Weekends Football

Success on the field for both members of the family this week. 'A' made his return from injury having a 30min run out for his team playing half of that time at right back and half at left back. I was very pleased with his performance after 14 weeks out (due to his broken hand and then the weather).

He had training on the Friday night and looked very very rusty. I was pretty hard on him in the car on the way home as I warned him he'd have to raise his game if he wanted to reclaim his starting position and that he did. After a nervous 5mins he settled in well having the confidence to look for good passes out of defence instead of the old hoof upfield. His best move being while playing at left back - having received the ball from his centreback he was quickly closed down and turned back towards goal. I took a deep breath fearing he would be dispossesed as another attacker joined his team mate in trying to win the ball. A made himself enough space inside to turn and dig at the ball with his right foot resulting in a perfect pass into midfield setting up another attack. His team ran out 5-2 winners.

On the way home we always mark his performance out of ten, mine usually slightly lower than his rose tinted assessment of his performance! This time it was the other way round as he gave himself a harsh 7/10 considering his length of time out I gave him a 9/10 but told him I expected more next week - Its great being a Dad!

As for my team we won 9-1! Andy had purchased a new red kit over the xmas break and it was our first time out in it due to the frost and snow ravaged fixture list. Despite the huge score it took us 30mins to get the ball in the back of the net as we created a few good chances but the keeper equal to them all. Following our first goal we won a free kick within mins of the restart that was converted and we found ourselves 2-0 up. We seem to lack a killer instinct at times and as usual seemed to think it was job done which invited them onto us for a good 10min spell. Against the run of play and just on the stroke of halftime we made it 3. My half-time talk revolved around not backing off and the best form of defence being attack, Andy joined in with a few words about lacking a killer instinct and getting the job done - it seemed to work hence the final score of 9-1. A player we've really missed while having a broken ankle announced his return scoring a hat-trick after coming on as a sub with 20mins remaining.

We are playing the same team on Sunday as our fixture list has piled up, I suspect they will be more ready for us but we will be sending the boys out with that killer instinct message again and hope to destroy them as its done our goal difference no harm what-so-ever!