Filed under: Uncategorized
Players
Gary Thompson
Gary and Wayne model Bookworms new away kit
Appearances: 9
Position: Defender
Goals: 0
Comment: In Herge’s “Adventures of Tin Tin”, the detectives Thomson and Thompson can only be differentiated by the size of their moustaches. No such problems for the Bookworms own Thompsons as neither sports facial hair (we’re not counting Gary’s stubble!). Elder brother Gary, does favour a ponytail though. However, if his inspiration was the “divine ponytail” that was Italian hero Roberto Baggio, he was more David Seaman – a gruff Yorkshire man with a daft haircut who discovered he was a better ice skater than footballer. Fancy having a go at “Dancing on Ice” next year Gaz?
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Wayne Thompson
Probably more painful than Wayne's "hurty" knee injuries
Appearances: 8
Position: Defender / Goalkeeper
Goals: 0
Comment: Football has a rich history of outfield players acting as emergency goalkeepers. Think Niall Quinn saving a penalty for Man City in 1991 and Vinnie Jones donning the gloves heroically for Wimbledon back in the day. Mr Jones of course was infamous for his hard man persona, being sent off 12 times in his career, and squeezing Gazza’s crown jewels. Wayne’s “tough guy” image on the other hand, amounted to showing everybody where he had grazed his knee after every game. A “hurty” knee can be a serious injury apparently….A steady season for Wayne the younger culminating in good work between the sticks late doors (or something).
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Chris Awre
Its a sweaty business saving penalties apparently
Appearances: 6
Position: Goalkeeper
Goals: 0
Comment: That rarest of breeds – a bearded goalkeeper. Not since the days of Dickie Guy – Wimbledon’s 1975 FA cup hero who famously saved a Peter Lorimer penalty – has the species been sighted. Eerily echoing his beard-sake, Chris saved a penalty in the 3-0 victory of Union All stars. “The goalkeepers fear of the penalty?” No way! Chris put in a performance worthy of Albert Camus. Existential dude!
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Richard Bayliss
"Big" Sam Allardyce does his best Richard Bayliss impression
Appearances: 9
Position: Utility
Goals: 1
Comment: Despite being the eldest member of the squad, Richard was an ever-present appearing in all 9 of the Bookworms fixtures. Although he rarely completed the full 90 minutes (well…the full 26 minutes to be exact), often coming on as a substitute or being subbed himself, he was the very definition of ” stalwart”. Actually the definition of stalwart includes the words “beefy”, “hefty” and “stout”…hmm…we’ll go for “veteran” instead shall we? Let’s not encourage the “Big” Sam Allardyce comparisons eh? A contender for “Player of the Season”? Few who witnessed his last minute winner versus SFC would disagree.
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Robert Sherratt
Robert misses yet another game after failing to escape from a meeting with Richard Heseltine
Appearances: 6
Position: Forward
Goals: 1
Comment: His season blighted by injury and unmissable meetings, Robert never quite fulfilled his potential as a marauding forward. Despite registering just one solitary goal, it was not due to a lack of minutes in the pitch – when he did play Robert downright refused to ever be subbed. Talk about stubborn – Robert was more persistent than Man City’s pursuit of John Terry!
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Gary Moore
Gary found combining a career in football with one as a rock star problematic - well where do you put your plectrum when wearing a football strip?
Appearances: 9
Position: Forward
Goals: 6
Comment: Hey come on – 6 goals in 9 games – that’s a ratio any statistician would get their modes and medians in a muddle over. Easily the most prolific Bookworm in front of goal – his crowning glory being the hat-trick he bagged against Union All Stars. In fact, you could say he was “over the hills and far away” the best striker in the team….or… he was “out in the field” of his own…or…this man could make an”empty room” look full of goals (please stop – Music ed)
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John Higham
It's a little known fact that "Big" John is made entirely from pipe cleaners
Appearances: 7
Position: Midfield
Goals: 2
Comment: In many ways the Paul Daniels of the squad, “Big” John has that special knack of being able to conjure up something out of nothing. Two goal star against the Law School and provider of exquisite technique with his Van Basten like volley in the final game of the season, “Big” John is an enigma. He doesn’t look like he should be able to play football, yet somehow he does.
