Boddam Recreation Park, NESFA League 2, 23/8/24
Me 320, Wee Man 185
Three summers after using the NESFA as a way to getting a game of fitba during those ridiculous covid rule times, we completed what has now become tradition. With goals galore, ground quirks and good honest fitba on show we were soon hooked on a local level of the game that not too long ago would have been off limits due to my own fitba snobbery. 16 clubs and a removal of said snobbery later its safe to say we are ardent fans of the “Summer League”
Turns out, finishing off in Boddam was to turn out to be a fine ending*. To start we got to visit what is on the clubs badge. Something we have done with numerous teams across the country in the past. This time it was the Buchan Ness Lighthouse for a photo opportunity. This was then followed up by a chipper, a second of the week. (Don’t judge me). But more importantly the quirk of the Boddam Recreation Park is you have the fantastically photogenic back drop of Peterhead Power Station in one direction as it looms tall over the north side of the park. I was also impressed with the pitch itself. It looked to be in a great condition and totally flat. Perfect for game of fitba.
As we tucked into our jumbo sausages the game kicked off under a warm blinding sun which was to be right in the eyes of stand in Heid keeper Ryan Leys who was forced into a cap. He was the first keeper called into action too when some slack defending let in Boddam man Matthew Daniel who was on the pen spot to let fly but Leys made himself big and pulled off a tidy save. Wee Man then said he regretted his prediction as “Boddam will win”. Two minutes into the game and he was already panicking. Soon after it was the other custodian in the match Andrew Milne who pulled off an unorthodox save when he tipped a Ramsay effort over his own head toward the goal then managed to gather at the second attempt on his goal line. He could have left it for a goal kick by the looks. From here the keeper sent a long one up field which was cleared with little distance by a Peterhead defender landing at Kieran Cameron who thought to lash it which he did right into the top right hand corner of the Peterhead goal from twenty five yards. A superb hit. But the lead was not to last long as Peterhead benefitted from one of their many long throws from Clueit, this time seeing Daily winning the knock on finding team mate Ramsay who tapped in the second ball unopposed with his bonce from a couple of yards. The same man should have put the visitors in the lead a couple of minutes later when he seemed to do everything right as he danced through the Boddam defence until the finish which he sent high wide and handsome. There was a moment of controversy mid half when home goal scorer Cameron was fouled on the half way line. The freekick was given but the Boodam man was seeking his own retribution as he aimed a stamp at his assailant. He was very lucky the ref missed it. The game looked to be heading into the break even until Alfie Mossop stepped up to out do his team mates earlier effort when he also thundered a long range effort into the top corner of Leys. A very sound finish no doubt, but I cant help but ask why he was in so much space. This was the last kick of the half.
HT 2 v 1
Peterhead looked to have had a bit of a rocket up their ass at half time as they came out seeking an equaliser and were awarded a flurry of corners early doors. But these despite all being decent balls in from either Norris or Daily they were all wasted. Peterhead despite their pressure in the opening stages of the half should have been 3 v 1 down. This when Leys misjudged the travel of the ball allowing Mossop to nip in and round the keeper. Although the angle narrowed somewhat it was still an open goal and the Boddam forward went for power over placement and sent the ball over the bar. They were to rue this as the Heid equalised. Ramsay was to claim his second when he beat Milne at his near post from about 15 yards out on the left. Then came the moment of the game. Whether it was meant or not the perfection of where this effort landed was unreal. Step up Heid full back Ethan Stephen who well and truly over cooked a clearance 50 yards from the Boddam goal but he could not have connected any sweeter even if he meant it. I turned to Jake and said “the keepers too far off his line, watch watch watch”. Then the ball sailed over Milne’s head and into the top corner. They all count and the defender can live off scoring a 50 yarder for a while. No doubt the yardage will grow over time too. This knocked the stuffing out of Boddam and the were soon two down when after some great work down the right Daily who had ran half the length of the park, picked out Ramsay for a tap in and his hattrick. Surely game over. Daily then got in on the act when he slalomed through the Boddam defence, he may have got lucky with a ricochet en route before striking but the playmaker deserved a goal on the night. Arguably the best player on the park. Boddam should have reduced the arrears when Daniel broke into the box and from twelve yards smashed the ball wide. He should really have scored but seemed to get a rush of blood. The home side did grab a third but it was too late in the day. McPhail the scorer as he was first to react to a ball into the box. There was only a couple of minutes left in this last game of the season for both sides and it finished with just the 8 goals. Another high scoring affair on our travels in the “Summer League” .
To be noted coming into this we had an average of 5.7 goals a game so far. This brought it up to 5.8. Football is about entertainment, goals make entertainment. The NESFA has proven to be a goal fest. Simple science says, the NESFA is highly entertaining. But to be honest, I genuinely think it is magic.
*This does not mean ending forever as the tradition will live on. Roll on next summer. Or even the outstanding straggler games this season.
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 53
Pie – Chipper doon the road. £15.80
Pint – N/A
Score Predictions – Me 1 v 4, Wee Man 0 v 4
Season Score Predictions Totals – Me 0 v 0 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 