Leapt like a Gazelle - by Hoppy

Sutton Valence 3 – Red Lions 2

At last, a game against a fair and fine opposition, with a Team, largely of true Vets, with a sprinkling of youth.

Your correspondent, with the Out-Laws coming to visit today had made itself initially unavailable, but having been to the butchers, chopped onions, rodded the drains and cut the grass, decided a 130 mile round trip to deepest Kent was just about do-able before coming home and look welcoming.

So, a late ETA saw oneself driving down to Kent expecting to arrive to relieve the troops about half-way through the first half.

What’s That! – Some sort of German Panzer suddenly passes me at about 110mph! Wade!

I am not so late after all? Unable to keep up I resigned myself to a late start on the bench.

Tortoise and Hare etc, I collected the Wade with broken Twat-Nav just off the M26 and we arrived together.

A late start, no matter the Out-laws were arriving soon…Have you met my wife?

Good to see Robbie back after letting the rest of us run our socks off against the youth development fixtures for the last few fixtures. A great game played, across the slashing swords.

Walders, in usual fashion of team well-fare, apologised for Dave The Bar Man, being away because of his current affliction due to Covid, was because “Covid hangs around at ground level and affects people “a bit lower down””. Your mate David! – I just report what I hear. Get well soon from all of us. (by the way golfing chaps, just got a new driver…)

The game starts with The Lions enjoying a great spell of attacking play, before the oppo made a few tactical changes with a 16 year old centre mid and probably his competitive dad as centre poke changing the timbre of the game.

The Lions won at least three short corners in the first half with Colin a whisker of scoring each time but to no avail.

A very able Sutton Valance put way 2 goals by half time was but a bit against the rub of the game.

Proper Vets, Sutton Valance, brought nibs of whiskey and port at half time – true Gents.

Rejuvenated, The Lions scored within a minute of the restart, well done Albie. Alcoholic.

Think Robin is claiming an assist in this effort, suffering a nose bleed at altitude for being so far up the pitch.

Albie then, a couple of minutes later, lobbed across the circle for me to leap like a gazelle about 12 ft high, with no safety net, and pile a ball in like one of the Venus sisters for the equalizer within 10 minutes. Disappointed it was not much discussed much in the bar. Thanks team-mates…and to think I was not available.

On the back of that I am not available next week, due to approaches from Billy Smart’s Circus to repeat the trick.

JB sensibly conceded a penalty after a goal mouth scramble to give a chance of an un-converted flick, which proved the case.

Wade, again, soaked up a constant barrage from the formidable attack, our Man of The Match.

A dubious goal at the end saw The Lions concede a defeat in Fergie Time. What a shame.

Having a week off next week as off to the Races – New correspondent required.

A great game to worthy opponents, with the addition of the best teas and pub of all our opposition so far made for a Grand Day Out.

Well played All Lions.

Hoppy