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Pengfei Xue
Pengfei means business - actually it means "flight of the roc" the bird of legend (Translation ed)
Appearances: 5
Position: Defender
Goals: 0
Comment: Possessor of perhaps the hardest shot in the squad, what he lacked in finesse Pengfei made up for in commitment. Generally operating in defence, Pengfei had that ability to run straight through an opponent taking ball, man, shirt, boots and anything else that got in his way with him. This all-action style occasionally meant Pengfei would run out of puff before the end but he remains the Bookworms’ own little magic dragon.
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Paul Andrews
Real "Paul of the Bookworms" stuff doesn't have quite the same ring to it
Appearances: 2
Position: Wherever he wanted to play
Goals:1
Comment: Bookworms’ very own Roy of the Rovers, Paul was head and shoulders above the rest of his team-mates. Unfortunately, so sporadic were his appearances that they began to believe that, like Roy Race, he was also a fictional character. Did he really exist or had they just dreamed of having such a quality player in their ranks?
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Carl Barrow
A life spent in the Shadows had aged Carl prematurely
Appearances: 2
Position: Lead guitar … sorry … Forward (for what it was worth)
Goals: 0
Comment: Carl remained very much on the periphery of the Bookworms squad with only 2 appearances – in fact so much was he destined to spend his life in the shadows he may as well have called himself Hank and be done with it!
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Simon Lamb
Simon's younger brother hated having to wear his sibling's hand-me-downs
Appearances: 7
Position: Defender
Goals: 0
Comment: Poor old Simon! His gentle demeanour and impeccable manners meant he was always going to come up short in the rough and tumble of 6-a-side. With his youthful boyish looks, Simon has the countenance of the Milky Bar Kid’s elder brother. Unfortunately for Simon, he never lived up to the legendary advert’s rhyming couplet ..”The Milky Bar kid is strong and tough, and only the best is good enough…” generally being as useful in defence as the proverbial chocolate teapot. ————————————————————————————————
MATCHES
Fri Feb 20 Bookworms 0-4 SHES (Sports Science)
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
After the opening match against Sabbaticals had been cancelled due to snow, this became the first game of the season and it was a fearful eyeopener for the Bookworms. If this was the standard, our brave lads could be in big trouble. A desperate rearguard kept the score to 0-1 at halftime after which the floodgates opened. SHES took complete control orchestrated by the lad with the giant afro.
Goalscorer: Never even got in their half
All hands to the pumps for the overworked Bookworms defence
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Fri Mar 06 Bookworms 1 – 7 SFC (Sports Centre Staff)
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
Hopes were raised when the SFC team appeared to have 2 players approaching retirement age in their ranks but a 1-0 half time lead supplied by A.N Other (somebody’s mate who’s name is lost in the mists of time) proved to be a false dawn. A second -half trouncing including well taken goals by both pensioners taught the Bookworms a valuable lesson – something to do with respect and elders apparently.
Goalscorer: A N Other
Believe it or not this guy was Man of the Match!
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Fri Mar 13 Bookworms 2 – 4 IECS/HIFI (Coastal Studies)
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
Not as close as it sounded in truth – a last minute Gary Moore strike lending the score a respectable sheen. Let’s be honest, Bookworms could have had Mr. Sheen himself applying muscle power and elbow grease in midfield and it still wouldn’t have glossed over the result.
Goalscorers: Robert Sherratt, Gary Moore
Mr Sheen seen polishing the Bookworms sub's bench
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Fri Mar 20 Bookworms 3 – 0 Union All Stars
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
This is why we love football! Just when you think there are no upsets left in this grand old game that has been so undermined by money, greed and the “top four” clubs, along comes a result like this! Gary Moore’s hat-trick was sublime and Chris Awre saved a penalty to give the Bookworms their only clean sheet of the season – but this was a team effort and the lads celebrated as if they had won the World Cup at the final whistle. Men that had only ever nodded at each other whilst passing on the stairs on the way to the staff room were suddenly embracing like long lost brothers…a truly beautiful moment in a season of heartache.
