#goals #cards

As the mens 4s arrived in Tweedbank on Saturday morning, a number of questions were asked:

- Why is the car park so busy?
- How many players to we have?
- Why do the dugouts look like sauna's?

Some of these mysteries remained unsolved, whilst others were answered..
Due to a late pull out we only had 10 players. #Munro (#) and Ozzie 'Mr Motivator' Lobo provided the pre-game team talk which focused on keeping it simple and making it easy for ourselves or something along those lines..
Colts goalie Sam stood behind a slightly irregular 4-4-1 formation , the more 'senior citizens' of the team lined up across the back (Rob, Ian, Coxy and Ozzie). The younger 'fresher' legs made up the midfield (Jimmy, Nick, Alex and Stuart) with # leading the line.

The match started at a decent tempo with the 4s working well as a unit to press and force mistakes from the Borders team. Around 15 minutes in a ball from the right found its way to Stuart in the D who lifted it into the net to give an early lead. The match continued in much the same manner after the opening goal with Watsonians having good amounts of possession and defending stoutly to keep borders from creating many chances of their own.

The half-time team talk focused on keeping these levels up and pushing the extend the lead that our play merited.

Borders started the 2nd half by upping their intensity, giving the 4s less time on the ball. Around 10 minutes into the second half a ball fired into the D from Nick was deflected by #, the ball sailed up in the air, over the keeper and bounced into the goal. A top finish and goal of the season contender (although the author is not convinced it was meant!) Following the goal, Borders pushed further up the pitch in search of a way back into the game and won a few long and short corners. Credit to all the team and the defence in particular for keeping these out.

With around 10 minutes to go, borders won a foul around the half way line, a rush of blood to the head from Stuart lead to the ball being knocked away, leaving the opposition umpire brandishing his green triangle and the 4s temporarily down to 9. A few minutes later a young borders player committed the exact same offence with the exact same result. The remainder of the match was seen out without incident.

All-in-all a good performance from the team, particularly being a player short. Perhaps we should play with 10 every week?!

MOM went to # for his assist, (flukey) goal and tireless pressing of the borders backline.
DOD to Stuart for rush of blood to the head and consequent card.

Thanks to Stuart Purves for umpiring.

Author: Stuart Tilston