The last visit to the Marshes this year brings with it more heated arguing and dramatics than an omnibus edition of Eastenders. The already testosterone charged area around the car park is taken to new levels today as we arrive to witness a group of referees charging after a player from an earlier match. The player in 
question was hot footing it away after charging into the referees room demanding an explanation for a minor decision that went against him. The men in black did not take too kindly to him waving his fists around and chased him away. We gradually filter into the dressing room and ready ourselves for kick off. (*It's at this point 
that some inner-Recreativo politics explodes both in and outside the dressing room. For the good of all concerned we'll say nothing more right now, only that it's probably a very good time to have a few weeks winter break)...Onto the football. You could feel a collective sigh of despair when the words "there's no Joao today" were muttered. Our most gifted player, Joao Spinola, (Bilal may argue with that) has flu, but we have a fairly decent team out today. From the off we played some decent football. Despite the opposition playing some great passing moves, we managed to stay in there and find a rhythm of our own. Dario bagged the best goal scored in a Reccy shirt this season, a delicate drag-back, a turn, a shimmy past two defenders and a thunderous strike past Rio's keeper. Brilliant. Beautiful. Fantastico! Russell's work rate in midfield was rewarded by two goals and another for the golden booted Dario sealed a well fought and well deserved win for Recreativo. Once again, all over, everyone gave their all. That's four wins on the bounce against very good sides.
We shake hands with Abdul, our larger than life ref and wish him happy Christmas. We traipse back across the mud to load the car with the filthy kit and nets and grab some bacteria burger from the chip van. As darkness envelopes the car park the word goes round that the earlier incident involving the referees and angry player has 
escalated and turned nasty. Within minutes the police arrive and set up a road block, hundreds of tired and muddied sunday footballers corralled in as they try and arrest the idiots who attacked the ref. A police helicopter hovers above us, more flashing blue lights along the Eastway. It's surreal. It's crazy. It's another episode from the strange and wonderful days out with Recreativo!
escalated and turned nasty. Within minutes the police arrive and set up a road block, hundreds of tired and muddied sunday footballers corralled in as they try and arrest the idiots who attacked the ref. A police helicopter hovers above us, more flashing blue lights along the Eastway. It's surreal. It's crazy. It's another episode from the strange and wonderful days out with Recreativo! We eventually get home and load the washing machine with kit, a process that usually takes two days of washing and drying. Hopefully by tuesday it will all be folded and put away ready for the next match. Until then, enjoy the Christmas break...a well deserved rest for Recreativo. Nice one.
Team : Chris Read, Mario Pisano, John Megaughin, Jimmie Gregory, Nick Candy, James Humphreys, Adam Bradbury, Russell Smith, Alex the Reading Fan, Bilal Talib Ali, Dario Costa.