JA 5's is back. Back with a BANG

JA606 5’s returned with a bang last night. It’s been a long time coming with lockdown. Yes, to comply with regulations it was definitely non-contact…

So, a bit older, greyer, heavier and slower the heroes of JA606 5’s returned to the hallowed turf. The teams were picked and like a good remake of a movie there was nostalgia, there was action, there were new additions and it was fun.

Coisty’s Crackers lined up with old favourites Coisty, Call Sign, Spanish Dave, Shooter, Scottish Jonny and returning hero HoopsDreams. They faced the might of NNH’s Nachos with old favourites NNH, Chopper, KrisBhoy, EliteWolf, friend of JA 5’s NNH2 and the new starlet on the scene Call Sign Jnr.

The match started at a blistering crawl in the scorching heat with both teams happy to ping the ball about and not do too much running (it was the heat making us slow). NNH lost his marker, played a delightful ball through the middle to Kris who opened the scoring for the Nachos with a sweet finish. The game went end to end with the Crackers hitting the post several times through Spanish Dave and Hoops but each time the Nachos attacked it looked like a goal and sure enough within 15 minutes the Nachos were 4 goals to the good.

It was never a 4 goal game and this riled the Crackers up. Coisty picked the ball up deep, fed it to Call Sign who in turn turned and slipped in Hoops for the first goal of the comeback. Hoops quickly added a second with a fine finish after some nice football. Spanish Dave joined in the scoring and very soon the game was back at 4-4.

NNH demanded his team stop running or they’ll be knackered by the last 20 minutes. I think everyone was already knackered by then anyway…

The game started to spread and go back and forth with no goals to show. CS Jnr and NNH2 were stretching the Crackers defence and keeping hold of the ball looking to feed the goalscoring feet of Kris but the Crackers defence held firm. At the other end the Crackers shooting started to go wayward and were it not for a huge net a few trains may have been hit.

The goal drought ended when quick play between NNH, CS Jnr and Kris ended up with the ball to NNH2 who gave himself a yard and fired the ball away to take the lead again for the Nachos. However, the Crackers replied instantly; Hoops slipped the ball through to Call Sign who chipped it past the keeper only to see it come off the post but a quick reaction to recover and get a first time shot away provided the equaliser.

Then the game ended in a heap. Hoops took a nasty twist and went down quicker than Morelos. Thankfully the injury didn’t look as bad as it could have been but after a long stretch out due to a knee injury it’s a worrying time for Hoops.

The teams bravely continued with the Nachos playing a rolling sub but with 5v5 on a big pitch it suited the young legs of CS Jnr who scored 2 quick goals including a curler past old CS before a goal was pulled back by Shooter.

With tired legs the game fizzled out and it ended with a win to the Nachos. Great to be back on the pitch, great to see the traditional JA5’s players back in the game and here’s hoping it is back for good and perhaps a charity 11’s game later in the year may be possible.

Until next week

Nanoo Nanoo