Euge Two

D'OH! 11 Scratch Team 1

For the third time this year our scheduled opposition failed to show up. The organisers managed to persuade a team who had just played to stay on and give us a game so at least we had a run around. It was not ideal, but the lads settled into the task and it wasn't long before the scoreboard started to flip over as the goals rolled in. Lobby kicked us off and then the goals were shared around as we raced to an 8-0 lead. It was like taking candy from a baby. Then a disaster as we conceded one against the run of play. At this point Euge decided that the time was right to strut his stuff on the court rather than in nets.

It wasn't long before he had added to our goal tally with a long range effort after their goalie was caught out of position. So now Euge has two goals in his 209 game career and no doubt one of the best goals-per-minute-on-the-court record.

For the record, Lobby and the skipper grabbed hattricks and Neil and Kev two each to add to Euge's cameo.

Next week's game is at 7.20pm against the Teabaggers.

Let me know if you want to be part of it.

(17-NOV-2008)

Raining Goals

D'OH! 13 Sons of Reg Grundy's 4

It's been a long time since we had a 'day out' like this - and we enjoyed it. There was the Grand Final against Computershare when we went 8-0 up before half time before cruising to a 12-2 win which was very similar to this - but that was at the end of 2005. Anyway once again we were up 8-0 at half time and giggling like schoolboys at the way everything we tried seemed to work. Trev had scored two unlikely goals from acute angles, Sadds already had a hattrick, the skipper two and Lobby was on the board as well. Trev's first came from a run down the left. He seemed to have left it too late and lost the angle, but his shot was true and the keeper was beaten. Later Neil pushed a freekick down the other flank for Trev to run on to. Again it appeared that Trev had let the ball run on too long but when he shot he surprised everyone by picking up a goal.

Sadds played a one-two with the skipper for his first before knocking in a left footed one and then slamming in a goal with his right. The skipper notched one with the trusted toe-poke before beating a defender and then the keeper.

At half time there was a cheery mood in the camp until Neil suggested that we would probably keep a clean sheet - we all know what happens when someone suggests that - we always concede a quick goal after half time. Euge's eyes rolled to the ceiling as he realised that Neil had now mozzed the clean sheet Euge was hoping for.

Well it didn't quite work out in the normal way, as Neil's pressure on the defence caused their bloke to pass across the goal to Lobby who gratefully accepted the chance. It wasn't long before Neil's run into the danger area sent the ball into the path of a luckless defender who steered the ball in off the skipper's sole. Lobby found an acute angle on the left and 'did a Trev' and it was raining goals still and it had to stop. Soon we lost our intensity and they discovered that they could play a bit after all. Bizarrely though it was Trev who stepped up to put a couple past Euge. The second one quite odd, as Trev came on as sub and ran straight towards our goal, inadvertently collecting a ricochet and burying it in his own net with his customary aplomb.

It was not over at the other end as the skipper slotted one to the corner and Sadds smashed a rebound from an awkward height. An even better goal was on the cards as he took aim again with a volley but this time it swerved just past the post.

So a huge win and a good boost after last week's close defeat. Next week's game is at 6.40pm against a team called Rusty Trumpets. Not sure what to expect there. Kev if you are available Sadds is ready to sit this one out.

(10-NOV-2008)

Done by De Canio

D'OH! 2 The Reds 3

We were scheduled to play The Reds, but when the opposition turned up in blue tops we could be forgiven for thinking we were playing someone else. The flow of the game and the scoreline also suggested we were not playing the same team that we saw off 13-5 in May when we last played a team called The Reds. It was a good close game but with more chances than the scoreline suggested. Trev and Sadds (twice?) both saw efforts come back off the post and the skippers' freekick fizzed past the upright on the wrong side. Plaino positioned himself perfectly for a header on the far post but could not convert and there was lots of other goalmouth action too.

It was not all at our end as The Euge showed his wares to keep the opposition at bay. Can't recall which team scored first but for us it was Plaino to tap in after the Skipper did all the work including dealing with the 'keeper. In the second half Sadds did even more, beating a couple and then jagging the ball back from the line for Trev to finish off for our second. With goals like that you would have expected more on the night. As it was a couple of defensive lapses and it was all square entering the final few minutes. As time ran out and a draw seemed the most likely and let's face it, the fairest result, their bloke (the one with specs on) chases a bouncing ball down the left hand side and then launches into the Paulo De Canio-style hop and shot (crossing legs in mid-air) and sends the ball with his right boot past a goggle-eyed Euge who had no inkling that this player could produce something so audacious. It was a truly stunning moment.

None of us could emulate that and we succumbed to another defeat - our fourth in five. Tonight's game is at 7.20pm and there will be no Plaino. Sorry to say that Plaino has got another bout of glandular fever and is likely out until the new year. We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

Let me know if you are available.

(03-NOV-2008)

Round 1 Win

D'OH! 6 BLL 2

A nice start to the season and a chance to catch up with an old foe - Richard Butt who has been off the scene for 3-4 years. Richard played for us a couple of times a few years back and against us a few times before that and was always a good bloke and a good competitor. The stats tell that he made his debut for D'OH! in September 1999 and played again in April 2000 - which places both his appearances in the D'OH! period PE (Pre the Euge) and predates Trev and Lobby's debuts as well. Not only that but Sadds' first debut was also after Richard last played for us - no wonder that no-one other than me recognised him. Richard started in goal and made some smart saves as we swarmed forward. Once their regular keeper arrived he played some lively stuff and should have scored more than the one goal.

Played at a brisk pace this game was enjoyable for all concerned as there was plenty of action at both ends and in the middle and we showed ourselves to be equally good at making mistakes as our opponents. The Skipper led the way in this department with a dazzling display of cock-ups especially at the start of the game, and with a more capable opposition and a less capable keeper, we would have been well down by half time.

We've written before about Euge's shot stopping prowess and he was tested this week as one of their players had a potent left foot. Happy to let a few whistle past the frame of the goal, Euge had to get in the way of some and it is rare that you see any complaint from our legend but his fingers were stinging a couple of times. In front of goal there was a scramble and surely they had to score after Euge was prone having made a couple of saves already. Strange as it may sound, Euge made a lunging save of such speed that it was hard to say for sure that anyone had seen it, but the evidence was that the goal-bound ball was now round the post and everyone was congratulating him. Astonishing stuff.

As usual Lobby opened the scoring to relieve the tension and then the Skipper put Trev in the clear for a lovely finish. Trev added to his tally before the break as we turned with a 3-1 advantage and lots of hope that we could pull away in the second half. We played alright but didn't put the chances away. Trev completed his hattrick before Lobby showed us a great piece of skill to set up Neil. Euge bowled it long to Lobby with his back to goal. Controlling the awkwardly bouncing ball with apparent ease, Lobby flicked it invitingly into Neil's path and Neil made no mistake from the left, with his left. Lobby reflected afterwards that it was the sort of piece of play which comes along rarely and perhaps he should retire having done it? I am not reading too much into his lack of availability for this week after one of his best games ever.

Sadds was back for us and completed the scoring after a few others had had a go and failed. His clinical disposal of the pesky ball was good to see.

This week's game is at 8pm.

(27-OCT-2008)