Plus 30 vs MNF
Plus 30 and MNF post match photo
It took a couple of months planning for the Plus 30 annual charity match, so firstly I’d like to thank all the players, referee and sideline supporters for making the day a success. I had planned a September match thinking that there would be overcast autumnal weather, how wrong I was!! We saw the beginning of Wirral’s second summer with blistering heat and clear skies. Not ideal for 90 minutes on what was effectively a plastic pitch!!!
After playing with the Monday group for a couple of years now, I knew that the match was going to be a challenging one for Plus 30 FC, with a balance of strength, skill (not pace...we’re all getting on now) and football experience...in other words we weren’t going to get smashed 6-0 by celebs!!
Both teams had a few substitutions to look to for rolling subs, but probably could have done with more due to the heat and size of the pitch!
Tommy D had kindly taken the home-made captain’s armband for MNF and all the responsibilities that it came with. So onto the game!
I had started the match in nets for Plus 30, witnessing some good play from both sides. Not being a natural goalie, I did struggle to correctly adjust my positioning in the full size goal, so you can imagine my relief in seeing an early effort from Daz Graham roll inches wide of the post, staying at 0-0.
The yellows then started to play from the back with Gary turning in midfield, to feed Nathan down the left hand side. It wasn’t long after that Nathan found the net to make it 1-0. The blues were next to strike with an equaliser coming from some poor decision making by myself in goal, coming short for a cross and the ball being looped over me to bounce towards the goal. Unfortunately Cush’s efforts to clear were not successful and he couldn’t keep it out. 1-1.
The next goal came from our "foreign loan signing from across the water" Andy, the ball being fed again down the left to Nathan who squared the ball in the box after beating a defender, Andy then side-footing past an unlucky Graeme in goal who had gotten a hand to it, 2-1 yellows. Nathan was again able to find the net before the break to put the yellows 3-1 up.
The second half seen a few changes, with myself and Nick switching at the back and a change at the top with Gary Wong volunteering to play the supporting striker role so he didn’t have to do as much running. Ironically, just two minutes later, he pulled his hamstring on his first run forward! The Blues showing more attacking mentality in the second half, with Daz now up top alongside Dave. It wasn’t long before the blues got a goal back with a ball played across to Daz who was able to strike into the bottom corner. 3-2.
Nathan claimed his hat-trick next, twisting and turning like he does on a Wednesday night. 4-2 yellows. A disallowed goal from the yellows next where Jonny, now in a more attacking role, passed across to Nathan who put it in the net, but had been ruled offside by the referee. Blues responded with a fine lobbed goal from distance by Chris in the middle, 4-3 and still a very close game.
Our full back Reuben then fell victim to an extremely vicious tackle from one of the goals at the side of the pitch. There were cries of getting the goal booked from our incensed keeper, Nick, but this was waved away by the ref and play resumed (hope you’re okay, Reuben!).
With 10 minutes to go, yellows then brought on a club legend and founder, Geoff Sheen. Immediately being brought into an attack down the left, winning a corner in the process. Shortly after this, Graeme "Pickford" Nuttall brought down Nathan in the box and the referee awarded a penalty to the Yellows. With the yellows, needing a goal to relieve the pressure in the final few minutes, there was only one option, like it was written in the stars, Geoff, with 50+ years of experience in his back pocket, stepping up against one of his best mate’s sons, he had to take the pen. With the goal 5x bigger than what he’s used to, we thought this would be no problem. We were mistaken, as the ball was hit straight down the middle and Graeme was able to save the pen with relative ease.
One final attack from the Blues which was broken up by Chris at Centre Back for yellows, pumping the ball up the field (av-it!) falling into the path of Mike to run it toward goal and slot past the keeper. 5-3 Yellows. On the kick off, the referee then blew up for full-time.
Final score
Plus 30 5-3 MNF
I have spoken to the crew at Hoylake RNLI station and they have passed on their thanks to all involved, for raising a total (at the time of writing) of £372. Fantastic result.
Good luck in the season ahead lads, see you on the field(s).
Neil.
Plus 30 Lineup
Martin Cushing, Jonny Greenall, Tom Kophamel, Gary Parker, Neil Parker (c), Nathan Rodway, Blake Sheen, Nick Smith, Gary Wong, Andy O'Brien, Chris Powell, Reuben Morley, Michael Vicary, Geoff Sheen
Scorers: Nathan Rodway (3), Andy O'Brien, Michael Vicary
MNF Lineup
Chris Adamson, David Barnes, Steve Baxter, Rob Bryan, Tom Davis (c), Daz Graham, Dave Huntington, Peter Mellody, Stephen Symes, Steve Tunstall, Chris Wilson, Ian Wheeler, Smithy, Graeme Nuttall
Scorers: Martin Cushing (og), Chris Adamson, Daz Graham