we’re set up, off a set piece or kick in. But when we give it away in the midst of play, and we have to turn and run back (which not all of us do), try to pick up player (easier said than done running back with multiple opponents to choose from), and organise ourselves at the back (not always possible given the previously cited issues), our defence can and does get cut to ribbons.

I can’t remember who said it, but if it’s not on, the Nannas need to learn the push the reset button. Don’t push the pass. Breath. Turn back. Pass the ball to a fellow Nanna. If you can, take a shot on goal. But for the love of everything holy, try not to put your Brown brothers under pressure with some ill-conceived, half baked pass that was never, ever going to work.

And now to the new issue that the Nannas which has risen its ugly Brown head this season. A slow start. It happened last week. The score at half time: 7-0. And this week once more: 5-1 after eighteen minutes.

The numbers don’t lie but here’s the thing. Last week and this week too, Nannas were observed standing around chatting pre-game, instead of warming up.

Read that again: chatting instead of warming up.

Sure, inside the new stadium is not conducive for a kick before kickoff, but the Nannas need to start moving before they take to the pitch. We’re too old not to.

Summon up the blood; get your pulses beating.

Find the ball once or twice with your foot.

Let a game face descend upon your features.

Let it be also said here: socialising is for the pub after.

Our slow starts do have one qualifier: the Brown keeper wasn’t at his stellar best last night, especially in that first half. It was rumoured he had a bung shoulder. It certainly seemed that way for those first five goals. But in his post-match comments, he intimated that earlier afternoon he’d been to Fed Square and GHBG, the former increasing his vibe, the latter he was on the tail end of (it is a well-known fact you have to be the eye of the GHBG storm to really make the most of it. Even Tao, scorner of such activities, is well acquainted with this truth). Obviously, and dare I say it, but that dragged him down to one of his lesser performances in goal.

Riff Raff aren’t a bad team. The last time this scribe faced off against them, the Brown were victorious in a low scoring affair. Our team had a different make-up that day. Last night, they also a new face I wasn’t familiar with. The big dude, with the big beard, and large (metaphorically speaking) left hoof. He could hit them, and did score a number of nice goals in that first stanza. In the second, James tried his best to blunt him, but not always succeeding.

Our goal for the first half Junior slotted. A penalty after Tao was brought down in the box. Riff Raff argued the toss, for which they saw yellow, but the penalty was clearly there.

The Nannas second half is something they should take heart from. Just like last week, they pulled themselves off the canvas, even after Junior departed, and put in a strong showing.

Riff Raff scored four. The Brown three. Like Andy after the game said: almost a win.

James got two (and hit the post twice more, God damn it!!!). One from a corner, pulling the patented Tao Weis. The second, a shoulder glance from a Gill long throw.

But the goal of the match, for the Browns, was Takeshi’s. From a corner, he placed himself on a nice angle for the pass, and to hit it diagonally towards goal. He didn’t just hit it, though. Smashed it. Cannoned that son of a gun low and hard. Laser like. And totally freaking unstoppable. Glory be…to the mighty Takeshi.

Afterward we went to the Great Northern, where Chris regaled us of a song title he’d heard that day: If you something me in the something, you can call me a something. Or something like that.

Postscript: On his drive home, James had an epiphany as why one member of the opposition was so enamored with him last night, repeatedly calling out his name. That player stamped on James’s ankle. After that, that same player began his besotted chants. Guess the ankle stomp produced something in him. Where was Daniel (for perhaps his own siren call), I ask you?

Timestamp: Michael Carrick sacked as Man U coach.