Wiggy's World

So that’s me now watched the first 3 seasons of Spooks since borrowing  a while back! I must have become addicted to it again, as even tho I’ve set up a new xbox live profile on Friday night, I’ve still wanted to watch Spooks more than play online   Something not right there I think haha!  I have been online quite a bit in between that tho so it’s all good.  Whats not good is the mere fact that my kill/death ratio is bordering on 1 kill per every 2 deaths!  The game is that popular that even in the changing rooms before and after the game on Sunday the lads were on about it.  And after adding the gaffer and the match-report writer (and part time striker Barksby) It’s become clear that Barksby is a proper online little geek.  He got to level 55 on prestige 10 on the previous Modern Warfare, and he’s upto level 40 already this time! Defo someone I am gonna want on my team when he’s online! Might get my win/loss ratio up a bit more! I currently run around with a big sign above my head saying “Shoot me” or so it appears! So many people are sniping as I run around trying to get me some kills

The last few days at work had been a bit of a nightmare with one or two hire jobs, and Saturday I went to deliver a few more chairs to one of them, and 3 hours later I arrived home! There were a few little things that needed sorting to try and help combat the 60mph winds that were going crazy in the area.  She was more than happy with our help, and left a plate full of Greek desserts for us to feast on, altho 3 little bits gave me a sugar rush from hell and I felt sick Watched the England vs Brazil game, and it’s safe to say that Wes Brown aint an England defender anymore, he made Glen Johnson look even better than normal, and our 2nd XI is not good enough! I think the game would have been better if we’d had the first choice players like Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and co, but you can’t take away the quality of the ball from Elano or the header from Nilmar that won the game for the Brazilians.

Got ready for Becca’s 30th party and left my car at my mum and dads and walked down, as I hoped the cool air would do me some good, as I was feeling a little fatigued.  Once I was there it was the usual thing when arriving at a party on your own, I knew the birthday girl and her sister!! So I stood around and text someone I knew was coming to say hurry up!  Not long after Simon, Alec and Ian turned up.  These were lads I went to school with, and we just stood at the bar laughing at everything.  We were gutted that there was to be no knee-sliding competition, as we’d been gearing ourselves up mentally for going head to head with the kids, but they’d been warned or serious repercussions should they go ahead and do it.  By the end of the night, the four of us ended up dancing with Becca’s work colleagues, including her manager Kelly and it was defo a laugh.  Even being sober   Managed to reverse the car off the drive without starting the ignition, trying hard not to wake my mum and dad! The rest of the neighbours I didn’t really care about haha!

Sunday was always gonna be a difficult game, against a team that are riding high in Division 2.  That’s the beauty of the Stamper Cup here in the Mansfield league.  The top 3 teams from each league end up in a “luck of the draw” cup competition.  A mid-table division 5 side can come up against someone from Division 2 or maybe even the Prem (god forbid).  Anyway we came up against Impress Lawson Mardon, a team I’d helped beat 8-3 a few years back for Rachells (our only win that season) and a team that Dave Lowe and Banner still play for (known them from my Carnarvon days about 10 years or so ago )  I think Barksby’s write-up says it all folks.

There have been some great battles through the ages, David and Goliath, Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed, Haye and Valuev to name a few.

In the FA Cup, Yeovil beating Sunderland in 1949, Sutton beating Coventry in 1989 and Barnsley beating Chelsea in 2008 have all one thing in common.

Todays Cockle result can be added into the lists above, all of which the underdog on the day came out victorious.

Division 5 mid table Cockle 06 were today drawn against Division 2 leaders ILM in the first round of the Stamper Cup.

The Cockle were without Adam (through injury) and Sean (through a girly cold), which meant a reshuffle of the regular starting line up. Jim was partnering John in the centre of defence, Wiggy and James in their usual positions. Ali was swapped over to the right wing, with Gav going back to the left. Scott was partnered this week by Simon leaving Dave and Ryan up front. Matt was on the bench as the Cockle’s only sub (although there were 4 other players on the sideline who couldn’t be bothered to kit up).

There was a atmosphere in the changing rooms before hand of “lets just play and see what happens” being as we all thought, it was going to be a case of “how many goals are we going to concede” due to hearing a few people comment on how good a team ILM were.

From the kick off however, it was evident that we could hold our own against them and create chances ourselves and hence this was going to be a tough, but winnable game of football.

Within minutes however, ILM played some good passing football and after a period of keeping possession, forced a free kick which was whipped in and headed into the net following some poor marking.

Heads didn’t go down however, and very soon afterwards, Scott crossed to the back post and Gav, completely unmarked had the easiest task ever to nod the ball into the open net, but instead 50p’d it over the swings on the neighbouring playground and out for a goal kick.

Soon afterwards, a Scott long throw forced a scramble in the penalty area. The ball was cleared to Ali who’s left foot miss-hit shot was flicked into the bottom left corner of the net by Dave to bring the Cockle back on level terms.

