5 a side - Pathetico Madrid

Well, 2nd league game of the season, and first game in 3 weeks for me as I made my comeback from a bruised rib! Glad to say, my ribs were fine, but good god, not playing for 3 weeks has left me with the lung capacity of a gnat!!

We were up against Grafters, who got beat 33-3 last week, so we were expecting a fairly easy game, and I thought it was a good game to come back to after recovering from injury! We got to the game, and I spoke to the ref, who informed me that they only had 4 players last week, and 1 of them didn't know how to play!!

So, game on it was, and a good game. I am not one for bulling myself up, but I put in another Man of the Match performance, even I was surprised at some of the saves I made! I had an inspired night...I really enjoyed it. At one point, I made a save from their star player, who then said "F*** me, PNE need to sign you up!" -  Now, the fact he is a young lad, and obviously goes to watch Preston play, I will take it as a compliment...lol...Still, nice to get the attackers frustrated!

We started well, and went into a 5-1 lead, and never really looked back, though we did have momentary blips, and let them back into the game, but for the first time in a while, each time we took back control of the game, and we eventually won 21-12.

I let the centre know I was looking for a new team to play with on anyday barring Wednesday, and already I have a few teams looking to want to 'sign me'....lol...all I have to do now is negotiate my contract....lol.
  

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Ajax Treesdown (Wed)	2	23	6
2	New City Utd	2	18	6
3	Young Gunz	2	8	6
4	The Gamull	2	26	3
5	Pathetico Madrid	2	8	3
6	Lid FC (Wed)	2	-15	0
7	Sex Panthers	2	-29	0
8	Grafters	2	-39	0

5 a side - PATHETICO MADRID

So, the new season kicked off last week, and I was injured! I say new season, the old one never finished, but as one or two teams had been dropping out, they decided to do a restructure, and reduce the leagues from 4 to 3!

The Predators have ceased to exist on a Sunday, so it is now just Wednesday's for me, and I have joined a list of 'free' players who will play for anyone if they are short!

So, first up were Young Gunz, which is now like our derby game as we have both been in the same league for a few years it seems!! I was injured, as most of our team are 30+, well mid 30s +...lol...once we get a knock, it is a lot harder to shift!! I have had badly bruised ribs for a few weeks. At 18, I would have just carried on, but at 37, my body wouldn't allow me to breathe properly, let alone move, and as a keeper, I tend to need to move, especially for our team...lol.

We started well, and were 6-4 up at half time, but then we lost our best defender through injury, and then it was just a case of hanging on, and we unfortunately we couldn't, and we finished with a 9-8 defeat! It's early in the season, but here is the table!!

Team name

Plyd

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

1	The Gamull	1	1	0	0	33	3	30	3
2	Ajax Treesdown (Wed)	1	1	0	0	23	1	22	3
3	New City Utd	1	1	0	0	21	7	14	3
4	Young Gunz	1	1	0	0	9	8	1	3
5	Pathetico Madrid	1	0	0	1	8	9	-1	0
6	Lid FC (Wed)	1	0	0	1	7	21	-14	0
7	Sex Panthers	1	0	0	1	1	23	-22	0
8	Grafters	1	0	0	1	3	33	-30	0

Next up is Grafters, so, not putting all my eggs in one basket, but it looks like it might be a confidence boosting win! I will be playing as I haven't played for 3 weeks now!!

5 a side - PATHETICO MADRID

Yet another friendly, so another 8-0 win!! Still, it's helping up climb the table!! However, we played Young Gunz, who has a spare fixture too, and who are in our league, so why the league just didn't rearrange the fixture I don't know. We just had 5 players for the night, as one lad didn't turn up and neglected to tell anyone, so I imagine he won't be first choice next week then the team is being picked - not that we have that many to choose from!

Anyway, we played and beat Young Gunz 16-8, and to fair, we played really well, actually passing the ball about quickly! I also made it 6 penalty saves out of save, and managed to pull off a cracking save with what could only be described as a desperate ninja lunge across the area - great save though...lol...Next up is New City Utd, who sit 3pts above us, but with worse goal difference! Still, they are a new team, so no idea what to expect.

Team Name	Plyd	GD	Pts
1	Jager Bombers	6	26	15
2	Bowker FC	6	38	13
3	New City Utd	6	17	12
4	Ajax Treesdown (Wed)	5	5	10
5	Pathetico Madrid	5	20	9
6	Young Gunz	6	-19	9
7	Lid FC (Wed)	6	1	7
8	Preston Accys	6	-8	7
9	Vacancy WC1	6	-40	1
10	Vacancy WC2	6	-40	1

5 a side - PREDATORS

Back to league action on a Sunday after my hollybobs! Sitting in 2nd Place, we were up against Borders FC who were 1 point behind us in 4th! To start with, it was slightly surreal, as the referee came up to us, and said we would batter this lot, and at the end one of their players was leaving after several years good service, so if it was ok he would award a penalty near the end as a send off!!

