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The Geese enjoyed a recuperating festive break celebrating new years in a team-bonding trip to Bournemouth. News also surfaced that rivals Cheshunt Athletic pulled out the league and disbanded as Alfie Norman hung up his gloves.

Today The Geese faced Enfield Rosaneri, this time at home, and hoped to emulate the good spirited game that took place during the corresponding fixture. Chris and Chris (Wicks and Cedrone) returned with marathon badges aplenty to promote their fundraising run for charities (Muscular Dystrophy and Help the Aged). It also marked their return to the Geese squad both back from long-term injuries. Unfortunately the showers were not working today so Dave Enefer couldn’t enjoy his old Grouse weasel wash. So instead he swept Rob Cullys flooded mouth, as rob gestured in approval.

The Geese handed plumber Dave Armstrong his first Goose cap after being out for 18 months with knee ligament damage. After being sent to America to see recommended surgeon Jono Locum, Armstrong was now ready to fill in at right back. Todays absentees included Matt Cully who was on holiday in Sunshine Mountain, and injured Rob Dodd who accidentally zipped his groin up. The Geese were also without Craig Norris and Dan Jordan will be fined for breaching their Geese contracts.

Shortly after the game began, it was obvious the mud-ridden lumpster of a pitch was going to make any kind of passing football impossible. Midway through the first half A Rosaneri attack was met by Neal Dodd’s 50p head which bounced at, up, and over Rob Cully for Cinderella to tap home. Dave Enefer’s efforts were in vain, so he hopped on his Peugeot Broomstick, grimaced and snapped it in two.

Three passes later Brett found Paul Dodd who shifted the ball to the right, and struck the ball firmly into the bottom left. Soon after Paul scored his second, after recieving an Armstrong throw at his feet he swivelled and lobbed the yellow jerseyed giant keeper. Goal of the season? Ced and Perry may have to get out the ghostbuster toys as it was to quick for Tony Ced to capture Dodd’s landmark 50th goal for the club. All hail Paul Dodd.

As the second half began the Geese piled on pressure trying to extend their narrow lead. Rosaneri battled hard and were hard to break down. The game was nearly levelled but saved when an attack was cleared off the line by Tony ‘toepunt’ Vullo who Sicilianed the ball off for a throw.

Whilst as an attacking force the Geese missed chances, the centre back combination of Neal Dodd and Wicks looked stronger as the game went on. Belsey and cedrone were introduced for a tiring Hully and a dispirited Brett Norris upset with his brother for telling him to go away. This freshness created more chances, and the game was wrapped up when Cedrone crossed in from the right, hitting a player then the post, dropping for Sidog to bark over the line. The tenth victory in a row for the Geese.

Pino Packer spoke to jubilant debutant Dave Armstrong as the game ended 3-1. But unfortunately Armstrong didn’t want to comment and threw a Kebab in Pino’s face.

It was never going to be easy getting a result after Saturday night fuelled Christmas antics, secret Santa delivered all his presents but one, and the flame grilled turkey was handsome. Congratulations to Hewitt’s aplenty who’s winning raffle ticket bagged them a supper they won’t forget.

After dancing the sea-shanty in the car park it was thought Rob Cully should be replaced by Rob Dodd. The only other change was the introduction of Brett Norris on the right wing, Martin Belsey making way. A shared changing room normally results in tactical mind games however today the drunken geese were more interested in Pete Enefer’s zero mission.

Captain Neal Dodd won the toss and opted to bat down hill first half seeing also that the sun shone bright with love above Rob Dodd’s goal. Despite a handful of hangovers the Geese began the better of the two teams, passing the ball well, probably the result of Paul Cully’s number game. It wasn’t long before the Geese took the lead when a cross found peeping Dan Jordan who had time to place the ball into the bottom left.

The Geese should have extended their lead further but the rest of the half saw a host of squandered chances, giving Grasshoppers belief to mount a comeback. Brett Norris unselfishly passed instead of shooting, Jordan scuffed a back-post pot roast and after dragging his first shot wide Perry then cleared another from the Grasshoppers goal-line. Paul Dodd couldn’t find the power or accuracy ratio after making two openings from mazy runs, and finally Neal Dodd’s long range truffle went off for a throw. The Geese were unlucky not to receive a penalty when Pixie bundled over/blatantly wiped out Dodd in the box, regardless of a guilty my name is earl face, the game continued. Grasshoppers did create chances of there own forcing corners and were unlucky with one shot that was struck over the bar.

One-nil at half time there was everything to play for, the chances were gone, so more had to be made, up hill against a team who were going to be re-fired up at the re-start. Paul Cully decided to change things tactically and replace Tony ‘tankard’ Vullo with Martin Belsey with Si-Dog moving to left back.

Even after expressing the will to keep up the pace, the Geese eased off and began to dive in giving away dangerous free-kicks against a tall opposition. Surely enough, a floated free-kick was headed back across the box and then headed home for the equaliser. The Geese came close to going ahead for a second time when Andy Perry tackled the last defender but his cross was cleared by a defender for a corner. At this stage Grasshoppers were looking more likely to score, even more so when a well struck free-kick was palmed away at full stretch by Rob Dodd.

Maybe the turning point in the game came when Grasshoppers inspirational captain was replaced due to injury; the pivotal threat from midfield was lessened and gave the Geese more space to move forward. But share and share alike, as Rob Dodd decided to take goal kicking duty from Craig Norris his groin tweaked. Bring on the dancing keeper. At this stage Dave Perry sat in a tree, and must have had his heart in his mouth as Matt Cully cleared a goal ward chance off the line.

The last quarter of the game belonged to the Geese, Matt Hully came on for Calf punching Dan Jordan (tune), and the players knew one final effort would probably be enough to win the game.

Things were looking up when Neal Dodd pushed forward and squared a ball to sibling Paul; his tap home sent roars around the ground, even with the linesman not flagging the referee diffused the cheers and awarded a free-kick for offside. It may have looked like the final chance, but Northern Hully had other ideas when he bundled over a Paul Dodd oil spillage and slotted home. Two-one Geesewards, three points as they saw out the game looking good for top spot.

Pino Packer tracked down game winner Matt Hully at full time. “I done it Pino, I said I would to the lads on the line. What a choker for the hoppers, I mean I was in a suit last night, all these soft lads in tracksuits, what is the club scene is coming to. I wanna do filming, show you the real Hully, not some cheap-shot old man, I don’t know no Mully.”

R Dodd (R Cully), M Cully, N Dodd, C Norris, T Vullo (M Belsey), B Norris, Enefer, Perry, Hoy, Jordan (Hully), P Dodd.