It seems ages since I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard but the time has come the walrus said to talk of many things... not cabbages or kings but winners and differing viewpoints on things.....

We start with the news that Rachel Webb won the Shortwood lottery on Saturday and picked up a thousand quid and we all pass on our requests for a Jamesons... I mean out hearty best wishes to her! Excellent...

Now there has been a bit of banter on facebook between Paul Webb and Pat Coyle that seems to have been going on for years and it seems that Paul has struck gold this time, and I doubt whether Pat is going to be able to get away from this one... Despite the promise of a large Jamesons I can reveal that Pat has a new nickname... no not that one you at the back... sheesh... but Penfold. Now I had no clue who Penfold was until I googled it but oh my days the resemblance is uncanny... and I have uploaded a photo of Pat on this column for you all to see...

When the weather relented enough to play football we have continued our quiet way up the table and now sit on the edge of the play offs... pause for dum, dum, dum, sound effect...!! Only interrupted with a loss at 10 man Yate we have slowly climbed the table and we now sit in 6th place with Merthyr and North Leigh next up. I think that is now 10 wins in 13... Whatever happens from now til April this has been a great season!!!
Now the loss at Yate brought forth a debate. Rob Iles who wrote for the local press described the sending off of the Yate player as 'harsh' and begrudgingly went on to say that 'under the letter of the law' it 'might' have been a redcard but only in 'modern times' and that such a tackle might have only warranted a yellow card 'at best' in the past... I am glad to say that that only appeared on line and was taken out before it went to print. It was a bad challenge - end of! Even their management failed to complain which speaks volumes! On a lighter note a Yate person went to the loo in their board area and the loo has a metal door and the lock broke.. Poor guy was stuck in there for ages til they managed to get him out by trying everything from prying it open, removing the hinges....

Having lost at Yate we moved on with a magical 90 minutes at Swindon Supermarine! Every so often a game comes along that holds the attention for the whole 90 minutes and has everything! Great football, terrific spirit, and both sides really going for it! This was one of those. Both sides felt they could have won it, both sides would have been content with a hard earned draw but Sean Lawson came on and in the last seconds bang ...3-2! If the return game is half as good I will be happy.
And so to Saturday and the return of Alton and Evesham's visit. Alton was understandably disappointed with the result at the end but to be honest they didn't deserve a lot out of the game. I admit I had an affectionate dig at Ash Loveridge in my report with a reference to 'former Shortwood favourite' ha ha .... Adam Price scored both, and will admit he should have had 3, Ash Thomas and James Coates look like they have never been apart and Marc Richards showed again what a signing he is.. Our squad is now as strong as I can ever remember it!

Some weeks ago this column talked about different viewpoints from different parts of the ground and this happened again Saturday... Ball clipped over the top, John Cant sets off and defender cynically steps across him, takes him out - last man, free kick, red card.... That was the view from my usual vantage point by the dug out and for those around me. The ref waved play on - not even a foul!
Axl is on the other side of the ground up on the bank and his view point is as valid as mine - He wondered what the fuss was all about and couldn't see anything much in it! So it just goes to show - so perhaps the ref didn't 'bottle it' he just saw it the way Axl and others on the far side did...

And last but by no means least the Reserves continue to impress and deserve our fulsome praise for their showing in what is an already remarkable season for the club! Sitting high in the league they have now reached the quarter finals of the Hellenic League cup with a fine win at Milton United on Saturday. This was the rearranged game following the abandoned match in that remarkable storm a few weeks ago. It was never going to be easy, and I know Des had players missing and that makes it even better that they won 1-0 through a Will Hawes goal! Well done Des and the boys - brilliant! I will post the draw as soon as I know it!

This week the firsts are at home to top of the table Merthyr on Tuesday and travel to fellow play off contenders North Leigh Saturday while the ressies travel to Easington Sports on Saturday...

Good times !