Chin Up, Lyndsell!!!

Welcome to Blog Time.

Your starter for 10; who remembers Gary Stanley? Anyone? Answer: one of Chelsea's 2nd division underachievers from the '70s. A hard working attacking midfielder with Keegan perm and chippy attitude to match. Gary works in the 'financial services' now but was spotted by a group of my mates at the Cup Final giving it large to the Man U fans. There is something both reassuring and unedifying about seeing an ex-pro behave like a fan's fan. At the final whistle when Chelsea had won 1-0 after extra time, there was our Gaz suited and booted goading the opposing fans thus: head up, nose in the air, flapping his hand under is chin yelling "Chin up, Mancs, chin up!" - a reference to the Red Devils failing to capture the double. "Chin Up" is the current provocative zeitgeist...

I thought about Gary on Saturday, when, with 15 overs of our innings left and millions of runs behind, the incomparable and beetroot-faced Sniper reminded me it was a win or lose match. Not so I said. Yes so, he insisted. Enter James their captain from deepish mid on. I then recounted what I had agreed with James about this being a win-lose-draw format and that, if the team chasing is not all out, it's a draw my old son. James looked sheepish and nodded his agreement. "My mistake, sorry chaps, should have checked". Sniper asked what format should we play then? Err, how about the one we started the match with Sniper, my old blackcurrant-headed friend? They WERE NOT PLEASED.

Chin Up, Lyndsell.

Their spin bowler mumbled something about bowling us all out and winning that way. Except of course, they couldn't get the final wicket.

Chin Up, Lyndsell.

Honestly, talk about a Captain not knowing what he was doing. They won the toss and, just like all those game before, they smacked the ball through the V passed the short downhill boundary time and again. In fact, I have it on good authority (I have my ex-wife to thank for this intel' - having come to watch Ed play) that they even had the audacity to go and look up the record books because they were convinced they would get their highest ever score. It never happened.

Chin Up, Lyndsell.

They got 303 - big deal. Ali got 3 wickets and I got a couple bowling a whole load better than in the past couple of games and I snared Sniper for the 2nd year in a row (Sniper is my bunny, Sniper is my bunny, la la la la). Paul was unlucky to remain wicket-less after a good and accurate spell and Ed bowled his 4 overs well and was also unlucky to see two difficult chances fail to go to hand. Well done us for all sticking with it and for a much better performance after drinks.

After we had had tea at Mrs Miggins tea shop/house it was our turn to reply. We started well scoring at 5+ an over till Bretty was run out via a direct hit by their Essex U13 wunderkid Jack Sneath (Sniper Jnr). Then Clint making his much awaited season's debut was out first ball. Ooops. Bomber made a gallant 40-odd but with 5 overs to go it was Ed's time to bat. He went out a boy and came back a hero, just like Harry last week. Ed scored two cracking boundaries and made 12 not out and, with PoB coming in as 11th man with 10 balls left they both saw us home for a fantastic draw. That's a DRAW, Lyndsell.

Chin Up, Lyndsell.

Credit to James their captain for coming over, shaking my hand, apologising for the confusion and saying well done to holding on. No credit at all to the rest of the Lyndsell team who couldn't bring themselves to clap off our last two players. Some of them might be mates/distant relations of Angus and Clint but I don't care. I now know why their one of our thee main rivals. They must have felt gutted. Ha bloody ha.

So a draw away at Lyndsell! Won't be saying that too often in the future. Still, only one defeat for the Sat XI and its mid June. As Captain, this was the game I enjoyed the most. I'm getting the hang of it.

Man of the Match: Ed - for batting under pressure, overcoming his nerves, and seeing us home

Moan of the match: Sniper 'but its MY ground!!!'

Mug of the match: James their Skip (sorry mate)

Exchange of the match: "They call me Sniper" said Sniper, as he showed off his impressive wicket. The call me The Preecherman, I said..

Sandwich of the match: The eggy ones at tea - yum

Next Sat we are at home to Rainham (or such-like) - 2pm start. We will start the game by singing the Canfield Anthem below:

(to the tune of This is England, by The Clash)

We are Canfield

With our leathery balls

We are Canfield

Home to Jamie and the rest of the Halls

We have our own blog

We have a new pavilion

We have a new site screen, clock and weather vein

We blew Lyndsell into oblivion

Bretty on his mower

Ali behind the bar

Lyndsell have a nice square

And a dog trained to fetch balls lost a-far

Strength, honour, fair play and fun

Go go Canfield

Our race is all but run

copyright J Priest.

Until next time.

Keep your willow dry.

Preecherman