Wrington Redhill Vets 7 Weston Pirates 3

Wrington Vets….or Wrington Wrinklies ….continued their impressive introduction to veterans football against Weston Pirates of the Bristol Corinthians League. With Chris Bradley still missing through injury, livewire Jon Flynn formed a new centre midfield partnership with ….obviously skipper ‘Dutch’ Holland and Simon Garrett. Straight from the kick off he shared a couple of one twos and James Marshall provided the ball which saw Flynn run clear and finish jubilantly with the first move of the match. Minutes later his partner Holland repeated the trick and profited from a slip or two to dribble through the middle of the Pirates defence and finish coolly. Forwards James Marshall and Danny McMullen were not to be out done with Marshall latching on to another fine cross from Thomas although the finish was more off his shoulder than his head. He then teed up McMullen by robbing the goal keeper to give him a tap in from 6 yards. Holland then returned the favour with a cut back for a Marshall tap in. With 15 minutes gone, the home side were five nil up and could afford to make changes. However, as is often the case the changes took a while to settle and Weston managed to get a foothold in the match and replied with two goals of their own. With very little to do in the Wrington Goal, Jonny Marsh had a bit of an Eddy Farrow …laid back moment following a back pass that was under hit (but what do you exspect if you play with pink toenails!). However he did respond with the pass of the match as he pinged a clearance to find Thomas on the left wing like Ederson at his best. The visitors kept plugging away playing with three forwards and got their reward as halftime approached to reduce the gap to 5 – 2.

• After halftime, Andy McGregor made his first appearance on grass for 15 years and was unlucky not to score as he brought out a fine save from the keeper meeting a Jonny Marsh cross first time. An alternative view was that he blocked a Marsh thunderbolt that was heading into the net! Rory Thomas was still running up and down the left wing which was a little galling in a veterans match and his deep cross found McMullen at the far post for his second goal. Soon after, a repeat of the previous move looked as if Marshall would head home his hattrick only for McMullen to volley home a hattrick of his own as Marshall ducked following the ‘leave it’ call. There was still time for another Pirates consolation goal
  With a lovely chip which gave Garrett no chance having replaced Marsh between the sticks.
  There were plenty of candidates for Man of the Match but Thomas was deemed too greedy( although how that works with three assists I don’t know). Marshall was ruled out as one of his shots went out for a throw….nearer to the halfway line. Which left hat trick hero Dan McMullen. We thought of presenting him with his shirt…..but then realised he takes the No 9 shirt home every week!