Chap tame the Dragons

Gigolo Gets Winner Following a Texas Scramble

Chap returned to action with the graveyard shift at Huddersfield Dragons (or was it Halifax, Shep?) The lateness of the game, injuries and sickness had depleted numbers so there were multiple changes in the line-up. Mad Max, Gina G, Flavio and IceBurg were unavailable, Magic Mike had returned to 4s action and Tomahawk Bandit had been elevated elsewhere. Defensive stalwarts Typhoo and Shep were back in the starting line-up along with a supporting 4s cast of Bigfoot and RobA.
The game started just as the sun dropped over the horizon and freezing temperatures arrived. Recent history suggests that Chap always start bad on the Lockwood pitch. Fortunately this game wasn’t to follow that pattern. Chap immediately looked the more composed and put together the better moves of the game. In central areas Chuckle#2, Shep and RobA had the upper hand and were feeding in both Texas and Von Ryan in the wide areas. There was however a noticeable stand-out Huddersfield player in the middle who was posing a threat whenever he was allowed the ball.
It was Chap who had the initial chances primarily from penalty corners. A number of routines were employed but the elusive final touch just seemed to be missing so the scoreline remained goalless. Hutch then had a great chance in open play, wrong footing the keeper with a disguised deflection but the ball agonisingly scraped the post as it went just wide. Chap pressure did eventually get the elusive breakthrough. Chuckle#2 combined well with Von Ryan down the left hand side. The resultant cross was deflected towards goal, once again deceiving the keeper. At the backpost waited Texas who put the ball into the gaping net. Texas had a second half chance to double the lead shortly after. From a penalty corner a Gigolo shot cum cross ricocheted up from a defenders stick. Texas adjusted superbly to get his stick on the ball as it passed at shoulder height but unfortunately the ball redirected just over the bar.
Meanwhile the Huddersfield threat was coming from the same source and a warning was sent when the player carried the ball past a couple of challenges before shooting from the top of the D, Gandalf saving comfortably with a strong right foot. The warning however was not heeded and on his next attack the Huddersfield player once again rode many limp challenges before unleashing a tomahawk that Gandalf had no chance with. Scores level at half time.
The second half started and a plan to neutralise the threat posed by the ‘star’ Huddersfield player put into practice. This worked a treat and the player was reduced to launching aerial’s for the rest of the game which Boss Hogg and Big Foot dealt with comfortably. The Chap midfield worked hard and offensively Chuckle#2, Von Ryan and Texas were always a threat. The forward line of Gigolo and Hutch were working the channels and were often victims of some physical defending. Twice Hutch created 2 on 1 situations only to see the final ball fall behind first the onrushing Von Ryan and second the supporting RobA. The forwards were also winning penalty corners but the keeper was doing well to block out resultant shots. Chap did however get their deserved winner and it was fitting that it was created down the left. Von Ryan received a quickly taken free hit just outside the D. Advancing into the D he played a cross cum shot that Gigolo was able to scramble over the line between the keeper and defender from close range.
After game jacket spuds saw Texas voted the MOM Starblazer for a good performance and goal on the right, Shep gaining the DOD Hotdog for multiple offences including confusing Huddersfield with Halifax, Wearing a stupid hat but no socks and just generally getting dressed in a very strange way!!