Hallelujah!We scribble down the team and realise that we are putting out our strongest side so far this season. Enough decent players in every position, solid back four, tough midfield and enough pace up front to smash and grab those precious three points and drag them back to the Recreativo Christmas knees up in Stoke Newington. Despite the usual chaos of getting everyone to warm up together and on time, (today we realise we have too many players and not enough kit to go round, subs left standing in their pants waiting for someone to give them a pair of shorts), we soon take hold of the opening 20 minutes. There was a great spirit throughout the team today, evident in the crunching tackles flying in, determination to win the ball and keep it, to support eachother. Once again we faced our old keeper, now playing for the opposition. In describing us as 'shit' (the words pot, kettle and black come to mind) and his missus gobbing off they were going to beat us 7-0 (yeah, whatever..), we could not think of a better reason to show them what Recreativo are all about.
Joe, Max and Joao all scored and Bilal could have (should have) scored another three. It's been a long time coming, but we finally won a game. Our best performance this season saw players really committed, crunching tackles flying in until the very end. A very deserved win, and just in time for Christmas!The after party found us back along Church Street, squeezed into the vaults of Ryan's Bar in front of Liverpool-Arsenal. A great turn out, pints flowing and having a laugh. Recreativo need to do this more often. Jimmie G, Jimmy L and Mario out drunk everyone. After watching the Spanish football later on, then Sports Personality of the Year we realised we were the last ones left in the bar and moved on to the Rose & Crown. There we were treated to free roast potatoes (lovely with a bit of salt), more booze and the presence of Nigel from Eastenders. We discussed trips abroad, football stadium architecture, bullfighting and work and then it all became a blur. Later on a local housing estate was treated to loud singing. (Kali, "Dad, you woke the whole block up. I was in bed and I could hear you singing 'Come on You Spurs' as you came down the street outside."). All in all, a beautiful day.
Team : James Humphreys, Nick Candy (Chris Read), Joao Spinola, Jimmy Lloyd, Joe Dunthorne, Bilal Talib Ali, Adam Bradbury (Aaron), Lee Walsh, Tino (Stefan Garcia Fernandez), Russell Smith, Max Bland. Subs not used : Super Mario Pisano, John Megaughin.
Sick notes: Marcus (arm), Jimmie G (knee), Gregg (toe).