The majority of the remaining first half saw both teams have chances to retake the lead with both Ryan and Simon coming close to putting the Cockle in front however it was ILM who regained the league following another Bacon howler. The ILM defender shooting from just inside his own half to which Simon “don’t worry its going out” Bacon just watched it fly over him and into the net.

The last attack of the first half saw a monstrous throw in being flicked on, to which the ILM forward bedazzled Simon which left him on his arse and passed the ball into the open net.

Half time: 3 – 1

From the start of the second half, the Cockle seemed the most determined of the two teams to create chances and actually try to win the game. ILM seemed happy to sit on the two goal lead and think they were home and dry, however the Cockle pressure was rewarded with a Chappers goal soon after the restart. Another scramble in the goal mouth saw the ball yet again land at Ali’s feet, who yet again scuffed his left foot shot. This time, after a defensive mix up, Simon rounded the ILM keeper (and it was his turn to fall in the mud) for a nice easy tap in to make it 3-2.

ILM seemed to be shaken by this, and tried to up the tempo, but soon after, a quick counter attack, saw Scott have a moment of inspiration. With both forwards screaming for the through ball, Scott rode a challenge from a defender then after a nasty bobble skied the ball upwards and over the keeper into the top corner from at least 30 yards out. A quality strike in all fairness and one in contention for goal of the season surely.

All the Cockle defence were on top form in the second half, and every thing ILM threw at us was cut out and cleared, with Bacon also getting on the end of a few though balls to deny them any real clear cut chance.

With the earlier miss, 50p head… (Gav) was eager to get on the score sheet, and with his “any thing you can do I can do better” attitude the ball was fired up front for Ryan to nod back into Gav’s path. Gav hit the shot first time which lobbed the keeper on his six yard box (Bacon-esque style) and found the back of the net.

Moments later, Ryan’s free kick from around the same area as Gav’s goal again found the keeper flapping to which he could do nothing but palm the ball upwards and over into the back of the net. A howling keeper error, from a good (but should have been quite easy to save) free kick.

With the Cockle now 3 – 5 up, with approx 15 minutes to hold out, ILM got quite mardy, and a few nasty challenges were beginning to make an appearance, with the stand in captain getting carded for a few rash challenges on both Ali and Chappers.

We got the last laugh though, when a through ball from Gav on the counter saw the fresh legs of Mat (on for Ryan) race through. He got caught in two minds however and after rounding the keeper saw his effort cleared off the line by the Captain who then clattered into the upright and had to be taken off injured.

The Cockle saw out the remaining minutes with ease and pulled off a great result to advance through to the second round with relative ease. A quality gritty performance today which hopefully can be carried on into our next league game.

A few players stood out for MOM today, however the final choice was given to the ILM manager who picked Wiggy. Well deserved for a solid performance.

Goal summary:

20 min – David Barksby (6/10)
A long throw from Scott caused havoc in the penalty area, The ball was cleared and Ali Clapham’s left foot miss hit was turned into the net by Dave Barksby’s flick.

50 min – Simon Chapman (7/10)
A long throw from Scott caused havoc in the penalty area, The ball was cleared and Ali Clapham’s left foot miss hit ricocheted off a defender into Simon’s path. Simon Chapmen then rounded the keeper and slotted home into the open net.

55 min – Scott Smith (9/10)
A virtuoso solo goal by Scott Smith, scored from long range with the right foot. It has to go down in the records as a brilliant effort although certain members of the team still think it was a through ball that bobbled.

60 min – Gavin Payne (8/10)
Scott Smith supplied the cross to the back post which left Gav the easiest task of heading into the open net. The ball however bounced of Gav’s quiff and out for a goal kick……… errrr sorry, what i meant to say was, a quick counter attack saw Ryan nod the ball back into Gavin Payne’s path who struck the ball first time to see his effort float over the keeper and into the back of the net.

70 min – Ryan North (7/10)
After being bought down, Ryan North got up, placed the ball down and fired the ball goalbound. The keeper flapped at the ball and palmed it upwards and into the back of the net.

LINK

Got round to my parents house after nipping to the pub for a swift one with the lads, and our Owen was busy eating his dinner, then for some reason polished off 4 jam tarts!! After that he was one hyper little bunny, and my mum seems to think I have something to do with it I know Jessica, Dylan and now Kieran get like that, but not our Owen!  The rest of the afternoon was spent watching telly, with the odd half hour of online play thrown in for a bit.  Once I have chance to get a few pics from Becca’s party I shall stick a few up here   Flashforwad is getting even better altho you’re finding yourself having to concentrate more than normal now with so many little sub-plots occuring and everything! Can’t wait for next weeks!  Now I’m off to go and stick my blog on alphainventions now it’s updated.

Oh yeah and it’s very nearly christmas now I have officially seen this….