Game 4 - a loss!

Tom was distraught when he heard about our result and who can blame him?

We played the North Shore International men of mystery and we bloody well lost and surrendered the top spot, dropping to third in the league. The score was 4-3 with goals from Pat (left footer), Dori (traditional belter) and Hedgerow (side footer) but there should have been more because we were the better team ... no really, we were the better team. We created more chances, had more possession and were the better team ... and we were better than them. The Internationals played OK but did not deserve to win the game because we were better than them ... quite a bit better, not that I'm bitter or biased or anything. The Internationals used a secret code language to try and confuse us ... I believe this language is know as Italian ... and it is quite underhanded trick if you ask me. They used the top secret "Italian" language to communicate among themselves and they used a lot of hand waving and they shouted things too ... all very tricky!

Rob was out because he has a dodgy back but otherwise we were close to full strength and Captain Flicky did his utmost to inspire but it was not to be. We did make a couple of slip ups at the back but, and I want to make this absolutely clear, we were still definitely better than them. Nevertheless they punished us for the couple of slip ups. They did score one decent goal ... a belter from outside the box, but (and I want to be clear about this) it was really their only bonafide goal. After the game we adjourned pitch-side and Paschal cooked up a passel of burgers and dogs on the grill. Paschal kept the burgers juicy with a gasoline marinade and the ensuing cloud of smoke could be seen from the International Space Station.

Next week we play Boxford and I know that a few of the chaps are missing the game but I am going on record right now and predicting that we will give them a tonking ... a damned good tonking at that!

Stoneham Spartans Over 50  map	4	2	0	2	8	3	12	9	+3	2.00
Marblehead  map	4	2	1	1	7	2	17	9	+8	1.75
North Shore Celtic FC  map	4	2	1	1	7	2	12	10	+2	1.75
NS Internationals  map	4	2	2	0	6	4	13	11	+2	1.50
FC Boxford  map	4	1	3	0	3	3	6	12	-6	0.75
S.S.C. Napoli  map	4	1	3	0	3	5	9	18	-9	0.75

Game three - Celtic beats Marblehead 2-1

I'm under a lot of pressure these days ... pressure from Rob Lebel. Rob demands that the blog report is posted by no later than Tuesday or he won't read it. He also insists that the link to the blog has to be emailed to him along with the notification. I'm telling you right now that the pressure is intense and there's a price to pay because you just don't want Rob playing mind games with ya ... he's like Hanibal Lechter for god's sake.

Anyway, moving right along. It was a top of the table clash and it was a hot one and their pitch was bloody awful ... lumpy with long grass that sucked all the energy out of us. The Marblehead blokes all confirmed that the grass should have been cut but evidently getting it cut was beyond their powers ... and to quote Forest Gump ... "that's all I have to say about that". I did enjoy watching one of their players present a copy of their roster to the ref when he was checking in. The ref asked for his card and the player re-submitted the roster with the words "there you go" which I thought quite peculiar. I enjoyed the ensuing exchange and wondered why anyone would think this technique might work. Needless to say, the ref was not going to accept the crumpled roster and the miscreant was dispatched in search of his card.

We started the game brightly and carved out an early chance however Marblehead scored first and took the lead into the halftime break. Captain Flicky delivered an impassioned speech and we came back with two nice goals from Boomer. The first was a scramble off a high ball that I lost in the sun but Boomer got his melon on it and the ball squeaked into the corner of the goal. The second one was from a headed ball from Pat to Nigel Hedge who took it to the end line and cut it back with the left peg to the Boomer who smacked it into the back of the old onion bag. We had some other chances including one from Andy who belted one just past the outside wicket.

But none of this really matters because it was all about the unsung hero's of the team ... the defenders and one in particular ... young Derek and by young Derek I mean old Derek. Derek had been tasked with keeping Grubor under wraps and he did a fine job. Derek was voted 'man of the match' and presented with a non cash prize ... by non cash prize I mean ... nothing. I have been informed by JB that the defenders never get any mention in the blog and I think he's right. So here goes ... hmmm .... waiting for writers cramp to ease off ... no ... nothing .... hmmmmm ... so the defenders .... hmmm ... how about those guys eh!

This much I can confirm ... we are in first place and I betcha we will finish in first place!

Game two - Celtic spank Crapoli 4-2

This was an important game ... Napoli were, until quite recently, the team to beat and they scored first in this game and took the lead into the half but ... and I want to make this absolutely clear ... we were not concerned. Our tails were up from the start and this Limey always knew that we were going to win the game. Captain Flicky delivered a rousing half time address and we came out of the blocks like a rat out of an aqueduct. Caino scored two quick goals in the first five minutes of the second half and Celtic were controlling the ball. Crapoli did manage to get an equalizer but Dory smacked in number three and Nigel Hedge bagged number four. Crapoli caused us some trouble for about fifteen minutes in the first half but we had things well in hand for the balance of the game. We now have Caino and Dory leading the pack on two goals apiece and the promise of more. Lesly (who was nursing a hangnail) should have been on the scoreboard today but he was a bit skew whiff if you know what I mean however I do not plan to publish an anonymous op-ed on the matter. Boomer was at the game but could not play on account of the left peg being all mucked up. Please refer to exhibit A below.

Exhibit B shows Boomer consulting with Frank our highly trained medical professional. In this picture Boomer is asking Frank to point to his testicle and Frank is actually quite a way off the mark.  

Doug the Vee man played well in his kids size 4's with sparkly laces. The soft spoken, retiring Mr Viggliolottacaprese is shown here sporting his football boot earrings.

We are now tied at the top of the table with Marblehead and we play them next week. I predict that we will win it comfortably - probably six nil.

TEAM Click on a team for details	GP	W	L	T	PTS
Marblehead  map	2	1	0	1	4
North Shore Celtic FC  map	2	1	0	1	4
NS Internationals  map	2	1	1	0	3
FC Boxford  map	2	1	1	0	3
Stoneham Spartans Over 50  map	2	0	0	2	2
S.S.C. Napoli  map	2	0	2	0	0