Well, those comment seemingly went to our head, and a team we should really beat with no problem, we just didn't turn up in the first 10 mins and we found ourselves 7-2 down!! We managed to battle back into it, not sure how, and at half time we were 9-6 down.

We didn't start the 2nd half any better, though we managed to fight back to 10-10, and then things just clicked, and we began to pass the ball about and put in some quality finishes. I took up my normal battle with  one of their attackers, the lad who was leaving, and everything he put my way, I saved, including and I have to say, a world class save, as I dived to my right and tipped it over the bar with my left hand!!

The game had finished and we were winning 15-12, when the referee asked me to give a penalty away, which I did as we couldn't - would have been different if slightly closer!! So, I duly kicked the ball away, gave a penalty away....but that was a nice as I got!! On the final kick of the game, I dived to my right to save his penalty, which now makes it 5 saves out of the last 6 pens!!

Up next is the international match, as we taken on Lech Preston, the local Poles!

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Billy Sastards	12	98	33
2	Predators	12	-4	21
3	Jaydens Five (Sun)	11	6	18
4	Lech Preston	12	9	17
5	Borders FC	13	-21	17
6	Bad Newz	12	-15	15
7	Vacancy SP1	11	-35	10
8	Presto	11	-38	7

5 a side

Well, I have been away for 2 weeks, and not missed a thing! PREDATORS on a Sunday have not had  a game. The first week I was away, our opponents couldn't get a team together, so we had a 8-0 walkover win, and last week, we couldn't get a team together, so we lost 8-0! Still we are sitting in 2nd still, and are due to play Borders this Sunday!

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Billy Sastards	10	98	30
2	Predators	11	-7	18
3	Lech Preston	11	11	17
4	Borders FC	11	-13	17
5	Jaydens Five (Sun)	10	1	15
6	Vacancy SP1	10	-27	10
7	Bad Newz	10	-25	9
8	Presto	11	-38	7

On a Wednesday, it's been a case of a similar story! The first week, they play a friendly and won 21-4, and last week we had to cancel because quite a few of us were away. So, it was back to league action last night, or so we thought. We played well last night, and won 20-9, only to find out this morning it was another friendly!!! I wouldn't mind, but we have to shell out money to play! Still, we got 6 points last night, as we had a walkover win for both games, and to be honest, it's done us the world of good, taking us off bottom place to mid table in 6th.

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Jager Bombers	5	19	12
2	Bowker FC	5	21	10
3	New City Utd	4	17	9
4	Ajax Treesdown (Wed)	3	14	7
5	Preston Accys	5	0	7
6	Pathetico Madrid	4	12	6
7	Young Gunz	4	-20	6
8	Lid FC (Wed)	5	-7	4
9	Vacancy WC1	4	-24	1
10	Vacancy WC2	5	-32	1

5 a side - WED - Pathetico Madrid

Well, 2 games into our season, and we are most definitely living up to the first half our team name!! What was a close defeat last week, was just an embarrassing one this week, as we went down 9-7 to Jager Bombers!

To be fair, Jager Bombers scored 206 goals in just 14 league games last week, in the division below, but seriously, there must be some shocking teams in that league! I say we didn't turn up, I almost wished we hadn't!! All barring the last 5 mins when we had a go, it was dreadful!

We slowed the game down too much, were sloppy in our passing, and every shot seemed to be aimed at the keeper. I have to be honest, I am looking forward to the reverse fixture against these because if we do decide to turn up, then it will be a completely different game!

Next up is Ajax Treesdown, but not for me, after Sunday's game, I am away sunning it for 2 weeks!! Good luck lads!!

I have embarrassed myself by putting the league table up!!

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Jager Bombers	2	10	6
2	Ajax Treesdown (Wed)	2	8	4
3	Preston Accys	2	8	4
4	Lid FC (Wed)	2	8	4
5	Bowker FC	2	3	4
6	New City Utd	2	4	3
7	Young Gunz	2	-5	3
8	Pathetico Madrid	2	-4	0
9	Vacancy WC1	2	-16	0
10	Vacancy WC2	2	-16	0

5 a side - SUN - Predators

Sitting 2nd in the league, we were up against Jaydens 5, who to be honest are probably the most athletic team we will play in this league. We played them a few weeks ago in a rearranged match and lost 16-8, so I knew we would be up against it!

We started ok, and I pulled off a couple of decent saves to keep us in the game, but that was about as good as it got! We never got out of first gear, and whilst the game never really got away from us in the first half, we continued to lose shape, and ended up losing 17-10. As a result, Jaydens 5 have leapt above us in the league, and next up, it's top of the table Billy Sastards, who are not frightend of putting their foot in!! Thye aren't frightened of scoring either, they played one of my friend's teams a few weeks back, and beat them 43-1!!!! I am expecting a busy night!