Goalscorers: Gary Moore (hat-trick)
Click below to see Chris Awre’s penalty save
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Fri 17 Apr Bookworms 1- 3 Law School
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
The first appearance of the season of Paul Andrews had Bookworms fans everywhere (somewhere? anywhere?) dreaming of a second win on the spin as Paul slotted in a late equalizer to set up a potentially barn-storming finish. Unfortunately the barn burnt down and the Bookworms succumbed to 2 injury time goals that left them staring at the ashes of another defeat.
Goalscorer: Paul Andrews
New signing Paul Andrews is unveiled prior to kick off
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Fri Apr 24 Bookworms 2 – 3 Law School
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
A scratch bookworms side missing notably Paul Andrews and Robert Sherrat very nearly pulled off a shock result after being outplayed for most of the game. This was all about “Big” John Higham who simply refused to be beaten. Previous appearances had failed to hint at the naked goal power of the man as he came up with two strikes from nowhere to give the Law School an uncomfortable last few minutes. This guy does not know when to stop!….what?.. oh yeah… the final whistle does the trick usually.
Goalscorers: John Higham (2)
"Big" John Higham - told you he doesn't know when to stop!
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Fri May 01 Bookworms 3-2 SFC
Kick off 12.00
Match Report
The game of the season – this match had everything including for once the right result! Drama? Check! Goals? Just count ’em! (Err… so that’s 5 then – Maths Ed) Last minute heroes? Shucks… you don’t need me to say his name do you? And before you cynics pipe up with “Yes but weren’t you playing a bunch of girls?”, you are referred to that old football adage that you can only beat the team that’s put in front of you. And anyway, those girls were really good……
Goalscorers: Gary Moore (2), Richard Bayliss
An SFC striker on the charge - Bookworms defenders are noticeably absent.
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Fri May 08 Bookworms 0 – 7 IECS/HIFI
Kick off 12.00
Match Report
(in a Norwegian accent)…” Agnes Cuming… Sir Andrew Motion… Sir Brynmor Jones… Philip Larkin… Dr Richard Heseltine…can you hear me? Dr Richard Heseltine your boys took a hell of a beating! ”
Goalscorers: Yeah right!
Click below to hear the original Norwegian commentator rant
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Fri May 22 Bookworms 0-1 Union All stars
Kick off 12.40
Match Report
Think of footballing heartache and what images come to mind? Gazza’s tears in 1990? Gareth Southgate’s crest-fallen face in 1996? Strike these images from your mind’s eye for they have been replaced by the look of pure agony and injustice etched on the face of everyone of those heroic Bookworms players after this result!
Goalscorers: Coulda, woulda, shoulda!
At least the Bookworms didn't cry like this big girl's blouse
And so it all came down to this…a match between two teams that was as pointless as a shin-kicking contest between two one-legged men with the prize of a pair of Doc Martens for the winner (and as attractive to watch some may say). And yet….
…these guys were operating in the eye of the hurricane and when you’re in it every pass, every lunge, every moment is loaded with meaning and consequence. Yes the Bookworms’ season had been strewn with disappointments and disaster but here was one last opportunity to prove their worth on the only stage that matters – the 3G pitch (the one in the extreme left hand corner that borders Inglemire Road).
In the pre-match build-up the sense of togetherness was palpable – Thompson twin Wayne even offered to share his locker with Bayliss – an indication of how far these guys would go for each other. With belief and purpose the players assembled – buoyed by the knowledge that they had destroyed their opponents 3-0 in their last meeting. Then the news came that the brave Bookworms had dreaded: ” The All stars have drafted in some new players for this one” proclaimed Gary Thompson. For “new players” read “ringers”….a collective gulp was audible from the Bookworms.
