TWFC

We used the match video shared by Fabiocc17 this week. Many thanks Fabio. We are not allowed to publish the video link for business sensitivity reasons.

As always we were grateful to the guests who kindly came to make up our numbers.

Eddie117 and Fabiocc17 picked the teams. It was the good old fashioned way we used to do it during P.E at school, basically each captain selected a player alternating until teams were complete.

It was Leon94's debut as a full club member. He had previously been known as 'Guest (Eddie117's mate Leon)'.

The match may have been decided in a four minute spell when the Blue Bibs went from 1-2 behind to 6 - 2 ahead. Fabiocc17 managed to bag himself a hat-trick in this period simply by reading the game and intercepting balls which he had no right to get. Early career players please watch and scrutinise the match video from 10:00 - 13:59 on the clock. This is a free lesson on the value of watching the game like a hawk and never switching off. The five goals by Fabiocc17, Sadulla and Guest Liban are all the more laudible because they took them against a team fortified by such luminaries as Coach Hagenius and VIIGeorgeVII, both of whom are known to marshall a very tight defence.

By the halfway point of the match the Blue Bibs led 7 - 4. When the match video was delivered to us we noted some highlighted portions tagged as 'BS'. We take this to mean the person filming has identified them as a 'Bit Suspect' or a 'Bit Sceptical', as such we will analyse them.

BS1 (28:10 on the clock) Leon94 counterattacks down the center after breaking up a Blue Bibs' move. Fabiocc17 sprints 25 yards up the pitch to cover the space to the right of the attack. Leon94 plays the ball to Eddie117 on the left, thereby switching the focus to that side of the pitch. Fabiocc17 follows the ball, Eddie117 plays it back to Leon94 who is free again down the middle. He was through, on goal with no player other than the keeper to beat. Wrong sided, Fabiocc17 executes a move that leaves Leon94 collapsed on the ground. This is considered a clear denial of goal scoring opportunity. By our rules it should have been penalised with a penalty kick to the Mufti. Somehow the Blue Bibs convinced the Mufti that they could only have an indirect free kick. Sadulla is clearly seen to give the ball to Eddie117 for the free kick. Guest Arthur is seen almost at the halfway line squatting on his haunches seemingly trying to make sense of the reality of a penalty being reduced to a free kick. The Blue Bibs arranged players in front of the ball but there was no draught excluder. Eddie117 passes the ball backwards away from the goal to the now up right Guest Arthur who walks to it and drills it at ankle height through the wall and past the keeper. Incredibly the Blue Bibs asked for the free kick to be re-taken as they claimed they were still talking. The retaken free kick was blocked.

Verdict: The Mufti were denied a penalty and then further denied a well taken goal from an indirect free kick. This is acknowledged as more than a 'Bit Suspect' but cannot be overturned because it was not properly challenged in game.

BS2 (35:30 on the clock) Hagenius lays the ball off to Leon94 who is free along the attacking left flank. Fabiocc17 cuts off the angle for Leon94 to pass a through ball to Eddie117, Fabiocc17 also blocks Leon94's shot in a move quite similar to what Virgil van Dijk might do. Leon94 goes after the ball and Fabiocc17 follows behind him and placing his left hand firmly in Leon94's back Fabiocc17 pushes him off of the ball.

Verdict: Whilst some might consider it a soft free kick, it would not be deemed wrong to call a transgression for the act of a player approaching from behind and pushing another in the back. This is not deemed a 'Bit Suspect' and the free kick awarded was within the range of reasonable responses.

BS3 (38:50 on the clock) Eddie117 and Fabiocc17 both chase a diagonal ball heading for the attacking player's left corner. Both arrive at the same time. Fabiocc17 establishes control of the ball and eases ahead of the attacking player, Eddie117, who is seen to place his forearm into back of Fabiocc17's shoulder to push him off of the ball. The attacking player Eddie117 then went on to score.

Verdict: The logic here is the same as BS2 . it would not be deemed wrong to call a transgression for a player approaching from behind and pushing another in the back. This is deemed a 'Bit Suspect' as no free kick was awarded which is inconsistent with the decision minutes earlier. The goal scored stands but could easily have been ruled out if players had supported their captain and demanded post match VAR.

For clarity, gentlemen are advised of the following rule of thumb:

Charging is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows. A fair charge must be shoulder to shoulder, a charge in the back or chest is not permissible. A gentleman must not be careless, reckless or use excessive force. A gentlemen must at all times refrain from pushing.

At 45:40 on the clock we saw something as rare as hen's teeth. Elvis received the ball in space about 20 yards out from goal. Normally he would have set off on a dazzling run at the opposition. This time he simpy launched a fine accurate shot at goal from distance. The ability to mix up playing styles from time to time is an impressive quality, it keeps defenders and keepers alike on their toes.

As the match went into its final five minutes the Blue Bibs led 11 - 7. Guest Liban in goal for the Blue Bibs had pulled off a superb goal keeping performance and contributed at least 10 top drawer saves.

The match ball was eventually shared between Fabiocc17, Leon94 and Sadulla who each scored four goals.

Final Score

Blue Bibs 12 - 8 Mufti

Match awarded to the Blue Bibs.

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC