Page 204 of Playing By Ear

The flip side, of course, was more space in behind Colin, leaving the Warriors vulnerable to attack on their left side.

One of Forthside’s wingers, Tait, sped down the touchline until Katie confronted him. He attempted some fancy footwork to get past her, but she held on doggedly, stifling his progress.

“Good God,” Andrew said, “that man is the king of superfluous stepovers.”

Brodie snorted. “All that capering about. Who’s he think he’s impressing?”

“Not the Warriors,” John slurred. “Not. Warriors.”

Perry hoped John’s Dramamine haze would dissipate soon so he could stay awake for the duration.

Tait gave up trying to sneak by Katie and passed to Watson in the middle of the pitch. The Warriors dropped back to defend the eighteen-yard box. Watson blasted the ball, which struck one of the Warriors and ricocheted straight back to him.

“Ouch,” Ben said. “Did Colin just block that shot with his arse?”

“He absolutely did,” Andrew replied. “That’ll leave a bruise.”

Watson went to dribble toward the center, looking for another angle, then suddenly stopped. Hands on his hips, he peered at the ball with his head cocked, like he’d discovered a strange new Amazonian species.

“What’s he doing?” Brodie asked.

The referee jogged over. Watson gestured to the ball, then gave it a firm kick. It stuttered to a halt after a few feet.

“Now I’ve seen everything,” said the livestream commentator. “The ball’s deflated.”

Perry relayed this information to his friends.

“You’re joking,” Ben said. “It hit Colin that hard?”

“Buns of steel, that man,” Andrew purred.

John gave a languorous laugh. “They should give him the ball as a souvenir.”

Play restarted with a fresh ball, which Katie promptly stole from Watson and passed to Fergus.

As the Warriors midfield pushed forward, the Rainbow Regiment sang Katie’s praises to the tune of “The Great Pretender”:

Oh yes, she’s the Great Defender

Defending the box oh so well

Her speed is such

That she can’t be touched

Your wingers are living in hell

“Jamie’s warming up now,” Ben said. “He’ll probably go in for Craig. That man’s put in quite the shift today.”

Perry’s pulse leapt, and once again he silently thanked the people running this livestream. Seeing Jamie play would be worth every week, day, hour, and minute of waiting.

For one full second, Jamie savored his name being announced over the Tannoy. Then he switched on as Heather’s goal kick soared down the pitch.

Twenty minutes remained in the second half. Twenty minutes to score a goal or go home with nothing.

The midfield battle intensified. The Warriors had the lion’s share of possession but struggled to break through. Their passes grew faster, wider, making Forthside burn energy chasing the ball.

Five minutes left. The killer strike was coming. Jamie felt it in his marrow.