But two can play at that game as Gary Moore announced that his mate Paul would be playing for the Bookworms. Paul had not been seen since the 3-1 defeat to IECS/HIFI on 13th March and had been a goalscorer and star player on that day and now he was back! Alas as kick off approached there was no sign of Paul and with the All Stars keen to start the Bookworms (with Simon Lamb gone into hiding for fear of another 4/10 rating) lined up thus:
- Goalkeper: Wayne “Shilton” Thompson
- Right defence: Richard Bayliss
- Left defence: Gary Thompson
- Midfield: “Big” John Higham
- Forward: Gary Moore
- Forward: Robert Sherrat
As for the opposition they looked purposeful and were led by a skipper who bore an uncanny resemblance to Grange Hill’s Trevor Cleaver – a carrot-topped Arsenal supporting bully who developed an alcohol problem in series 12. He wore the legend “Horatio” on his shirt but did he have the “Nelson touch” -the ability to inspire and bring out the best in his men? If inspire means dispute every decision and berate your team-mates with expletives at every juncture then yes this man did have the “Nelson touch” – he was also a Napoleonic bore.
The Union All Stars captain
And so to the action – the Bookworms were looking tight at the back with Wayne Thompson displaying a new found authority and confidence between the posts. Gary Thompson looked his usual solid self and Richard Bayliss at last had found a position on the pitch he felt comfortable in with some timely interceptions and accurate ball distribution. Up front Gary Moore looked lively but “Big” John Higham had taken up a position far too deep which Robert Sherrat was quick to point out.
As a stalemate broke out, Paul Andrews finally arrived and Gary Thompson was the unlucky man to make way with Robert Sherrat dropping deep to fill in at the back. It was clear immediately that Paul was a class act and the Bookworms looked to give him possession at every opportunity. With Paul’s confidence on the ball and his seemingly telepathic appreciation of where Gary Moore would be, the chances started to mount. Moore went close twice and then when a pile-driver was spilt by the keeper “Big” John Higham could only scuff the rebound straight back into his grateful arms. A corner landed at the feet of Bayliss in the box but the ball came at him too quickly (is this scientifically possible? – Physics ed) and the chance was gone.
At the other end the All Stars huffed and puffed but they could not blow down the door which Wayne Thompson was keeping under lock and key masterfully (who needs Chris Awre anyway?). Robert Sherrat then treated the crowd (some bloke and his girlfriend) to a display of twinkle-toed ball control which outfoxed the three All Stars players surrounding him before playing in Gary Moore but yet again the chance was not converted.
Half- time : Bookworms 0 Union All Stars 0
The Bookworms were in good heart as the second half started. The only change saw Bayliss give way to allow Gary Thompson back into the action. The break had done nothing to disrupt the flow of chances with Bookworms laying siege to the All Stars ramparts. Surely a break through was imminent?
Gary Moore was repeatedly thwarted by the opposition goalkeeper who was enjoying the game of his life. With Paul Andrews prompting and probing, the All Stars defence was at breaking point . Chance after chance came, had a look, decided it had something better to do that afternoon and went. The All stars resorted to parking the proverbial bus in front of goal resulting in numerous penalty box scrambles.
The horror as another chance goes begging for Bookworms
This was like England v Poland in 1973 all over again, the game when Brian Clough famously called the Polish keeper a clown but who withstood wave after wave of English attacks to dump us out of the World cup. This game also had a clown – this one though was not Polish but playing for Union All Stars. Yes, Trevor Cleaver was at it again constantly moaning and barking out instructions to anyone who would listen. This was a man so convinced of his own ability he would make Ben from “The Apprentice” look like someone who had failed an audition to play himself in a film of his own life story.
At the other end Thompson twin Wayne was directing his troops with a military precision that would not have looked out of place in the Battle of Trafalgar. When brother Gary’s tendons finally collapsed, Bayliss re-entered the field of play and immediately robbed an advancing All Stars forward and strode majestically upfield. With the opposition backing off, Bayliss played a swift one-two with Andrews and advanced further into opposition territory. It was at this point that Bayliss suddenly remembered who he was (i.e. an ageing Sam Allardyce lookalike and definitely not Nicolas Anelka) and instead of calmly side-footing a shot to the keepers left, panicked hysterically and crashed a shot wide of the post.
