That Hockey Match
FOLLOWING HIS MUCH ACCLAIMED REPORTING success last year John Prescott asked if
he could write the report again this year. In spite of claiming (do we believe
him?) to have received a whole bag of fan mail he will never be allowed to
darken the Hockey Match again because of that enormous monstrosity just twenty
yards from our very own PC Chairman's house in Whiteway Drove. It is all
down to "the office of the Deputy Prime Minister" I was informed by
our ECDC councillor, who added that the PC, ECDC and CCC could only make
comments on, and influence, the landscaping. Who would have thought that?
But, on to the Hockey Match, acclaimed by many of the supporters as the best for many years. This was partly because the pitch was quite good so that long balls could open up the game, partly because overall there was a higher level of skill and stick control with less pushing, eye-gouging and kicking, and partly because the weather was quite clement and, to quote one spectator, "there were so many interesting people to talk to and we didn't see much of the game."
The match was settled in the 5th minute when the re-signed Dave of the Red Lion, from far out, gave a hit/cross/pass (call it what you like) which made its gentle way towards goal, missing everyone, and being missed in turn as it bobbed forward across the ground as on a gentle stroll, with the Bulbeck goalkeeper carefully shepherding it over the line for a goal hit.
But, it was 2 inches just within the larger than usual hockey scoring area, and IT WAS A GOAL. Prior were surprised, Bulbeck were stunned, and afterwards one could only feel sympathy for John Trapp, the Bulbeck captain and magnificent goalkeeper. The astonishment was so great that there was not the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth.
A lesser team might have collapsed but though thereafter Prior dominated much of the play they were unable to breach the stolid defensive play and grand goalkeeping of Bulbeck and the final score was 1-0 to Prior. Next year the game should be a corker. And people may discover the answer which so many ladies asked: "Who was that man who suddenly appeared for Prior in the second quarter?". The dazzled ladies, young and old, were convinced he was a professional French or Italian footballer. They said he looked as if he had flown into Marshall's airport, travelled down in a stretch limo, played in the match and then vanished like a prince charming. Do come next year.
