JL writes: It was just like the good old days.
No fights, a few laughs, a Gregory on the team-sheet — and a
home defeat.
This Project Clapham side are top of the league and will
thrash better teams then Reccy this season.
But we held our own and with a bit more luck might have
nicked it.
Reccy fell behind but Joe H — the second smallest man on the
pitch (behind our new keeper Radu) — levelled with a header.
Yet two sucker-punch second-half goals killed it off.
Adam’s worldwide network of dodgy scouts has produced an
exotic-sounding roster of tiki taka stars.
Pablo (Spain), Valetin (France), Adrien (France), Radu
(Romania) and Pete (er, Bristol) made us at least sound like a thrilling
continental side.
In particular, Radu — a “pre-revolution” cycling champion in
Romania — had a stormer in goal.
But that could just be down to the canister of “Goalkeeper
Glove Glue” we clocked him using before kick-off!
We might have lacked killer touch as 2013 started with
defeat.
But after the punch-ups and red cards of 2012 that could be
a good thing.
JG adds:No handbags, no fisticuffs, no yellow cards, no broken bones. Just an honest game of football on Hackney Marshes on a mild January afternoon. Nice.
Having been a way a while it was great to return to this hallowed turf and see plenty of new faces, as well as some of the old heads. And despite both teams making a full on contest of the match, crashing into tackles, (keeper Radu's early 50-50 slide out of goal into a Clapham forward early on springs to mind), both teams played this game in a great spirit.
The football was good, Tom in midfield in the heart of the action and Aaron and Joe Haley linked up well to set up Recreativo chances. This was a more equal game than the 10-0 drubbing we had inflicted on us a few seasons back. But Project Clapham are a well handy side, currently sitting pretty at the top of the league.
So a final 3-1 loss after a hard fought game wasn't too bad and surely if we continue with this decent football we'll pick up a fair few points before the season's end in March. Hard luck boys, but well played everyone.
Team (roll on-roll off): Radu, Mario Pisano, Chris Chambers, Joe Dunthorne, Aaron Gayle, Joe Haley, Tom, Dan, Adrian, Valentino, Pablo, Jimmie Gregory, Pete.