TWFC

Many people were involved in picking the team this week. There were even whisperings about a re-match from the previous week. The final formations were hit upon by Fabiocc17. We thank Fabio for doing that and also for filming the game. We are not allowed to publish the video link for business senstivity reasons.

Niyi was nowhere to be found at kick off and he was also bringing the bibs. This unfortunate circumstance meant that both sides kicked off in similar kit and those who would evntually be the Orange Bibs played rush keeper. The score was 0 - 0 when a deeply apologetic Niyi arrived with a tale of cancelled overground trains. This was about five minutes into the match.

0 - 0 bibs distributed, game on.

Interestingly, in the time that the Orange Bibs were a player short they forced Sadulla into making four or five saves and had a goal ruled out for area encroachment.

Andyhibbert and Ellislewis123 eventually broke the deadlock with two goals in a minute and took the Orange Bibs to a 2 - 0 lead. It was only sterling keeping from Ed that stopped the Muftis from going much further behind.

On 22 minutes the Orange Bibs paused to let Ellislewis123, an Orange Bibs player, tie his laces. That is the kind of genteel thing that we sometimes do at our fixture. BILZ96 returned the ball to the Orange Bibs keeper. Once Ellislewsi123 was finished the Orange Bibs keeper returned the ball to BILZ96. Video evidence shows that the unbeknown to the keeper his return did not actually propel the ball past the line of his area. Thinking nothing of it BILZ96 took the ball and went to play on. Elvis was on him in a flash and with a graceful change of feet BILZ96 shifted away from Elvis. Then all hell broke lose as a the Mufti claimed a penalty for an area infringement . Thinking it was about the phase of play involved in moving the ball away from Elvis that was being shouted about both BILZ96 and Niyi denied any worng doing. Fabiocc17, who coaches football and is a stickler for the rules, later provided video evidence of the actual infringement and in truth it was as clear as clear can be so Niyi held his hands up. By the letter of the law a penalty could have been awarded. On social media, a viewer with the benefit of VAR footage later blamed Andyhibbert for the whole thing. This was a clear case of mistaken identity but it does bring home how one should always be wary of VAR analysis from armchair cognoscenti.

The match finally restarted at Mufti 0 - 2 Orange Bibs. However Fabiocc17 and the Mufti were fired up with righteous indignation and they began to pepper the Orange Bibs' goal. Then came a mad three minutes when the Mufti scored twice through Elvis and the Orange Bibs scored through JonF and Ellislewis123. The spell was rounded off by Fabiocc17 taking the ball outside his own area and jogging the legnth of the pitch to score. In a flash the Mufti had gone from being behind by three goals to reducing the deficit to Mufti 3 - 4 Orange Bibs.

JakeFlowers now in goal for the Mufti made sure that the Orange Bibs could not extend their lead.

The previously quiet Ed drew the game level on 30 minutes and a minute later the now voracious Elvis completed his hat-trick. In the twinkle of an eye the Mufti were in front for the first time.

Mufti 5 - 4 Orange Bibs

This was consolidated a minute later with Fabiocc17 on the end of a one-two move with Sadulla.

Ellislewis123 brought up his hat-trick to bring the score to 6 - 5 to the Mufti.

Fabiocc17 completed his own hat-trick shortly afterwards to make the score 7 - 5 to the Mufti and open up a three way race for the match ball .

JakeFlowers, now on pitch, joined the party to take the score to a comfortable 8 - 5 lead for the Mufti.

It is a long understood football maxim that eventually wrong decisions even themselves out. At 35:25 on the clock a Mufti outfield player can be seen playing the ball before it cleared his own penalty area. This infringement should have been penalised with a penalty kick but the Orange Bibs did not appeal. The player, despite being a stickler for the rules, logically did not call for them to be applied against himself. Instead he can be seen inexplicably simulating something akin to press ups in the area. I know, there is no rule about doing press ups in the restricted area. Let's call it a minor infringement that the match turned a blind eye to.

Sadulla scored what was amazingly his first goal of the night on 36 minutes and combined to assist Ed's second goal a minute later.

Mufti10 - 5 Orange Bibs

By the 45th minute despite being on the losing side Ellislewis123 had edged ahead in the race for the match ball with two further goals to bring the score to Mufti12 - 8 Orange Bibs.

At 45:51 on the clock the Mufti committed the obvious transgression of two players in their own penalty area, then no players whatsoever in the penalty area. To cap things off, for good measure,.an outfield player walked into the area and kicked the ball. The Orange Bibs did not appeal about this as No real advantage was gained from the transgression.and these things sometimes happen in error in a game.

On 49 minutes Sadulla scored what was later termed a wonder goal from his own half. Possibly, some keepers would have saved it. But when you analyse the technique from intercepting an opposition pass out of the air, to then taking the shot in stride, with no further touch, it was special. It was the split second reactions and power on the shot that were different from normal goals.

Mufti13 - 8 Orange Bibs.

For Sadulla's next move it was only JonF ttracking back that stopped him for scoring yet another outstanding goal after dribbling past three Orange Bibs.

JonF brought up his hat-trick on 52 minutes after the Orange Bibs had been subject to the humiliation of a Mufti player actually walking with the ball and waving his finger at as he inched down the pitch.

Mufti13 - 9 Orange Bibs.

BILZ96's first and second goals of the evening suggested that an Orange Bibs comeback might be on the cards.

Mufti13 - 11 Orange Bibs

The next goal would be all important, it also proved to be the final goal of the night and was scored by Ed to bring his tally to four goals. This left Ed in the unfamilar position of not being awarded the match ball. the match ball was awarded to Ellislewis123 who scored five goals.

Final Score

Mufti14 - 11 Orange Bibs

Match awarded to the Mufti.

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