Woking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
Last-man-Liggett and Last-man-Lawson were last and last-but-one to arrive. No surprise there then. Thank goodness for Mclean, otherwise the entire Heronian triumvirate would have been in need of a new alarm clock, a couple of alka seltzers and an ice cold shower to get them going.
With playing into the gusty wind making the first half difficult for the hosts and the Woking coaching staff’s jaws retaining the identical grin they sported when leaving Longlevens one-nil to the good thirty five days previously, the omens weren’t great, until a typical barnstorming surge by Blacker saw him upended in the box and the referee point to the spot the groundsman forgot. Last-man-Liggett’s penalty emphatically made it one-nil, prompting wide smiles on the Gloucester bench.
The advantage was short-lived however, Collett’s excellently struck free kick finding the top corner for a Woking leveller. All smiles on the Woking bench.
Back came Gloucester and LML’s ball into the box was drilled high into the net by Blacker. ‘Good goal,’ said referee Amos, ‘and where do you get your hair done?’ ‘Not telling,’ said Blacker. All smiles on the Gloucester bench, even though the ref wasn’t happy.
Wilkes had a couple of efforts cleared by the visiting defence, but it was largely Woking for the remainder of the first half. Two fine saves from Moroney stood out in an all-round impressive display from the Gloucester custodian, an observation highlighted by the fact that all his clearances went forward.
The Field Court student, already researching the great outdoors for a PHD in Climate Change and Irregular Weather Patterns, put theory into practice by judging the timing between the wind gusts to perfection and using the intervening seconds to kick long – well, clear the penalty area anyway. If only his judgements were applied to the mini bus – but that’s another story altogether.
Chamberlain was also to the fore before the break, two excellent pieces of defensive work helping maintain the home side’s slender advantage.
The second period was a pretty even affair, Boris twice going close in the opening five minutes as Gloucester were far more in control with the gusts at their backs. Pain au Chocolat and LML were looking good in central midfield, while Shut-Eye Clifford made a couple of great interceptions and played a number of fine passes down the left-hand channel.
Ronseal meanwhile was doing what it says on the tin, giving a Peter Kay-like no frills, no-nonsense performance. Blackburn, energetic as ever despite earlier spending over two hours perfecting his hair and a further thirty minutes posing for photographs with members of his family, none of whom share a remotely similar coiffure in terms of style, trend, fashion, or in granddad’s case – amount, looked good down the left. Last-man-Lawson, an early replacement for Limping Lynam was just himself, brave and dependable as ever.
Another decent save from Moroney prevented a Woking equaliser, though at the other end a succession of Blackburn corners saw the city team go close on several occasions.
With three minutes remaining, Gloucester sealed the points. Blackburn’s long range free kick was fumbled by the keeper and Liggett, reacting Usain Bolt-like, headed home the city side’s third. All smiles on the Gloucester bench.
There was still time for Blackburn, now seemingly involved in everything, to fizz a fine volley just over before referee Amos called time.
There were no smiles on the Woking bench as coaches and players mingled at the final whistle. The Woking manager, after 5880 hours of constant grinning, made one last effort at emotional redemption, sidling over to Blacker and whispering, ‘Where do you get your hair done?’
‘Not telling,’ replied Blacker, before heading off to the eating room. The Woking CEO, after overseeing the WPSFA Development Side, cast his all-seeing eye over the gloom in front of him. The smiles had disappeared, the grins long gone; sport and life in general being such a fickle thing. It had, as is often the way, been a case of hair today, gone tomorrow.
Gloucester A: Moroney; Lynam, Mclean, Blackburn; Chamberlain, Jones, Liggett, Wilkes; Blacker. Subs: Clifford, Smith, Lawson.
With playing into the gusty wind making the first half difficult for the hosts and the Woking coaching staff’s jaws retaining the identical grin they sported when leaving Longlevens one-nil to the good thirty five days previously, the omens weren’t great, until a typical barnstorming surge by Blacker saw him upended in the box and the referee point to the spot the groundsman forgot. Last-man-Liggett’s penalty emphatically made it one-nil, prompting wide smiles on the Gloucester bench.
The advantage was short-lived however, Collett’s excellently struck free kick finding the top corner for a Woking leveller. All smiles on the Woking bench.
Back came Gloucester and LML’s ball into the box was drilled high into the net by Blacker. ‘Good goal,’ said referee Amos, ‘and where do you get your hair done?’ ‘Not telling,’ said Blacker. All smiles on the Gloucester bench, even though the ref wasn’t happy.
Wilkes had a couple of efforts cleared by the visiting defence, but it was largely Woking for the remainder of the first half. Two fine saves from Moroney stood out in an all-round impressive display from the Gloucester custodian, an observation highlighted by the fact that all his clearances went forward.
The Field Court student, already researching the great outdoors for a PHD in Climate Change and Irregular Weather Patterns, put theory into practice by judging the timing between the wind gusts to perfection and using the intervening seconds to kick long – well, clear the penalty area anyway. If only his judgements were applied to the mini bus – but that’s another story altogether.
Chamberlain was also to the fore before the break, two excellent pieces of defensive work helping maintain the home side’s slender advantage.
The second period was a pretty even affair, Boris twice going close in the opening five minutes as Gloucester were far more in control with the gusts at their backs. Pain au Chocolat and LML were looking good in central midfield, while Shut-Eye Clifford made a couple of great interceptions and played a number of fine passes down the left-hand channel.
Ronseal meanwhile was doing what it says on the tin, giving a Peter Kay-like no frills, no-nonsense performance. Blackburn, energetic as ever despite earlier spending over two hours perfecting his hair and a further thirty minutes posing for photographs with members of his family, none of whom share a remotely similar coiffure in terms of style, trend, fashion, or in granddad’s case – amount, looked good down the left. Last-man-Lawson, an early replacement for Limping Lynam was just himself, brave and dependable as ever.
Another decent save from Moroney prevented a Woking equaliser, though at the other end a succession of Blackburn corners saw the city team go close on several occasions.
With three minutes remaining, Gloucester sealed the points. Blackburn’s long range free kick was fumbled by the keeper and Liggett, reacting Usain Bolt-like, headed home the city side’s third. All smiles on the Gloucester bench.
There was still time for Blackburn, now seemingly involved in everything, to fizz a fine volley just over before referee Amos called time.
There were no smiles on the Woking bench as coaches and players mingled at the final whistle. The Woking manager, after 5880 hours of constant grinning, made one last effort at emotional redemption, sidling over to Blacker and whispering, ‘Where do you get your hair done?’
‘Not telling,’ replied Blacker, before heading off to the eating room. The Woking CEO, after overseeing the WPSFA Development Side, cast his all-seeing eye over the gloom in front of him. The smiles had disappeared, the grins long gone; sport and life in general being such a fickle thing. It had, as is often the way, been a case of hair today, gone tomorrow.
Gloucester A: Moroney; Lynam, Mclean, Blackburn; Chamberlain, Jones, Liggett, Wilkes; Blacker. Subs: Clifford, Smith, Lawson.