Team Name

Plyd

GD

Pts

1	Billy Sastards	8	86	24
2	Jaydens Five (Sun)	8	15	15
3	Predators	8	-3	15
4	Borders FC	8	2	11
5	Lech Preston	8	-7	11
6	Boca Seniors	8	-11	10
7	Presto	8	-34	4
8	Bad Newz	8	-48	3

5aside - WED - Pathetico Madrid

And so to Wed night 5 a side, we finished 4th last season, just missing out on Promotion. However, with one or two teams dropping out, the leagues have restructured from 4 leagues of 8 to 3 leagues of 10! So, technically we have won promotion, and find ourselves in the Championship! It's going to be a fun season, and competitive!

It was the first game of the new season last night, and we were up against Young Gunz, who we played last season, which we won one and lost one against them. Young Gunz are made up a young lads who have just been released by PNE, so if anything, there are young and never stop running!

We didn't play that well to be honest, but were never out of it. I don't know why, but we always have a mad 5 mins in both halves, when all shape goes out of the window, and things go pear shaped. That happened last night, and it cost us the game. We lost 12-10! I will put the league table up once a few more games have been played!

I pulled off a few saves last night, but with one of them, even I still don't know how I got there, as I was already on the floor when the shot was taken! I can only put it down to natural instinct...lol. Next up are the Jaegar Bombs, who won League 2 last year (div below us), scoring a healthy 206 goals in just 14 games! I have a feeling, I might be busy next week.

5aside - SUN - PREDATORS

Sundays night are going very well for 5 a side. Last Sunday, I earnt another Man of the Match award as 5 a side went International and we played Polish team Lech Preston and won 11-8. I enjoyed the game, and never one for shirking an injury, a diving save after just 2 mins of the game left me literally spitting blood! I say splitting, it was more of a steady stream! My most memorable save was a double save right at the end. To be honest, when I was 4 stones heavier last year, there was no way I would have got to it...lol.. Anyway, for this interested, here is the league table!

1	Billy Sastards	6	62	18
2	Predators	7	4	15
3	Jaydens Five (Sun)	7	8	12
4	Lech Preston	7	0	11
5	Boca Seniors	7	-3	10
6	Borders FC	6	11	8
7	Presto	7	-26	4
8	Bad Newz	7	-56	0

5 a side WED night

Well, this will be a quick one, it was the turn of Pathetico Madrid tonight, and having blown promotion last week, we were playing 3rd bottom FC EMTA, so were looking for a few goals! What happened was one of the most embarrassing team performances I have played in for years as we got battered 15-6!! I say 15-6, but in truth it could be more, as I gave up counting!!

Shocker!!

5 a side SUNDAY night

Well, 2 games tonight, which is why I missed the Euros! Back in Liga A action with Predators, up first were Jaydens Five, and to be fair, they are a good team. We were 6-3 down at half time, and were still in with a shout, but we struggled with our shape in the 2nd half and it all went pear shaped, and we ended up getting beat 16-7!!

2nd up were Borders, and it seems the first match warmed us up, as we coped mich better and kept out shape. We had one wobbly moment as we threw away an 8-5 lead as Borders made it 8-8. With a bit of hard work, we refocused, and ended up with a 12-9 victory. I was happy with my performance, and I would have settled for 3 points before the night started.

5 a side Wed Night

Just 4 games left of the season, and the top 4 teams all played the same games, and all on 24 pts, it's getting a little tight. We were sitting in 4th, and played REAL MADRAS who were top! We managed to stay in the game for a while. 4-2 down at half time, we managed to come back to lead 5-4. Unfortunately, we ran out of steam, and had mad 5mins losing all concentration! Ended up losing 9-5, that could be promotion all gone!!

5 a side!

So, one of the reasons I started to write this blog was to document the last few days of my football career...lol. I play on a Sunday and a Wednesday, both being 50min games!

On a Wednesday, I play for PATHETICO MADRID, in League One (which the English football leagues, is the 3rd tier). There are 4 games or so left of the season, and it's getting a little tight at the top! We are 3rd with 24 points, and the top 2 are also on 24 points, so we are all separated by goal difference. We did help that last Wednesday, by beating the bottom team 19-1!! I was much busier than the scoreline suggested, and I won MAN OF THE MATCH.

On a Sunday, we used to play in Liga C (as expected the 3rd div), but the team folded a few weeks back. I have been signed up by a team newly promoted, called Predators, to Liga A!! Played our first game last week, and won 16-12. Payed tonight against 2nd in the league and beat them 10-2! Won MAN OF THE MATCH again! Hoping my hamstrings are less tight tomorrow than they have been since Wednesday!!

Should be fun next Sunday, as I have a tournament from 11-5, and then two 50mins games in the evening!! I am not looking forward to Monday morning!!