Despite notable absentees including Ben Ryder-Smith (injured), James Kibbey (Hollywood), Adam Dolman (not-selected) and Ben Moss (shagging again), it was a familiar OC line up who faced the peculiarly named Wandgas 1st XI.
With the game originally called off at 11am that morning, shrewd negotiations from Mosser junior meant it was game on for an OC side seeking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.
And bounce back they did.
It must be said the Wand-gas warm-up slightly differed from that of the OC’ in that it seemed to involve a lot of smoking of “probably pot” according to James ‘Antique’ Moss. Whilst at the other end the OC III’s looked like their usual well-oiled machine. Could this have made the difference?
The deadlock was broken within minutes. The Wandgas keeper attempted an extraordinarily audacious Cryff turn in his own box, resulting in Charlie Nash seizing the opportunity to poach the ball before being rugby tackled. PENALTY. Mike Manches quickly volunteered his services which were even more quickly vetoed by RUDDEN. However Nash made no mistake, clinically placing his penalty in the bottom corner (that’s how you do it Mike...).
The second goal followed swiftly. A free kick was swung in by Nash to the ensuing melée in the box with Wilkinson leaping like a gazelle and directing his header through the buttery hands of the keeper. Own goal perhaps? This one’s going to the dubious goal panel. We all know that that Wilko is often scoring off the field, but on the field is personally too much to take.
The game then settled, with the clearly rattled Wandgas trying their best to get a foothold in the match and bringing on their humongous no.10 who seemed to still be finishing his breakfast. However the game was soon put to bed by an excellent sweeping move involving clever team build up work, with a string of quick passes. Buzz (anyone actually know his name?) eventually latched on to an expertly weighted Nasher through-ball and coolly slotted in the bottom corner. This catapults him up the goal scoring chart although everyone knows that scoring is over-rated.
Half time approached at which point a tearful JCB announced that he was “really upset” with how we were treating his brother and to “stop being so mean”. So we all stopped being so mean and the second half quickly resulted in another goal. This time it was vintage Dolmanite 2011 OCIII’s with a proper game of pinball in the box and the ball deflecting off limbs left right and centre. After about 2 or 3 attempted OC scuffs, Toby Franklin achieved the impossible by drilling it against the bar from a yard which fortunately ricocheted to Goldsmith. Having decided he’d actually turn up this week, he buried it much to JCB’s infuriation. Amazingly Franklin who clearly needs his radar adjusting, comes out of this with a highly coveted assist.
Finally with minutes left on the clock and with the envious Fenton looking on, a clearly relieved Manches slotted a Wilkinson long-range ‘if in doubt’ ball past the stranded keeper to complete an imperious display from the OC III’s.
Man of the Match(tea.com) was incredibly close to call, with Wilko and JCB absolutely outstanding at the back, Procter and RUDDEN solid in midfield and Charlie Nash causing havoc upfront. Indeed the Wandgas captain eloquently evoked when referring to Nasher, “where the f*ck is that no.2 c*nt even playing, right wing, left wing? F*cking c*nt”. Something tells me he wasn’t enjoying Nash's presence. Manches was again excellent on his own upfront, covering at least 20 miles, running the channels and latching on for a well-deserved goal - his 18th of this season. Separately Rob CB continues to go from strength-to-strength putting in a fine performance and Buzz probably had his finest game this season, being industrious and a handful all afternoon.
However the Man of the Match-tea.com goes to Jon Jenkins who was simply fantastic. His astonishing athleticism to leap high off the ground and save a certain goal from the chunky No.10 was arguably his best ever save in a 3rd XI jersey. These safari Bunga Bunga parties are clearly making him full of beans so keep up the off-field work Jenks. He came off his line when needed and frequently punched the ball out of danger. He also clocked up a personal match distance record of 1.5km.
This match provides the perfect spring-board for the OC III’s as they head into next week’s crucial El Classico. A win this week was the minimum required and comfortably achieved. When combined with the news of an OC II’s 5-2 loss, this means that the III’s enter this notorious battle full of confidence. OC II’s be warned.
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