Mens Merlins beat Gerrards Cross 8 - 3

MAIDENHEAD MERLINS 8 GERRARDS CROSS 3


Nurcombe 4
Mair 3
Gordon Smith

Gerrards Cross arrived belatedly with eight outfield players and no umpire. With a full team, the Merlins were able to loan Arthur Wood for the start together with Becks Miall as umpire. Martin Beardmore arrived without his keeping pads, but played as kicking back. The Merlins enjoyed all the early pressure with their preferred half back line up of David Gordon-Smith flanked by Francophile Bowes and the evergreen Noel Murphy. Released from defensive duties Simon Mial mounted a number of sorties into the Gerrards Cross circle. One resulted in a speculative shot on goal finding Ian Nurcombe unmarked on the right side of the circle. Having been briefed the previous week(in the bar) to use his predatory penchant, he made no mistake to slot the ball into the back of the net. Further pressure saw Craig Tintin Mair celebrating his latest film release( Tintin) scythe through the midfield and defence to score a fine solo goal. With Bowes feeding Nurcombe down the right flank a number of fine crosses were fired into the circle. Gordon-Smith latched onto one of these shimmied his way past the defence. More interpassing resulted in numerous scoring opportunities which saw Mair net two more goals for his personal hat trick and a 5 – 0 half time score line.

Whilst both teams enjoyed their half time libations dispensed by Alan Jones enjoying his seasonal debut, the captains demonstrated greater negotiating skills than a dozen EU officials. The outcome was the return of Wood to the Merlins in exchange for Mair. This enabled Wood to assume his usual role on the left wing with Man of the Match Miall adopting an attacking central position. As envisaged by the captains, Mair immediately stamped his class on the game carving into the circle. A brutal tackle saw him dispossesed and a short corner was awarded. Despite being unaccustomed to receiving the ball from his Merlins team mates, he fired in a strong shot at the left hand post. Rehabilitating himself as a full back, Wardle made an illegal save on the line. Given the honour of taking the penalty stroke Mair gave Ronnie Fuller no chance. This turn of events visibly lifted Gerrards Cross who enjoyed a period of parity during which they scored a second goal. Cajoled by stentorian urging from the back and incisive interceptions by Doug Courtney, the Merlins reasserted themselves and Nurcombe urged on by the unusually large crowd completed his hat trick. Not satiated, he scored his fourth to become the season’s leading scorer. With the game drawing to a close, Gerrards Cross mounted a final attack. The whistle was blown, but the advancing forward still shot into the undefended net. Much to the consternation of Fuller, who rightly pointed out that as the whistle had been blown, he made no attempt to make a save. The argument was carried from the touchline to the bar with final result being negotiated at 8 – 3.

Despite the last minute drama the game was played in a good spirit thanks to the quality and understanding of umpires Mike Bloodworth and Becks Miall.