Ex-Oldham/Palace/Charlton/Coventry manager Ian Dowie may well be the owner of a face that lunched a thousand chips but, along with his engineering degree, he also has the rare distinction of adding a new word to the football lexicon; a lexicon that for too long has resounded with the sound of ‘parrots being sick’, players going ‘over the moon’, and managers never criticising referees ‘not even that prat’. 

Now you can argue all you like about the precise derivation of the word and its unhealthy concatenation of adverb and adjective, but for originality, onomatopoeia and sheer oomph Mr Dowie’s creation makes the ideal one-word  summary.

Bouncebackability.  

Last week’s defeat could have derailed the campaign, but a fine performance on a cold afternoon at Burbage Road has put us firmly back on track.  Not that we had it all our own way.  A young, energetic and skilful Old Lats side certainly had the better of the initial exchanges, and had a fierce volley gone in and not rebounded 30 yards after hitting a post, our opponents might well have gained the upper hand. 

Slowly we began to exert more control and, despite the sandy surface, began to construct some good passing moves and several notable goal threats.  Captain Payne seemed engaged on a personal mission to open his account for the season, successive headers hitting players, post and keeper in an adventurous 10 minutes.

Eventually the pressure told and when a lost cause on the left was retrieved by McCann and slid down the line, the resulting cross saw much confusion until Gigantes finally nudged the ball over the line.

Things improved second half when attacking on the better part of the surface and with a strong wind behind us we were able to pin Lats into their own half and get on with playing.  The three goals that followed were might what best be called varied.  On 55 minutes, Dave Davies struck a shot that almost certainly went further up and down than it did horizontally.  Indeed, the ball spent so long in the air that their keeper fell asleep waiting for it to arrive, fumbled it and allowed Foyle to finish with aplomb from about 6 inches.

Our third was a free kick wide on the right which Kitch suggested Foyle should smash straight it into the net.  He did so.  Our fourth, a free kick from exactly the same position, again taken by Foyle, was met this time by Jones W who managed to get the merest hint of an elegantly coiffeured eyebrow onto it to deceive the keeper. 

We survived to the end with no major alarms and retired, three points to the good, for port and cigars in the manner to which we would like to become accustomed,

Thrower 8, Davies 8, Jones R 8, Dawson 8, Payne 8, Burdine 8, McCann 8, Humber 8, Jones W 8, Foyle 8, Gigantes 8.   Subs: Kitchen (20) 7, Allen J (not used).

Result:

Goal-scorers:

Man of the Match:

Exterior.Day.
Opening shot of the film reveals a fine afternoon at the Old Boys with us back for the first time this
year,on an excellently prepared Viaduct Pitch.My congrats to Rodders and anyone else who helped to make the ground playable.

Fresh from our win against Norsemen,we start the game up against a good Winchmore team who
won the toss and chose to have the sun and wind in our faces.A good tactic,but in difficult
conditions we overcame this with solid defence and two superb goals from great build-up passing
from the back involving half the team and ending with a close range tap-in from I'Kenna for
the first,who this week left his tap shoes at work and brought his boots instead of the other way
round.

The Winchmore boys,who had been very lively up til then,went very quiet and acquiesced to a
second bit of team quality with a fine finish to make it 2-0 at half time.
Time for the interval,and with any good film you use the break to grab some refreshments and use
the toilets and talk about how good the main characters have been.
Thats when the Baddie steps in.

With salivating mouth and staring eyes it hides in the dark recesses waiting for the the moment
it can intrude,catching you unaware,creating havoc with disasterous consequences for all.
Hard to expose,it often leaves small clues that only the audience,not the players,are aware of
and you can shout at the screen as loudly as you like to warn all and sundry but it's to no avail.
It will still do it's deadly deeds.

The first clue came when,with X-ray vision,it saw through our keepers body,who had safely gathered
possession of the ball on the floor,and tranported it into an oppo corner.This led to a Winchmore
goal and puzzled looks all round.No matter.We are still the best team.We take control again and head towards the oppo goal with great play again leading to I'Kennataking the ball round the keeper,ready to walk it into the net when as all desperate goalies do,he gets taken down for a P.E.N.A.L.T.Y. and the Winchmore boys slump in anticipation as the Man In Black reaches for his...........Memory Eraser.....
"After I use this on yer,yer will fergit every thang that jest happened,and play on!"Boom! One of our boys who hadn't been affected by the tool,tried to expose his shenanigans."I saw that!" he said."You have tentacles and horns!". The villain,fearful of exposure used his yellow weapon on the player and the Winchmore boys were able to use the confusion to grab an equaliser.We had to respond so the audience of Avram and Special One leapt onto the screen,helping to propel the boys forward leading to a great winning free kick from Prov and a swift retreat back into his spacecraft by the agitator.
Hopefully there will be no sequel.
 

Result:

Goal-scorers:

Man of the Match:

Strollers

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