Mens Merlins lost to South Bucks Wrinklies 1 - 2

South Bucks Wrinklies 2 Maidenhead Merlins 1
(Stearn, O’Shea) (Tarrier)

The Merlins were missing several of their key players for this fixture, in addition to which Bob Jigsaw Brown and Arthur Blocker Wood were called away on domestic duty. However their absence was more than compensated for the late drafting of Angie Hannigan who played a splendid game at full back.

On the heavy sloping grass pitch at Farnham Common the Wrinklies took early control with the Merlins midfield of Slow Miall, Tugboat and Murphy all committed to defensive duties. However it still needed timely interceptions by Teapot and Angie baby and some firm clearances from IMOZ to keep the Wrinklies at bay. It was one of these clearances that found Biggles somewhere north of a diamond who followed his natural sense of direction and sprinted forward, releasing the ball to Tin Tin on the right wing. He eased past a couple of Wrinklies and drilled a firm cross at an acute angle just in front of the opposing keeper where Mike Tapas Tarrier tapped the ball into the net to put the Merlins into an unexpected lead.

At half time skipper IMOZ demanded more accuracy and effort and so it was that Miall the mop awoke from his reverie and put in some good running trying to link midfield to the forward line. Tugboat had similar ideas but rather than waste all that energy running, deployed to great effect the aerial ball. However there was little doubt that the Wrinklies were a more cohesive unit and their attacks from midfield became more frequent. Simon Kenworthy was called into action time and time again but could do nothing to prevent Mike Stearn’s equaliser ten minutes into the second half. Despite desperate defending the Wrinklies continued their attacking play and again man-of-the-match Simon Kenworthy pulled off several saves, including a spectacular tip over the crossbar to deny the South Bucks striker. But with five minutes remaining and following a short corner the Merlins were unable to stop Rick O’Shea deflecting the ball under a diving Kenworthy to seal the match.

Good ale and homemade pasta followed in the busy South Bucks clubhouse where the teams enjoyed the social side of the game and were able to congratulate the umpire on his sympathetic use of the whistle.