Since my time at work does not cost as much as Norm’s (£360 an hour excluding VAT, at the last count….and several late invoices for previous Norm reports are on their way to Buzz apparently) you will all have to do with a report from the one and only original Vets’ scribe this week (whose reports are free Buzz!). Just think…at least you won’t have to take a week’s leave to read it! The latter benefit is of course only of value for those mere mortals amongst the Vets with a normal job rather than the many teachers in the team who already have 35 weeks holiday a year anyway.

In recent years, the fixture against Temple Bar would normally produce a relatively straightforward win for Carshalton. Alas, no longer. Temple Bar have successfully rejuvenated their team which is something Carshalton Vets are still desperately aiming to do. (Yes Norm, despite you having joined us recently)  They had their best game against us for a long time while we were unable to get into our usual passing game. What we did manage to do was defend well and what few chances the opposition created were very ably dealt with by the Vets’ new and very vocal acquisition John (‘Gills’ to his mates) in goal. John had wanted to have a run out on the pitch but the unavailability of both our other ‘keepers Dave and Wayne meant that he kept goal for us the whole match. We now have untold riches in the goalkeeping department which must be the envy of many teams.

The only bit of slick passing football that Carshalton managed to produce in the first half immediately resulted in a goal. Trevor Boughton, Brian Ashwood and Gavin Dykes produced the passing which ended with a simple header for Pete Culham to put us 1-0 up. The second half brought much pressure from Temple Bar, although we did create chances to make the game safe. Brian did his usual game of human ten pin bowling all over the pitch and successfully got his strike. Next time Brian, mate, pick somebody your own age! (It was accepted however, even by his own team mates that the Temple Bar defender (aged 62 apparently) did make the most of his drama talents).

With time and our fitness running out, Temple Bar finally managed to score the equaliser with a very good overhead kick which left ‘Gills’ with no chance. While this was disappointing from Carshalton’s point of view, honesty dictates that they deserved the draw really. We could have stolen it right at the end but, despite him trying to use the goalnet box as a step up, Brian did not manage to get his head to the ball which would have meant the winner. His final claim that “at least I out jumped the ‘keeper” fell on completely deaf ears as the ‘keeper in question stood a grandiose four foot nothing tall. 

 Tony van Emst