The final tally was 3-3, though that hardly matters in the wake of news of Al Roberts breaking both bones in his leg with seven minutes to go and likely needing surgery.

It is a dilemma we all face to keep trotting out and playing this game, is it worth it? As Al faces an operation, long rehab and some home turmoil (we know it won't affect his work, he can still sit in front of the computer at the firehouse with a cast on) the question needs to be asked if it's worth turning your life upside down with injuries.

Ultimately the answer will probably be yes for most of us. Injuries can happen anywhere, but the laughs and the lads are what make it special, and Al is one who embodies that, one of the main reasons it's so much fun to play for Coveside, and it would be tough to give that up.

And that was the kind of mood the boys were in going into the game Tuesday.

A fabulous turnout for a late night midweek kickoff, even Bryn managed to find the right field and we were ready to go. The weather was frigid, the turf a tad slick but the boys were
looking forward to a good run. Blueridge, um, Lupo were higher than Ryan Matches on a run to Dan's Kitchen, needing a point to leapfrog Lynn Valley and gain entry into the coveted Crossover Cup with Miller's League. 

To this end they seemed to steal a page from Blueridge's book, run hard, lunge late at everything. Coveside started off knocking the ball around nicely and countering Lupo's aggressive style.

The passing paid off quickly as Craig Larson and Jason Fisher made a couple of great runs followed with crisp passes that found "The Geezer" Andy Dudley alone in the box, and he hammered home his first goal of the season. 

Goals aren't good for Coveside, either for or against as we always take a little nap afterwards, and immediately Lupo took it to us. They ended up about 10 yards offside but got a no call from the ref (I ssaww noooottttiiink! Hooooogaaaan) and the Luponian buried the breakaway with the Coveside keeper caught in quicksand in no-man's land, 1-1.

After that one we didn't go to sleep and kept the pressure on for the rest of the half. Brad Chapman, playing another strong game following his good showing vs. Rangers on Sunday, took a laterall pass and drove home a first timer into the net, guess what? Offside. Strange how a lateral pass could be offside, but there you have it, should have been 2-0, instead it was 1-1, but more good stuff was to come.

Nearly 10 minutes later Coveside got their act back together and started knocking the ball around, short passes on the ground like we pretend we should be doing in practice.

This paid off with another chance for The Geezer to move up into the play, pounce on a loose ball and hammer it home again, 2-1.

More pressure down the left about 15 minutes later saw Dudley get another handful of chances, one he looped over the goalie and towards the far side of the goal. The ball was going in anyway, but an attempt to clear, in vain, by the defender saw it go in anyway, 3-1 up and a hat trick for The Geezer.

Then came the half during which there was probably too much congratulation and not enough intensity. Lupo don't give up, they're a tenacious team and all they needed was a break to get back in the game and they got it courtesy of referee Schultzie.

Ten minutes into the half a ball came through the box off a throw-in. Randy Ash knocked the ball down with his stomach, but the ref, in perfect position not to see it as he was shielded from the ball by Randy's body, blew for a penalty.

They nailed it, 3-2, but CUFC then lost the plot for the rest of the game.

Incensed by the horrid refereeing and some questionable tackling, CUFC got drawn into a game of kick and run. Not 45 seconds after the penalty, a long, looping loose ball was collected by a Lupo forward and buried into the side of the net to tie it up.

At this point Coveside became unglued. Tempers flared, easy passes were ignored and despite the fact there was at least 25 mintues left, we played with panic as though there was just 30 seconds left in the game.

We were flustered, the ref was flustered and Lupo was flustered.

Let's get this straight about the opposition, normally games vs. Lupo are well played, well mannered, well spirited affairs. The bulk of the team embodies the spirit of over-30s soccer. However, they have imported a couple of Scottish hooligans who drag their image into the muck.

As if Al's broken leg wasn't enough for his troubles, he'd already suffered the ignominy of taking a punch in the head from one of the aforementioned hooligans who'd been mouthing off all game. Again Lupo ususally have the right spirit but these two players would look much more at home playing Metro Div. 6 where a kick in the nuts isn't even a free kick let alone a card. Al may have come in with a clumsy, mistimed challenge, but the thug took five running steps and hammered him in the ear. Not acceptable in this league sonny, enjoy your year off. Credit to Al at that point for just walking away as anyone who's seen him fighting fires knows, he could have easily held his own there had he wanted to.

The hooligan that was left on the field exhibited perhaps the most despicable behaviour though. As the game wound down, CUFC had most of the play and looked ready to score a go-ahead goal. Jason was getting lots of pressure down the right side and a couple of corners were almost converted.

A long clearing ball came from Lupo, and Al went up for it, he came down all on one foot, the boys on the sideline say they heard a snap, and Al then lay writhing and screaming on the ground. 

At this point the other hooligan chose to stand over him and say, "you got what you had coming". Yes, time off work without pay, an operation, two small kids for his wife to look after, months of rehab, he had that coming? 

Classy. Would you want a guy like that on your team?

Clearly Coveside would have won had the game finished, but no one felt much like playing anymore. It was a shame to have it finish the way it did, and ruin Andy's hat trick, we hear Glen Roeder made a call to Bernie this morning.

Our thoughts are with Al and his family, we know he'll be back giving us a reason to come out for a laugh again on a Sunday morning.

© 2001 Coveside FC, All Rights Reserved