Saturday 25 September, 1:00 p.m
YC&AC Over 35s 4 v Midorigaoka 3
For a vintage motor like the Silver Machine, inactivity over the summer months can lead to irreparable damage. Paint can blister; metal can rust; precision-fit internal engine parts can seize.
So when turning the ignition for the first time in months last Saturday it was a pleasant surprise to hear the familiar sound of 420 silver horses breaking into a canter.
We were just five minutes down the road and cruising towards the swimming pool when Alan Plater notched our first of the new campaign. Will Brady released our lone striker through the middle and Alan finished with customary aplomb.
The wind was in our hair now on what was a beauteous autumn afternoon and, feeling a bit carefree, we eased off the gas and rolled down the roof, all the better to enjoy the view.
Good heavens, look at the pace on their No. 13 as he surges into that wide open space down our left. BOOF! Good shot on him too.
And another one! Something wrong with the alternator here, we’d better get back to the garage.
Oh, what now! A hopeful ball over the top bounces benignly in front of Christopher Binz, who is trotting after it, moderately under pressure, forty yards away from a spectacular own goal.
“You are joking,” says Captain Gordon Deas on the sidelines as CLUNK! Chris skies a clearance of Swedish imagination in the approximate direction of Bobby Houghton’s back garden. The ball bounces once behind GK Grey Lyon before bulging the roof of the net.
1-3 at half-time.
Gordon’s first actions at the interval were to slam down the soft top and yank up the bonnet. Adjustments to the vehicle’s dynamics were implemented, and we went back out firing on all cylinders.
It wasn’t long before Alan made it 2-3 with a typical poacher’s strike at the Paul Blamire Shed End, this following great work down the right from a late-arriving Russell “Cross Country” Brown.
And at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Gordon was rewarded for an industrious overlap run, again down the right, when his cross-cum-shot from close to the byline was caught by Midorigaoka’s stand-in goalie Zak Niederhauser standing a foot or so over the line at his near post. YCAC appeals were loud and celebratory; the linesman duly flagged for the goal.
Victory for the Over 35s now seemed inevitable as Midorigaoka, demoralised, visibly wilted in the face of sustained YCAC pressure.
But the winning goal, when it came, was a bit of a classic, certainly an early contender for goal of the season.
Our No. 17 exchanged passes with Russell down the right before spearing the ball back to Gordon 20 yards out, right-central at the PBSE. Gordon fired the ball into the area first time, shin height at pace towards Alan, ten yards out with his back to goal. Instinctively, one supposes, our Supreme Administrator swiveled onto the shot and sent a brilliant half volley zooming into the bottom right hand corner, just past the outstretched fingertips of Zak, whose fine attempt at a save only made the goal look even better.
4-3 it finished, and it was off to the Breezeway for a precautionary service.
By Alex Hendy
Goals: Alan Plater (3), Gordon Deas (1)
Tullett Prebon Man of the Match: Alan Plater
Referee: Very good
Attendance: Double figures
