Once Upon a Time in Footscray

A makeshift Park eleven (all thanks to Dave 'broken finger' Fletcher and Mickey Mancini (and if he aint a made man with that name then he oughts to be, capiche ?), took on an even maker shifter South Beckenham who could only manage 7, count 'em, yes thats 7 players to fulfill this end of season fixture

Dave Partridge and Johnny Ling opened the Park bowling and put the squeeze on Beckenham right from the off. Dave had opener Pogose mis-driving to be caught by Gannon at mid off and by the end of the opening 12 overs only 23 runs were on the board. Tim Gannon and Terry Shannon came into the attack and the Beckenham batsmen played their luck with a few edges going past the fielders and gradually the batsmen got into their stride and built a decent partnership. Skipper Thompson eventually came onto bowl and straightaway he bowled the opposing Skipper Bates who by now had made a not very convincing 50, but had taken Beckenham to 108 for 2. Mick Mancini came onto bowl a couple of overs and was very tidy and looks a good prospect, but it was the return of Dave Partridge to finish his spell that finally brought Park the wickets they deserved. Dave's last two overs bringing two wickets, one a stumping by Simon Ewin behind the sticks, and finally an edge going to slip where John Ling snapped up the chance. South Beckenham finishing on 149 for 4.

Park's opening line-up of Al Horton and Al Whaley made a solid start and put on 33 with Whaley flicking a couple of fours over the leg side and Horton cutting over and through the slips to great effect. Eventually, Wonk was bowled by Bashford for a good looking 14 and Park were 33 for 1, and this saw the entrance of Big Jim Flood at no.4. only one run was added before Al Horton was mysteriously run out off his own call for a good looking 16. With Park at 34 for 2, Tim Gannon came to the crease and spent the next 35 minutes a mere spectator as Jim went about his business. With plenty of singles on offer, (two Park players fielding for the oppo meaning they still only had 9 in the field) Flood and Gannon were able to cream off six an over for the next ten overs without Gannon hardly having to play a shot in anger. 'Big Jim' scoring at least one boundary an over and singles and etxras making up the rest. Just as victory seemed to be in the bag, Gannon played down the wrong line and was bowled for a pedestrian 12, but Park were set fair at 94 for 3. Skipper Paul Thompson came out with all guns blazing at no.6 and was looking to make an example of the Beckenham mob as he got off the mark with a four, despite Terry Shannon, having a sublime spell in the field, nearly running him out with a direct throw. But disaster was to strike as 'Big' Jim was bowled off his pads shortly after for a superb (although possibly jug avoiding) 40 to leave Park a bit vulnerable at 102 for 4. This saw the return of Dave Fletcher, but after one one made to measure boundary, he departed for 7 to leave Park on 111 for 5. With Simon Ewin up at no.7 the Park were still looking in safe hands but only 5 runs were added before Thompson was caught out by the turncoat Alan Horton who was throwing himself around the field like a twenty year old for the opposition ! Park 116 for 6. Luckily, Mickey Mancinini was up at no.8 and he set out like he meant business, although the Doc tried to run him out before he faced a ball. The Doc was out LBW for 4 to put the Park at 119 for 7. Dave Partridge came out to the crease at no.9 and was looking good to carry on the form from the previous week, only to be denied a glorious four by the treacherous Horton once again, and to wind up bowled by Pogose for 1. At 121 for 8 it was down to John Ling and Mick Mancini to bring the Park home but it was not to be with Mick bowled for 2. With Terry Shannon in at no.11 it was left to Lingo to pull off a couple of outrageous boundarys before Terry succumbed to a catch at slip. Tel out for 1, and Lingo undfeated with 10, for Park to bow out with a poor 137 all out.

A bad result this against short opposition. We had the game in the bag for most of our inning and then the dreaded Prospect Park collapse proved that it had not been entirely banished from the repertoire.

On a day with little to shout about, Dave Partridge performed well with the ball, but todays MOM goes to Big Jim Flood for a quality knock.