Bayliss pictured seconds after missing that chance
With full time approaching and the tension-o-meter cranked up to unbearable, “Big” John Higham produced a piece of individual skill that left all who witnessed it awestruck in admiration. As a chipped pass upfield descended from the sky, “Big” John swiveled his body shape, let the ball drop over his shoulder and produced a thunderous Van Basten-like volley that screamed towards the net. “This one’s in for sure!!” nobody in the crowd shouted aloud in a Roy of the Rovers fashion but the shot curled wide and away taking with it Bookworms’ dreams of glory.
“Big” John Higham goes oh so close!
And so it came to pass that in the final minute of this epic engagement the Bookworms were to succumb to the classic sucker punch. As the seconds ticked away an All Stars forward pounced on a loose ball and from a full 25 yards out produced an outrageously flukey toe-poke that flew into the only part of Wayne Thompson’s net that he could not reach. As the Bookworms sank to their knees the All Stars scorer performed that annoying “come hither” beckoning-hand goal celebration to rub salt in the wound.
There was still time for one last forage upfield from Bookworms but again a sharp drive from Andrews was blocked at the death. Some bloke (and his girlfriend) decided time was up and blew the final whistle (well.. he did that cross armed “its all over” gesture that so annoyed Alex Ferguson recently) and the game was up – Bookworms incredibly, tragically and heartbreakingly had been beaten.
Full time: Bookworms 0 Union All Stars 1
How they performed:
Wayne Thompson – what a performance from the younger Thompson twin! Commanding, assured and crucially the only one who fancied going in goals – a towering display. Unlucky to be beaten late on – did not deserve to be on the losing side. 8/10
Gary Thompson – the very definition of solid – go on look up “solid” in the Collins dictionary and there’s a picture of Gary (actually it says “consisting of matter all through” but we get the idea – ed) 7/10
Richard Bayliss – one of his best performances of the season. Showed great discipline in defence whilst also producing some silky touches of the ball further upfield. Would have to spend 7 years living in Finland, qualify for dual nationality and change his name to Jari Litmanen before he could claim to have a finish in him though.7/10
Paul Andrews – otherwise known as Gary Moore’s mate. If only he had been available for the Bookworms throughout the season. This man does not know when to stop and drove his team forward until the very end. A touch of class. 9/10
“Big” John Higham – found his feet after a shaky start and produced a stunning volley late on that deserved to win any game . Had it gone in he would have hung up his boots there and then John said afterwards – thankfully for Bookworms retirement will have to wait a while yet 7/10
Gary Moore – the master of the mazy dribble. His slaloming runs would have caused any connoisseur of the game to drool and slaver at his skills – his finishing was drivel though. 7/10
Robert Sherrat –Big Bob put a good shift in for the team. Showed excellent tactical nous by dropping to defence when Andrews arrived and also when spotting Higham was doing a Noam Chomsky by being too deep. 7/10
Filed under: football
Any thoughts of a second consecutive win for the Bookworms were quickly exposed as pure folly by this performance which can only be described as a complete and utter shambles. They were not helped by a squad that was depleted by a number of absentees including goalkeeper Chris Awre (again) who’s commitment to the cause must surely now be in doubt with his continued Lord Lucan impression. Robert Sherratt was also a high profile casualty succumbing to a mystery injury late doors.
With Big John Higham also unavailable due to reasons unknown, Pengfei Xue earned a starting place in midfield – rumours that this was to increase shirt sales in Asian territories remain unsubstantiated. Thompson twin Wayne bravely volunteered between the sticks again with brother Gary and Simon Lamb completing the defence. Top scorer Gary Moore and last week’s last gasp hero Richard Bayliss started upfront.
Dark clouds gathered overhead as Bookworms kicked off, a portent of things to come. As they looked upfield to view the opposition, Bookworms must surely have been reminded of a certain Harry Enfield “Kevin the Teenager” sketch – Kevin, having hosted an impromptu house party with his parents out for the night, in response to his Mother’s demand for an explanation as to why the family home lay ransacked on their return, replied tearfully “Big boys came”. The IECS lads looked mythical Roman heroes – tall, youthful and athletic. The crucial and ultimately defining element to their make-up though was this – they knew how to play football… properly.
