Friendly in the Frozen North

Beverley 2 - 6 MPS Newton

Who gets up early on a Sunday morning to drive 50+ miles for a game of footy in the freezing cold, at a totally exposed occasional ski resort? MPS Newton Over-40s - well, eleven hardy souls anyway. Beverley could only field eight players, so Tom donned a white jersey and Andy elected to stay covered on the sideline, leaving us nine-on-nine on a wide pitch - there was clearly going to be lots of space.

We were all drenched before the game started, but with the wind at our backs we were quickly into our stride. A few early moves broke down in front of goal, but then we had a dominant spell that yielded six goals.

First onto the score sheet was Tim Rosa. Sprinting from midfield, he timed his run perfectly, latched onto Joe's slick pass over the defence, and kept his head to slot past the advancing 'keeper.

Shortly afterwards Ivan spotted Tim Todreas in acres of space on the right flank and delivered a pass for him to run onto. Tim carried to ball to the Beverley penalty area, cut inside his defender and squared the ball across the top of the box where Ivan was running in to strike a low shot into the left corner of the net. Minutes later, Joe's angled pass to the top of the box was met on the run again by Ivan, and struck sweetly past the 'keeper's right hand.

The Beverley defence was playing very flat and, given the amount of open space, it was a risky strategy. There were no offside calls as our midfield sent pass after angled pass through the line for the runners. Tim Todreas ran onto a pass some 35 yards from goal and carried the ball to the penalty area before calmly lobbing the 'keeper.

Similarly, Christer was set free, one-on-one in front of the goal. The 'keeper managed to get a touch to the ball as Christer rounded him, but couldn't keep the ball out of the net.

For the sixth goal, Steve Shea was set free on the left and went on a twisting run, first rounding the goalkeeper, then a defender before, with the goal gaping in front him, unselfishly squaring for Tim T to make the simplest of tap-ins.

In the last 20 minutes Beverley starting putting some passes together, and Tom was showing well in an attacking midfield role. After some useful work at the top of the box, a clever pass was played inside the box to the centre-forward, who hit a low, firm shot just inside Samuel's right post

Beverley scored again with the last kick of the game. A high, looping cross from the right, which initially looked bound to go out, was held up by a freak gust of wind. There was a slow-motion moment as everyone watched the ball suspended in front of the goal. Nobody was more surprised than the Bevereley player at the far post when the ball dropped onto his boot laces and trickled over the line. Then someone hit the resume button and we all woke up.

The game was a little artificial because of the amount of space, but we managed some good passing moves on the few occasions we were under pressure. And eleven goals in two games is quite a tally - keep up the shooting boys.