Game 49

It was bright and breezy when I headed off to the smallest field in the Sunday league's top division and the weather deteriorated until I was running around in sleet with a biting cold wind tugging at my sleeves.

The pre-match field inspection revealed a broken bottle in the area encompassed by the goal posts and the pegged out goal net. It took a little time to this cleared up and even more time to rectify the jewellery worn by some players. A couple had taped down woven bracelets and were very disappointed to be told this wasn't acceptable. A third had a huge signet ring which he claimed he couldn't remove. Once I explained that if the ring stayed, he didn't play, then it came off quickly enough.

The game started easily enough and the early exchanges certainly didn't represent the league positions of the two teams. The home team are in a relegation fight having been promoted last season to this division while the away team have won the league for the last 2 seasons and are the County Cup holders.

A defensive error gave the away team an opening and they promptly scored the game's first goal on 6 minutes. The game settled into a war of attrition as the away team made repeated raids on the home goal. Two goals around the 20th minute saw the game over as a contest. Two more goals just before half time took the score to 5-0. A home player disputed the scoring of the goal from a kick from the penalty mark awarded in the 41st minute and he collected the game's one and only caution.

The second half saw the home team try to restore some pride and they got a reward with a goal in the 74th minute. This was however overwhelmed by the away team scoring 3 more goals in the following 9 minutes to give the score a lopsided look of 1-8. In the second half two players, one from each team, suffered a knee injury. One recovered after treatment and played for another 10 minutes before being substituted. The other was bleeding from two gashes down either side of the knee. He left the game, having to be carried off the field and took no further part.

So we finished with 998 calories (told you it was a small field) burned, 85% max 70% average. The niggle I have felt for the last 9 days has definitely eased. I should be able to ease myself through the line on Saturday, cope with a Sunday league middle next Sunday, before looking after the flag on a District Cup U14 semi-final line on Sunday afternoon.

From there, it will be time to begin cranking up the training once more. I have a Fat Lad to emulate.