Within the opening 30 seconds the first goal went in – an effortless and clinical despatch that arose from an error by Lamb who tried to appease the IECS gods by offering them a sacrifice – namely possession of the ball in his own half. A second quickly followed and as the heavens opened so did the Bookworms defence. When a Wayne Thompson clearance was charged down by the marauding IECS forward (Hercules?) it rebounded fortuitously into the net – to be fair to Bookworms at least one of the seven goals was a definite fluke.
The Bookworms mounted a solitary forage into the IECS half thanks to a rambling run by Gary Moore that resulted in a corner. Bayliss trotted over to take it – only he truly knows why he decided against a curling,teasing inswinger into the danger area in favour of punting a toe-poke in the direction of the halfway line that went out for a throw-in.
Half-time came with Bookworms 0-3 down and with a hill the size of Mount Olympus to climb in the second half. With no substitutes available, some radical reshuffling of personnel was required – in practice this amounted to Simon Lamb offering to fall on his sword by going in goals with Thompson twin Wayne deciding now was the time to unveil his Fernando Torres impression to the world by going up front. The ineffectual Bayliss shifted to defence and the new formation took to the field – the IECS gods smiled mockingly at the pitiful mortals in front of them.
What transpired next was of Alamo proportions with wave after wave of IECS attacks overwhelming the Bookworms. In one ludicrously one-sided episode, IECS forced 6 consecutive corners before a fourth goal was inevitably scored – a towering header from a Talos-like giant.
As the goal count clicked on Bookworms seemed unable to keep possession of the ball at all resorting to hoofing it anywhere as soon as it came near. One such upfield punt from Bayliss miraculously intersected the IECS deities to land at the feet of Thompson twin Wayne. Unfortunately Wayne showed as much composure in front of goal as Didier Drogba being interviewed on live TV by the Norwegian Tourist Board to comment on their greatest indigenous national products (A-ha…that’s about it – Ed).
And still the goals flowed…a fifth and sixth in quick succession with Bookworms offering as much defence as Jason the Argonaut trying to repel the many headed Hydra with a carrot. An unforced error from the increasingly dejected looking Bayliss led to the seventh and final goal before timekeeper Zeus finally tired of witnessing the Bookworms being played with by the IECS gods and blew for full-time.
Final score: IECS 7 Bookworms 0h!
How they underperformed:
Wayne Thompson: The first half goalkeeper could not be blamed for any of the 3 goals he let in but as a striker after the break was less like Fernando Torres and more like a jigsaw – he went to pieces in the box. 5/10
Gary Thompson: Doggedly stuck to the “if in doubt kick it out” principle throughout but was completely swamped in the end. His after match quote that the best thing about the afternoon had been the rain said it all really. 5/10
Simon Lamb: After making an error in the opening minute, Simon decided early doors that this was not going to be any fun. Sought sanctuary by going in goals in the second half – an odd decision akin to Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo laying low from the Chelsea v Barcelona fall out by hiding out in Michael Ballack’s living room. 4/10
Pengfei Xue: Bookworms own Ji-Sung Park was more like Pearson Park – named after mayor Zachariah Charles Pearson who , financially ruined, resigned as mayor and spent the last 29 years of his life in obscurity. Pengfei similarly had that look of resignation about him and went missing as the game wore on. 4/10
Gary Moore: Probably Bookworms’ best player on the day – he at least seemed to recognize that the thing at his feet was indeed a football and that the game is best played by keeping possession of it rather than sending it into orbit at the earliest opportunity. 6/10
Richard Bayliss: A couple of encouraging touches of the ball early on quickly gave way to some wayward passing (including that disastrous corner). Escaped being sent off late on when he handled in the area in an act of self defence to stop an IECS hot-shot hitting him in the face. One late desperate lunge to thwart yet another opposition attack led to a nasty kick on the ankle -it swelled up really bad on Friday night – honest! 4/10
Filed under: Uncategorized
After a spirited display against the Law School last week, the Bookworms lads took to the 3G pitch looking for only their second win of the season. Having lost 7-1 to the Sports Centre team in their last meeting, Bookworms were dealt an immediate blow by the news that regular goalkeeper Chris Awre was unavailable due to a 2.00 pm meeting! Who would take his place in between the sticks? Cometh the hour cometh the Lamb: Simon Lamb stepped into the breach. That sorted, the usual “who’s starting?” debate ensued with Thompson twin Wayne starting on the bench due to a hurty knee
With kick off approaching however, there was no sign of the Sports Centre team. Scared of the mighty Bookworms? Unlikely – the truth was they were struggling to find a team and in the end a scratch team including 3 women (one of whom had never played football before and had to be cajoled by her team mates to play) took to the field.
