This Sunday saw the Green Dragon travel to Thurcroft top club in the big boys cup. A side mid table in division one. A cup the Dragon management had mixed emotions about regarding financial reasons after splashing out on a spanking new green and white kit which looks like its being saved for best as they never wear it.
This was reflected in the side manager Brian ‘ginger mourinho’ Hinchcliffe fielded. A few new faces made their way into the starting xi. Muzzy managed to retain the number 1 jersey and somehow avoiding a suspension, no one has seen the ref who sent him off since Sunday. Coincidence? A back 4 of Dakin, Anderson, Cal and little Danny. A midfield of Pat, Woody, Dewsnap and Tom Nuttall. A front 2 of Hickman and the dragons number 11 and somehow captain for the week due to Macca’s ‘hungover’ poorly foot, who’s name alludes me.
The game started with a whiff of bacon sandwiches in air with Dragon on the back foot. Trying to remain solid and keep shape. Muzzy and the back 4 were due a busy afternoon.
The first talking point of the game came when Woody for the first time this season or maybe ever mis controlled the ball in the centre of the park and into the path on an on rushing thurcroft striker who charged through on goal. In his heroic attempt to retain possession and last ditch tackle to put off the striker who shot wide (job done) he accidentally pulled him down. Referee pointed to the spot. Rich probably would have tackled the striker had Woody now tried to clothesline the thurcroft forward. The striker sent muzzy who couldn’t keep his penalty heroics of last week up the wrong way. 1-0 thurcroft.
Moments later the dragon were forced into a change. Woody was stamped on by an opposition player which the referee failed to spot and the soreness of his ankle meant he couldn’t continue as he was needed to be fit for the little boys cup the week after. Hard man Mellor came on to replace him and was heard to have even attempted to tackle Woody as he made his way off the field.
The dragon managed to gain a little more composure as the minutes passed. Little Danny & Tom linking up well down the left and starting to put a foot on the ball. Thurcroft though continued to press and hit the woodwork moments before making it 2-0 a striker closed down rich made a slide tackle and deflected rich’s clearance into a helpless muzzy’s goal.
Just before half time a clash between Rich and Pat ended in Pat being floored for the 2nd time in a week after Fridays antics at a pre match bonding session in local hotspot and nationally celeb fave famous nightclub pop Rotherham, as Pat lay in agony on the floor Bri asked one of the subs to run on with the magic sponge as he was holding his dog to which no one obliged. Spectators overheard the Dragon gaffer shouting ‘wankers, you’re a bunch of bell ends, which we’re yet to confirm.
The Dragon tried to push forward and a run from Hickman was flagged for offside. With no player in 5 yards of him Hickman was heard shouting ‘I didn’t touch him ref it wasn’t a foul! What’s offside?!’
The Dragon did manage to take advantage of a mistake in the thurcroft back line a lofted back pass to the keeper which he attempted to chest and had a touch like the late sir jimmy savile with a young female child. (Too soon?) the dragon number 11 pounced rounded the goalkeeper and fired enthusiastically into the roof of the net. 2-1 Thurcroft.
Half time came and pressure was on bri to turn it around especially in front of his brother and former dragon player Mark Hinchcliffe who said a few motivational words his self. I’m not sure any of the players took it on board. Apart from little Danny who managed to not repeat his cross field ball antics across the back 4 from the first half. ‘You’re told not to do that at under 8’s’ which almost confirms little Danny to be Lucy Liu’s long lost 6 year old daughter. We still all would though.
Early in the 2nd half a carbon copy of thurcrofts 2nd goal made it 3-1 when Pats attempted clearance cannoned off a thurcroft strikers attempted tackle and into the net and ultimately ended any hope of a giant killing. Macca, club captain remained silent on the touch line providing no motivation for the side questioning whether now he has the club armband tattoo’ed on his left arm does he really need to become a vocal leader or does someone else deserve a shot?
Pats injury ultimately led to a dragon change early in the 2nd half with Karl Nuttall replacing Pat and Lemo coming on at right back for a tiring Dakin who had tracked the left winger for the first hour.
The dragon continued to work tirelessly with Mellor, Karl and Dewsnap working hard to close down with Dewsnap providing a motivational roar to try and motivate his side to step it up a gear. Cal and Rich were unlucky after dealing with a top centre forward partnership for most of the game. Hickman fired inches wide after a neat turn at the other end. A well delivered corner at the right end for the dragon was attacked by Lemo who leapt like a dead salmon and unluckily managed to miss the ball completely by at least 4 yards when any contact would have surely been a goal.
The final action was a chance for thurcroft as a strike towards goal wasn’t given up on by Lemo as he lunged his way back onto the line for a last ditch goal line clearance to try and stake a place in the starting back 4 next week. He was seen panting and having a cheeky fag after having to sprint back a whole 5 yards and redeeming his self for his earlier miss. Muzzy superbly saved the rebound with his legs.
The final whistle was blown. 3-1 thurcroft, a respectable result for a mixed Dragon side who now drop into the losers cup an one they realistically could win. Even passing up on bacon sarnies to get back for Karens chip butties, gravy and Yorkshires! They next face a trip to the Stag roundabout in the little boys cup one that which could feature changes and see boy band member of the wanted 2 Lil Wayne’wright & groupie Fisher who were overheard being promised minutes on the pitch. Lil Wayne’Wright is still hoping they give out end of season trophies for top sportsman as he’s a sure fire favourite for his commitment.
So not exactly a bad loss for the dragon but one they made up for by a post match bonding session on FIFA clubs. They’re best chance of silverwear this season. Purchases of xboxs have doubled in Rotherham.