No love given to passionate Thinkers

Sporting Tooting 4 PFFC 1

Matt Prout, 13 February 2011

 

The Philosophers took the Tooting Bec field on a brisk February morning on the back of a number of poor results. However, buoyed by the fresh announcement of a tour to sunny Madrid and the availability of a number of Legends to the game’s line up – Cornish Al and Clarkey together with regular Legend Rob ‘the Cat’ in goal – the Philosophers had a spring in their step.

Due to a colour clash, Philosophy took the field in the pacifist’s choice, an ‘All White’ kit; the white TUC shirt complete with striking multi-coloured logo sported by Andy served to brighten a damp Tooting Bec Common. On the sidelines Ally took up a tweeting role, updating those Philosophers in distant lands and extending an olive branch to other followers of PFFC.

The first half passed quickly with some tough battling from the Thinkers. Whenever Sporting Tooting threatened our goal, the Cat came up trumps, saving from point-blank range on a number of occasions. After one of the crispest goal-bound volleys ever seen since the invention of ‘football’ in 1992 by the bourgeois fat cats of BSkyB and the Premier League, Rob rolled back the years to palm away for a corner – an impeccable piece of football from both teams.

The pressure told, however. Sporting Tooting went ahead after the ball found an unmarked man on the left, who duly slotted home. The Philosophers, however, did not lose their heads and kept their composure throughout the first half against some very strong south London gales.

The Philosophers crafted out a number of attacking opportunities. Ömer did well to force two saves from the Tooting goalkeeper. Slick work between Francesco, Dan and Ömer on the right gave rise to some positive play on the deck. In addition, with Henry and Clarkey working tirelessly up front there was real room for optimism. Those on the touchline could sense a quiet ‘wind of change’ developing.

A rousing half-time diagnosis by Ally and Will left the ‘All Whites’, 1-0 down at half time, in no doubt that it was all to play for. However, a re-energised Sporting Tooting had other ideas – a stronger ‘will’ perhaps ... Schopenhauer would no doubt have been disgusted. A Tooting corner culminated in a header at the back post, two down.

Tooting were still finding it tough to cut through the heart of Philosophy, until the final stages of the second half, when the All Whites had to throw caution to the wind – quite literally. Some good work by their midfielders led to a coolly converted third Tooting goal. Nevertheless, the heads of the Philosophers still remained high. As the pressure on the All Whites intensified, Rob served to perpetuate this superb spirit through claiming a finger-tip save from a Tooting free kick. Philosophy responded, Will piercing an angled drive towards the corner of the Tooting goal. Game on: 3-1 to Sporting Tooting.

A late Tooting goal settled the result: 4-1. Another defeat is a disappointment, but on the plus side it was a really spirited performance, as has been the case with the other recent defeats. On to the next game, a friendly with fellow Philosophers King’s College!

 

PFFC (4-4-2): Rob the Cat: Francesco, Kofi, Mario, Owen; Ömer, Dan, Will (1), Cornish Al; Clarkey, Henry.
Subs: Dave, Andy, Khan, Tom