Starting with Robert Sherrat (just back from injury) and leading scorer Gary Moore up front with last week’s 2 goal hero Big John Higham in the hole a strong looking Bookworms team was completed with Thompson twin Gary and utility man (i.e he’s played in every position and is no good in any of them) Richard Bayliss at the back.
Two minutes and two clinical strikes from Gary Moore later and the bookworms were two up and cruising – but thoughts of an easy win were cruelly exposed as it became apparent that the ladies on the pitch were not there to make up the numbers. The blond left winger would give Usain Bolt a decent race and began to give Bayliss a torrid time. The two ladies in the middle quickly showed some nice touches and it was no surprise that a well taken snapshot by their captain brought the Sports Centre back into it.
This was followed by a disastrous handling error from replacement goalkeeper Lamb who allowed a speculative 20 yarder to slip through his fingers and into the net. Thompson twin Gary gave way to his brother Wayne who was soon in the thick of it breaking up a Sports centre attack and with a quickstep and sidekick strode down the pitch. “Into the gap” Big John Higham cried and Wayne found him with a nicely weighted ball but Big John could not repeat last weeks heroics and the chance went begging. With that someone decided it was half time and the action was halted.
Simon Lamb’s confidence had been shattered by his first half error and demanded someone else go in goal. Thompson twin Wayne somewhat reluctantly stepped up and Simon moved to the right of defence. Big John Higham had run his legs off and sat out the 2nd half with Gary Thompson returned to the left back position.
A first for the Bookworms was then announced when Gary Moore came up with an actual “tactic” for the second half – he would man mark the Sports Centre captain and best player with Robert Sherrat and Richard Bayliss taking up the front two roles. This plan however was quickly dashed when team Sports Centre started with their captain in goals for the second half. As a result, Bookworms returned to their usual kick and rush/ hit it and hope / anywhere will do principles and the action began.
Chances came and went at both ends – a rather hopeful penalty appeal by Sports Centre went unheard by the non-existent ref whilst Gary Moore wasted a one-on -one when he allowed himself to be caught by the three chasing Sports centre women players.
Tension now crept in with one mistake likely to cost the game. The play swung out to the left, Gary Moore hooked a cross in that travelled all the way through to Bayliss on the far right who showed good close control by bringing it down in one movement and slipping a pass through to Robert Sherrat. The tall striker’s effort was blocked but the ball came loose to Bayliss in the area who produced an exquisite toe-poke to score in the top left corner. The net rippled, the onion bag was filled and Bookworms had the lead with one minute to go. One late cross into the Bookworms area caused momentary concern but Thompson twin Wayne stood firm. Final whistle – game over – the Bookworms had their win.
How they performed:
Simion Lamb – proved being tall is no indicator of goalkeeping prowess. Looked more comfortable in second half hoofing the ball away anytime it came near (him) 5/10
Wayne Thompson – was pleased with his customary graze on his knee and also kept a clean sheet when reverting to goalkeeper in the second half. 7/10
Gary Thompson – no nonsense performance at the back from the pony-tailed player manager 6/10
John Higham – only had one sniff of a chance before substituting himself at half time. Looked very tall throughout though. 5/10
Gary Moore – took his two goals well but his reluctance to pass unless he really has to frustrated in the second half. 7/10
Robert Sherratt – looked a bit rusty on his return from injury but never stopped running – useful if you are playing football. 6/10
Richard Bayliss – converted to striker at half time to save him from the speed of the opposition winger. Made numerous intelligent runs in to the box only for the ball to go somewhere else. Sumptuous finish for his first goal for …..a very long time. 8/10
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