Twos triumph in six goal thriller

[Match report from Thom W - many thanks]

The opposition for our Twos this fine valentine morn, City of Peterborough 6’s.

At the other end of our Mayor’s patch, it was there, some ten (20?, 30?, 2?) years ago, that our centre mid, Alex Moots, dispatched CoP 5’s in his first game in East Anglia. Tales of his exploits from further afield had filtered through, and this fresh faced phalanx, new to the teaching scene, proudly stepped up to take his first flick, followed later by a successful second, successfully dispatching the folorn five’s 2-1.

Paul might have done well to follow suit today, but more of that later. Anyway, that was then, and this is now. Now incidentally Moots has a difficult decision next week to evaluating the value of his girlfriend’s, sister’s, auntie’s, mother’s, great-granddaughter’s birth… worth a trip back from Ipswich on Saturday week? Please post your words of advice for Moots in the reply section to aid him in his moment of need.

So, what is it I’m meant to be writing about again?!… Ah yes, we were finally successful at colouring in 2019!

2019 ‘colouring’* success at last! Thom's location - playing as Right Back!

Well, it was a fine morning and our reporter for the day had (I believe) successfully just completed his L1 Umpiring assessment – therefore missing all pre-match team talk, tactics, warm up and had barely touched the ball – so was feeling ready.

Today, our Twos were looking strong with 4-5 injury-returnees filing in for our versatile Centre Midfield (Morty!) who had been summoned for an outing in the 1s.

Push back began with a whistle, as it had for a young, youthful, injury-free Moots that joyful day many moons ago. The game had changed in many ways over the years, what with not being able to move the ball up 10 yards any more – or even that we’ve now adopted metres instead of yards, but the whistle has remained. The poetry of whistling has never been more true than when Churchill and Murray scribed,

Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace
And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom is someone that you love
And soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune
When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work
So whistle while you work

Following swiftly after the whistle, the game began with passing, hitting, tackling and ball chasing (apparently the only acceptable form of running). Moots, (apparently the only person who responded to our commentator's research requests for match ‘facts’) got embroiled a joyful discussion with ‘boro’s Centre Midfield that after some mild trash-talk and handbags, Moots who had learnt his ways from the great Steve Waugh. Legend has it that the more sledging, the better he would play, and not wanting to awaken the dragon (sorry, that’s the other Peterborough team [Ed: perhaps Norwich??]), finished it with some skin on skin. His five digits, outstretched and connecting with the oppositions – pow! (a high five).

Nomads appeared to dominate the early exchanges, getting on top of the opposition with some crosses failing to find a pass, some excellent high-press action, (watch out for more of that). But unfortunately, as with Snow white, it was a swift counter attack from an unexpected force that was the first to break the deadlock. ‘Boro strung together a series of well-timed passes, and with John closing menacingly, neatly slotted millimetres past his diving, outstretched foot (more ballet lessons scheduled for John to work on his toe flex next week).

0-1 Peterborough.

Nomads roused soundly, the whistle reminding them that “it won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace”. Pressure mounted at both ends, but it was the fruit of our high press and slick build up play that led to Tim releasing the ball to Arthur at the top left of the D. Screams from Paul on the back post fell on deaf ears as Arthur, reverse stick, slotted neatly in the goal corner.

1-1.

The first half culminated in a series of Peterborough pressure, with a short corner being awarded as the whistle blew (how time had flew whilst we worked), it was time for the most decisive moment of the game. Swift injection from ‘Boro was trapped top D. An electric burst from Nomads 48 meant a face off top D. The Boro forward stalling, the ball was left on a plate, where Nomads 48 [Ed: for clarity, this would be the reporter] controlled the ball and continued their run, weaving through three other reds to cross the 23 to the safety of the half-time whistle – consider the room neatly swept.

Halftime, the standard rousing message – Whistle while your work – or was it avoid long passes, move off the ball, make simple passes and get something when you get to the D.

The second half started as had the first, with a whistle blow, a Boro attack and Nomads finding themselves 1-2 down. Time to make the difference. Time for the high press.

Nomads pressure finally told midway through the second half as a neat team move fell to Paul to slot home for our second. 2-2. A fluency to Nomads play and a freedom to score more felt possible. Momentum Nomads.

Boro remained a continual threat with skills through the middle and out wide requiring attention from our lieutenants at the back. John was on hand to make 2, 3, probably 4+ fine saves. Boro had pace, but the fine crosses lacked a final touch. Short corner storm weathered, it was time to turn on the Nomads burners.

Finding space both left and right, our midfield and centre backs provided a highly competent pivot, switching the ball with ease, this kept up the pressure and we eventually found an opening through (?Gianluca) who forced a PC. Smoothly injected, stopped and struck, Luca again on hand at the right post, but was cruelly denied by a Boro leg. Strong whistle, one hand up, one hand at the spot, the decision was clear. It was penalty flick time. It was Boro in opposition. It had a Moots memory all over it. But with Paul trying to chase down Martin’s haul of six last week there was only really one person who would be taking the flick.

Teams set, keeper and flicker poised. Whistle blown, (imagining the broom [stick] is the one you love), strong flick to the left, diving keeper, stick out stretched, carbon on ball, sufficient to deny Paul scoring further. A 16 the result.

And so, into the final 15 minutes. Nomads put out the high-press again, boro defence got caught in their defensive right-hand corner. A panicked ball across their D was neatly picked by Arthur, sitting up top D, only keeper to beat, advancing, striking, almost picking his spot. Pow! Ball whizzing, whistling (*insert song lyrics*), fizzing past the forlorn keeper.

3-2 Nomads.

Could our tide be turning? Might we remember how to win a game?!

The usual exchanges ensued, (with it being hockey, and you’ve probably seen, heard of or even played a game or two – this involved passing, tackling, shouting and chasing the ball – the only acceptable form of running). Nomads, in the Twos' usual form, found numerous ways to turn attack back into Boro possession. A sitter from Matt deflected wide, evading the open goal; a screaming cross met by stick, but whistling wide (although hearts/passion were/was high). [Ed: note the quantity of whistling!]

Security came from a sort of ‘high-press’. Up from the middle, and paramount on holding onto possession, our very own wandering wizard, Matty V, weaved through defense, midfield, and finding himself on the crown of the D. An offload to the byline, a ball back round the top-D [Ed: from Arthur - credit where credit due!], met by Angus wide right, Paul screaming on the back post, again ignored, favoured for a neatly slotted finish under a diving keeper.

4-2 Nomads.

The game played out smoothly with Boro chasing but Nomads controlling the tempo, seeing down the clock. All that was left after the final whistle was to ‘dance’ to the merry tune, queue Max for a customary bust up as 3 cheers rang out and hand shakes were exchanged all around.

Nomads Twos had won in 2019! Excellent colouring one and all! All that remains is for our commentator to try his hand at a 10k race tomorrow (the unacceptable form of running), and for you all to share your advice with Moots – should he stay or should he go? Your comments please.

Oh, and MoM – three nominations received, for our commentator (having the pen helps), our keeper and our brace scorer. Despite the first of his tally for this campaign, without Cats (?) we would have been out of it long before we found our rhythm. This weeks MoM goes to John, the green machine. And remember, to whistle while you work.

Colouring: 4-2 WIN!!
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