Match Report

Men's Masters 3
Portsmouth & Southsea 2
Win

On a bright cold blustery day somewhere near the coast line of a world slowly reacquainting itself with actual sunshine, the brave and slightly creaking men of the masters XI ventured forth with their continued desire for glory and points undiminished despite hangovers and tight hamstrings!

One of the new faces, now familiar within the squad is the once slender and springy keeper, now not so much a shadow of his former glory, more a smudge, stood his ground in the opening minutes of the game, as the ball ricocheted off the post and back in to play, saving blushes with the original quote, “had it covered”.

From that moment on the Haslemere masters new they were in a battle with a side higher in the table, but no more talented and just as determined. The Masters took control of the game in the first half, establishing a dominance at the back to be admired and envied by the opposition keeper, with Peter and Sandy at left and right back, and Adam and Alex, unflappable and precise in their anticipation like monoliths of a bygone age, Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops of the day.

As control at the back grew and spread through complete mastery of the midfield with Simon James and Cashy showing their class and skill, (but alas no longer the pace.) Tempers were checked and control was total, I do sometimes wonder if certain members of the midfield might be blind in one eye, and the left side of the field was so ignored, I believe Simon actually had time to pop over the road for a big Mac just before half time.

With the forwards, Neil, David and Gavin willing to run, chase, harass and commit, the masters went into the half time 1-0 up. We were treated at half time to a speech of Henry V proportions. Once more unto the wind dear friends once more. Imitate the tiger, stiffen the sinews, and loosen the hamstrings, Set the teeth and stretch the nostrils wide, hold hard the breath and bend....

There were men possessed in the great tradition of battling for points and places in the second half, again a slow start as the cardiac machines got wound up, but once running it was like watching giraffes and gazelles limp gracelessly up the flanks to great effect.

Soon there was a terrific crash and the chairman of the board, the big cheese, the top cat, Neil himself smashed the ball passed the opposition keeper and the masters could breathe easy with a 2-0 lead. Then the backlash, the opposition rallied and charged bursting lungs and groins to claw their way back in, and after a sustained attack, the keeper was standing alone surrounded by four forwards and the ball, the outcome was unavoidable. 2-1.

Good grace follows favour, and again through the arching run of the right side of the park, ignoring the left completely, with James and Gavin threatening in attack, and the half blind magician, Cashy pulling the right side strings, the ball soon found its way back into the goal, and at 3-1 we were safe. Unfortunately they scored again.

The final score 3-2. A great win for a team returning to form, but never wilting under pressure. I stood in goal and am proud to say I was there that day. Indeed if James had not picked me up and driven me there and back again, I would not have been.