Now I’m not saying that Craig’s dad looks like Alexei Sayle but there was a striking resemblance as he bounded over to me on arrival with –

"'ULLO MARK’S GOT A NEW MOTOR, ULLO MARK’S GOT A NEW MOTOR"

"What are you on about man" I replied scouring the car park. "Look, look check Mark Girling’s new car" spluttered Mattie's granddad pointing to a metallic blue fiesta! The exact opposite of his usual highbrow Jag.

"Here he comes now, am I mistaken or is he singing" said Craig’s dad. "Your right he is" chuckled Brad’s dad who had now joined our merry band.

And the song he sung……………………………
(to the Madness tune)

I’ve been driving in my car
It’s not quite a JAGUAR
I bought it in metallic blue
Just to match my training shoe

This copper stopped me the other day
"I’m big Mark", what could I say
He said the tyres were a little worn
Thought he was my mate I could have sworn

I’ve been driving in my car
It don’t look much but I’ve been far
This week I drive to Crombie school
Mattie boy said I look cool
Think he was just being nice
So I would coach the boys from Dyce……..

At this point we received a pleasant visit from Colombo who’s game was cancelled "Is he all right" nodding toward Mark. "Not sure", I said. "That’s why I work alone!" Colombo replied with his head cocked to one side .

There was a big Dyce welcome back for twinkle toes Dylan who has been away for the past four weeks to face Westdyke.

It was a cold morning with everyone well wrapped up. Ten thirty arrived and Dyce kicked off with the starting line up of – Nathan – Ben – Angus – Mattie – Brad –Craig and Ryan. The Westdyke team looked a big and strong side and this proved the case with a very good clean physical challenge for Dyce.

The early pressure came from Dyce with an early through ball from Ryan being met by Mattie whose shot was well saved by the keeper. The second chance fell to Ryan after good fighting by himself and Craig allowed Ryan to fire a shot in that again was well saved. From the resulting corner Westdyke had a fast breakaway which looked like danger until the ever cool Ben stepped across and defused the situation with a well timed tackle.

It wasn’t long after this that a well weighted ball was knocked through by Brad to Ryan who slipped past his marker and cross to gain Dyce a corner. From the resulting corner Ryan had a shot blocked which fell to Brad at the edge of the box. Brad struck a low hard shot which took a slight deflection before squirming over the line. 1 – 0 to Dyce. BRAD the hero had done it again.

Dyce were now playing some delightful football with good link up work between Brad and Craig who was now making his mark on the right hand side. Ryan at this point decided to throw his weight around but found himself air bound after bouncing off Westdyke's solid defender who was keeping their defence together.

Although, up to now, this game sounds one sided, it was anything but. Dyce’s defence were doing a great job at coping with a strong Westdyke attack comprising of two different styles of attackers. Angus and Ben were handling what only can be described as a ‘Laurel and Hardy’ duo. I mean this in a complementary way as the very tall and the solid attackers of Westdyke complimented each other with good hold up play and pacey runs.

Another good one-two between Brad and Craig saw Brad slip the ball through to Ryan whose through run was again well blocked by Westdyke’s defender. Then, out of character, poor tackling from Dyce saw them losing a goal from the resulting well struck shot which gave Nathan no chance. 1 - 1.

At this point the heavy pitch seemed to be taking its toll on Dyce with another Westdyke shot going wide. Brad took a knock to his knee which he couldn’t shake off and Doodsy replaced him. "Look no leggings" he shouted across to me, still annoyed by the revelations revealed last week of his visit to see High school musical!

The first period drew to an end with a shot being deflected over the bar from Craig.

First period 1 - 1

At this point Big Mark’s wife appeared with a box of refreshments that would scare you. "Is there a coffee morning in Crombie school after this?" quipped Craig’s dad. There was tea, coffee, buttries, biscuits and, I think, some cream scones! "That’s my woman" cooed Big Mark. From his looks toward her the passion has never died there!

The start of the second period saw 'Twinkle Toes' Dylan take the field. "Go Dylan, go Dylan" was the chorus from Dylan’s mum and sister as he made an immediate impression on the game. At this stage it was very even with the ball going from one end to another. A Ben shot flew wide which was followed by good work by Dylan, releasing Craig to whip in a cross which was just missed by Ryan.

Dyce then enjoyed a good spell with Ryan now finding more space and producing good hold up play and lay offs wide bringing into play Craig on one side and Dylan on the other. A superb turn and run by Dylan and finished off with a pin point accurate ball to Craig who strode forward into the box and released a powerful shot which was well saved. The introduction of Dylan was now paying dividends and Dyce were looking dangerous with every move. The fruits of this came with a good ball through to Ryan from Dylan who turned his man and laid the ball wide to Craig. He, in turn, went past his man wide to send in a low cross which was met in front of goal by RYAN and volleyed home. 2 - 1

After some more good work from Dyce the second period ends well for Dyce.

Second period 1 - 2

The final period started with Dylan again producing great skills and shots going wide from Ryan and Ben. At this point Mark Girling (who was now the ref) injured his knee. "Not used to using a clutch you see" announced Mattie’s granddad. "Too used to having a posh car."

A corner from Dylan was cleverly played short to Angus who drove in and scored with a well placed shot. 3 - 1 Dyce, ANGUS the scorer.

Then it happened, something I thought I would never see, Ben lost the ball at the back to allow Westdyke to score and see a glimmer of light. 3 - 2  Did this phase Ben - no way hosey. For the rest of the game he returned to his usual solid rock status.

Two good pieces of play from Craig saw firstly his ball through reach Ryan who turned his man again but have is shot blocked. Craig’s second cracking low cross resulted in me having a flash back to sunny days at the seaside eating a double slider, as both Ryan and Dylan sliding in but both missing by centimetres. If only I’d hung Ryan by his feet more as a baby he might have had the extra few centimetres needed!

Doodsy was now getting to grips with his new position in the middle of midfield, winning, then spraying some great passes left and right. Westdyke thought they were going to equalize but Nathan was alert to the through ball and slid in to deny them a goal. A great ball from Doodsy to Ryan saw him slip his defender, run into the box from the left, then cleverly square the ball rather than shoot at a tight angle for CRAIG to side foot in for 4 - 2 Dyce.

With Mattie now on for Ryan, Dyce had the upper hand. Brad also now back on for Craig and right away had a cracking shot heading for the top corner well saved by the keeper. After a few more attempts from Dyce ‘Hopalong Girling’ brought the game to an end.

Final score – Westdyke 2 Dyce 4

A well contested game which was enjoyed by all. A special mention has to go to Dylan who, for the second time this season, more than deserved a goal for his great skill and work rate.

What must Westdyke think! The carpark afterwards saw Big Mark and his son Doodsy up a tree wielding a golf club at two footballs. Mark Girling driving away, with his son and his granddad wearing Dyce bags on their heads. Colombo lighting up a King Eddie and now thinking he was Bruce Forsyth repeating "good game, good game". And Dylan’s dad changing into a sleeveless Warriors basketball tee-shirt and bandeda as they were going to Glasgow to watch them!

Never a dull moment!