Spicy Encounter With Royalty

<p>We don't often get a crowd down at the battersea astrodome so it was unusual to see a number of banners draped around the ground displaying the cryptic message GIOC. Puzzling. Hopefully more will be revealed in future weeks. Last night's opponents were the silver spoon polishing Royal Household, fresh from a hard days labour wiping the bottoms of Princes George and Charles. They fielded a strong side including one of the previously very lightweight kids who had obviously had a growth spurt, and was full of testosterone, running and teenage angst. He caused us some problems with his pace and yet-to-be-dulled enthusiasm for life. <p>Starting line-up then, looked on paper to be world beaters:<p>Tyson <p>Charlie mkII (ringer) / Zamora / Fortune West / Sheepy<p>Hoffette / Cuz Andy / Punt / Jorganzola <p>Yilmaz / Latchford <p>We started well enough with Zola linking nicely with the front two and causing the some problems cutting in from his left mid berth. There weren't lots of chances to speak of early on though, lots of wafted crosses that didn't trouble their very competent goal keeper. We went behind to a lucky goal. A throw on the left was miscontrolled by the post-pubescent speedster. That flukey touch completely did both me and Stu leaving a big gap on the edge of our box. A simple pass and cool finish later and we were behind.<p>BOC rallied as per last week, and some dogged battling from Latchford on the left wing culminated in a low cross that found Junior Hoff at the near post. The finish was classy once again from the little big Hoff, deftly diverting the ball in between post and keeper. One each at the break.<p>The temperature cranked up in the second half, RH getting upset about some offside calls and a disallowed goal. Their beardy striker getting his point across with a flailing elbow in the aerial battles. As well as that, Ben had an ongoing spat with their centre half which looked as though it might boil over after they ran directly into each other and then had a shovey cuddle on the turf. Amongst all of this we conceded two goals, the first of which was another fluke after Zamora's headed clearance cannoned off the back of someone else's head and into the path of beardyman. He finished the simple chance easily. Their 3rd had a whiff of offside about it too but was given. A simple tap in from the man that Sheedy was supposed to be marking. <p>We got a consolation goal at the death, Zamora, bombing on dangerously from CB, crossed to Jordan who had his first efforts blocked but made sure the second time around. After time was called BOC flooded the box as Ilyas went over to take the corner. He curled it low along the ground tof the near post but it was unfortunately easily cleared.<p>Off to the pub as always. Hoof missed out on the chance to review the fine form of a tattooed treat in the Latch. Maybe next week when he's feeling better.