Won 3-2
Scorers: Fs: Alex Ricketts, John Aikin (2), Gs: Paul Ralph, Ollie Chipchase
MoM: Chippy Chipchase
DoD: N/A
Well quite a blast from the past. For once the Friars played a team of Griffins from Yesteryear that had an average age significantly higher than their own though they still had the oldest bloke on the pitch (Jonesy topping 80). So much so that they incurred a handicap by not having a goalie. This was the perfect handicap as the Friars squeaked a win in the dying minutes of an entertaining match.
Wary of age-related medical issues during the game the umpires checked the de-fibs. One knew where one was and the other wasn’t even sure the club had one or even knew what one was – not a good omen and he was put right sharpish.
Captain John Hinch marshalled his ageing warriors all clad in their original strip from many a year past – blue shirts straining at the seams and pink “stockings”. He then conducted a quick medical check up in a sort of huddle and the first quarter (yes it was a 4 quarter match strictly timed) commenced.
Within 5 minutes Ashers had to come off with what appeared to be a groin injury but was in fact his back. However he made a miraculous recovery and was sent over the top again in the second half and for a while showed his old talents on the wing only for his back to again cause problems. He was replaced by Bob Elvey who tried to discover his talents but was at a loss where to find them though provided much entertainment. He was lucky that he was on the opposite side of the pitch to the joyous and loud WAGS who had come to support and make fun. Indeed their support and others provided a Friars game with its best attendnace of the season. They were wondering what on earth all their better halves were doing on the pitch and trying to ensure that they could at least earn a crust come Monday morning.
The one Old Griffin who showed he had not lost it was Chippy who was in today’s vernacular “awesome” saving countless shots from Aikin and Aikin. Indeed Hinch felt Chippy played so much better than when it really mattered all those years ago. However the Old Boys defence was not faultless as you can imagine with Chunders central to their efforts wielding his stick in forlorn attempts to stop the ball incurring a ticking off from one of the officials. Aided by the control of mid fielder Mark Lister for the Friars John Boy Aikin fired one of his reverse aerials to give the Friars the lead. The Griffs then equalised by it is believed Paul Ralph. This was soon followed by Cllr Alex Ricketts, getting warmed up for the local elections, by hitting a belter giving the Friars a 2-1 lead at half time.
The Griffs glugged down their old time shots with much relish but the Friars stuck to their sugar hits of jaffas. Into the the second half which saw the Griffs get another back from the by far the youngest old Griff Ollie Chipchase to set the score at 2-2. The footwear of the Old Griffs was mighty suspect with numerous slippages and Matt Jones even had his shoe taped on and covered up with electrical tape suitably of the earthed variety!
With Sir Geoff Philpott having been sold by The Friars to the Old Griffs the huge fee paid certainly seemed worth it as along with Stevo amd Jamie atson especially along with the outstanding Chippy the Griffs defence was looking like it would hold out for a draw. However into the last quarter and tired legs began to tell – it was indeed a quarter too far for most and John Aikin (who else?) sealed it with another fine goal minutes from the end.
As you would expect with some wizened specimens on show there was quite a bit of seeing how much they could away with on the “new fangled rules” since they ha last played and to make up for anno domini. The prize goes to Pete Chandler in this respect with some highly suspect appeals to the 2 “experienced” umpires who were not taken in by his “what me guv” dynamic appeals. Jim Senior was a model of rectitude in this department – he has obviously mellowed with the years.
An excellent enjoyable game played in great spirit was suitably celebrated in usual style to the delight of those managing the cash register behind the Bar inside a packed clubhouse.
Thanks to the ladies in the kitchen as ever for a wonderful tea.
Squad: Teams:
YOUNG FRIARS: John Aikin, Arthur Aikin, Dan , Mike Barton, Mark Lister, Brian Hurlow, Tony Jones (C), John Ratcliff, Alex Ricketts, Chris Ward, Kevin Goulden
GRIFFINS of YESTERYEAR: Chippy Chipchase(GK), John HInchliffe (C), Tim Ashenden, Matt Jones, Mark Jones, Pete Chandler, Chris Stephens, Bob Elvey, Jamie Watson, Jim Senior, Ollie Chipchase, Geoff Philpott, Paul Ralph,
OLD UMPIRES: Martin Twyman and Geordie Hayward
