What a day

A top of table vs bottom of table clash (excuse the pun) today. Pretty looking forward to the game. Lads seemed well up for it. Warm up went pretty well (except needing to wait to clear the dog dirt from the pitch to get the net up - why do people let their dogs do that). Players striking the ball well, keeper making some brilliant saves. I was confident they could give a good account of themselves.

I was also looking forward to going for a wonder and some food up at Dobbies afterwards with the family.

So we were backs to walls first 10-15 minutes. Defending too deep. We then started to get a bit more of the ball and then they scored on the counter attack, squirmed under the keeper (slippery conditions).

We started putting them under some pressure and drawing a few fouls. We hit the bar from one free-kick and had a header that wasn't far away. Then all hell broke lose. One hard tackle and the game was over. A 50/50 that both players were entitled to compete for. All I heard was a massive clatter. Two ambulances called. Many minutes waiting, kids in agony and getting cold. Felt a lot better once they arrived. Looked a potentially serious injury for our player and a very serious injury for the opposition.

Then to make matters worse the ambulance trying to take our kid away got stuck in the mud. Thank god there were some passersby that gave us a lot of help to push the thing out, all be it about 45 minutes later.

Our lad: damaged his Achilles and calf. Back home from hospital but going to be out for a good few weeks.

Their lad: badly bruised spine and kidneys. Hopefully getting out of hospital tonight.

So thankfully it looks like nothing serious / long term.

I was really pleased with the reaction from everyone at the match as sometimes these things can get a little heated and people blaming each other etc. But all anybody was concerned with was the welfare of the kids, the way it should be. Also a big thanks to the folks that got the ambulance out of the mud. Good to see with do have some people in society with a sense of humanity, empathy and respect.