By Tish
The BUFC ladies shone brighter than the sun this week as, while casting longing glances at their own freshly washed and fragrant kit, they pulled on the musty yellow change strips. And pulled and pulled in an effort to get the smallest socks known to man or child up over their shin pads. Tantrums were thrown (ok, by me) and circulation was cut off, but eventually BUFC was able to exit the changing rooms dazzling the waiting crowd. Which is more than can be said for motorbike ref who arrived with his kit securely locked in his box, but alas with no key to get at it. Big Al was unable to help him unlock his box, while captain Tish didn't offer, but luckily for the ref he did manage to scavenge together something of a kit as well as whistle, red yellow and green(!?!) cards. Game on.
Well, sort of on. BUFC team of crocks this week included the blind and the infirm but we were still convinced that we could ultimately overcome Wakkerzeel. With our usual central defensive rocks away there was a new look to the defense as Jackie and Tish moved into the central positions with Erika and Amos full of energy ready to support the attacks down the wings. From the first whistle Wakkerzeel were keen to show BUFC what they could do and moved the ball around well. To counter this Maaike and Caragh put in a lot of tough tackling in the middle of the park and tried to feed the ball out to Frances and Amanda on the wings and to use the speed of Ale and Ana up front. Wakkerzeel were up for the battle though and broke out of defence well using the speed of their right winger to break through and launch an attack on our goal. A deflection from Tish saw the ball fly past the goal and out for a corner (honest, it wasn't a shot!) and unfortunately BUFC couldn't manage to clear their lines. The ball in pinged around the box for a while before Ana's favourite Wakkerzeel friend seized the moment to launch a blistering shot at point blank range up into the back of our net. This unexpected goal seemed to wake BUFC up, and realising that we couldn't rely on our kit to blind the opposition we decided to start trying to dazzle them with our football skills as well. Alessandra skipped past tackles, Erika and Amanda combined well up the left and Frances put in some good runs down the right but unfortunately despite hitting the side netting a few times we couldn't make any of our attempts count and get the ball past their deceptively speedy goalie. At half time the score remained 1-0.
A lively discussion at half time as to who would lend the ref a towel for a shower after the match saw a concussed Maaike volunteer before she had realised what she'd said. In the fastest move of the game so far the ref skipped away as fast as his lace up shoes could carry him before she could take the offer back.
The second half saw BUFC try to push for an early goal and some great moves between the midfield and forwards saw an early spell of constant pressure on the Wakkerzeel goal. Helen on for the still concussed Maaike added fresh legs to the attack. Unfortunately this attacking pressure left us vulnerable to the speed of their counter attacks and despite Jackie and Erika mopping up the loose balls well, during one of these hopeful Wakkerzeel breaks, the ref, forgetting just who it was who was lending him the towel awarded Wakkerzeel a free kick for probably nothing just outside our box. A crafty low kick rounded the wall and deceived Franci, creeping under her into the goal. BUFC were stunned by this and 5 minutes of panic football ensued before we decided to delight our still cheering supporters with some great one two football. A pass from Amos found Caragh who combined well with Frances resulted in a cross flying past the Wakkerzeel goal where Alessandra was on hand to see the ball home. This was the best goal of the game and spurred BUFC on in an attempt to find a winner. Sadly, despite Amos's red mist moment goal attempt (echoes of "mmyy bbaallll can still be heard ringing round Nekker), we just couldn't find the final touch. Tempers flared on both sides, particularly on the part of one Wakkerzeel nut job who decided that tackling at neck height and flinging right wingers to the ground was the safest way to protect their lead. Ana gave as good as she got up front in an attempt to prove that apparently Wakkerzeel drag queens need their space. Sadly though there wasn't to be another goal in it so we trailed sadly off the pitch, went up to the bar to drink diet coca colas and then everyone went home to sulk. We'll be back to winning ways next week though when we face manuela and her big dogs.
Comedy quotes:
"Wakkerzeel? Haven't we played them before" Erika works out the principle of playing teams home and away
"There would have been nudity" Amos talks us through her nearly goal
"Is Ana trying to get into the ref's box?" Frances speculates on the whereabouts of Ana
Team: Franci, Erika, Jackie, Tish, Amos, Amanda, Maaike (Helen), Caragh, Frances, Alessandra, Ana
Supporters: Rana, Karim (exceptional supporter shouting from Karim), Dianne, Michelle, and occasional passers by.
Man of Match: 1st: Alessandra, 2nd: Jackie, 3rd: Tish
