Tuesday 8 November 2011

Remember, Remember...

Saturday 5th November
East Riding Senior Country Cup R2
Easington Utd Reserves 4 Beverley Town Reserves 1

Some nine hours after the official changing of the clocks, I dismantled the Slushettes' trampoline - summer was officially at an end (something that could be in doubt given some of the weather we'd been having in recent weeks).
In the afternoon, we made decorative pumpkins.  This went very much against my natural instincts I might add, which are to loathe the whole Hallowe'en carry-on as another unwanted intrusion of Americana.  That said, I do feel I made quite a decent fist of this year's... 

Well, maybe not then.
On Hallowe'en itself the Slushettes, suitably attired, headed out with Mrs Slush and friends, returning an hour or so later with a veritable swag bag full of goodies.  My good lady couldn't believe the amount of stuff people had ready for the "Trick or Treat" knock.  She then backtracked quite spectacularly when realising the paltry offerings she'd left behind for me to "treat" potential visitors with.  And I plenty had come knocking, including one mixed-up soul wearing a ghoulish mask but saying "Merry Christmas"!  But given the measly "treats" at my disposal I decided against answering the door for the remainder of the night.  Well, it was Monday - Corrie was on.


Midweek saw City's nine-match unbeaten run draw to a close with defeat at Barnsley.  Ironically, manager Nigel Pearson described it as the best the Tigers had played in some time.  Mack and Nicho know how he feels!
Not that those two had any concerns the following Saturday - no First Team game instead offered another chance to catch up with the Stiffs as they bid for a place in the last eight of the County Cup.  And with Bonfire Night to follow, the hopes were high of some corny puns to accompany the weekly match report.  A "firecracker" perhaps, or maybe a "sparkling performance", or if things went belly up, how about "For Fawkes sake"?!  
Oh, the possibilities were endless...

In the words of David Coleman... "One Nil!"

In the event there was plenty of fizz in a Stiffs' performance described by skipper 'Nige' as "our best of the season".
After a slight delay due to refereeing issues - the appointed one didn't show (desptie messages of confirmation left on both her voicemail and at home) with the replacement arriving ten minutes after the designated kick-off time ("I've had a nightmare trip, I set off just after one from University!") and five minutes before the local qualified volunteer replacement who I'd managed to recruit some five minutes beforehand.  Grrrgh!
Anyway, two teams and referee in place it was off we went and by the break we were two up; "veteran" striker Wilks twice benefitting from lax defending by The Beavers.

A pocket battleship
Midfield pocket battleship Tony Everitt was enjoying himself in the middle of the park, setting up Wilky for his second and stinging the tips of Town keeper Brown with an effort of his own.
The best opening Beverley enjoyed was when Pagey was somewhat harshly penalised for handling a backpass.  The wall held firm.
The visitors came more into it at the start of the second half but young Josh Price added a third to calm any nerves on the part of those in the "Farm Shed".

They shall not pass
Tom Proud reduced arrears with fourteen to go but - to the delight of the home crowd - a fourth goal arrived for the locally grown number 10, Keyworth, on 85 minutes.  A place in the quarter-finals - to be drawn live on local radio - was assured.
Pictures courtesy of Colin Brammer.

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