Voted Donkey

After our matches we vote on Man of the Match and Donkey.  The former title is obvious, the latter is reserved for the daft mistake or something else on the day that merits the perpetrator winner of the title.  Yesterday I was voted Donkey, unanimously, in fact even I voted for me.  What did I do to deserve this ignominy?  And this after I had just given up my time to umpire the previous match too.  Well I thought I did what used to be called 'playing in the spirit of the game'.  We went one down, and then pulled one back to draw level.  The game had just a few minutes to go when one of the opposition burst through our defence towards me, and unfortunately the ball hit me on the foot as I tried to defend our D.  The umpire blew for a free hit just outside the D, but alas I knew the ball had hit my foot inside the D, so I confessed my mistake, and the umpire converted the free hit to a penalty corner.  The opposition took a short push in and cracked the ball across for the same guy I had fouled to steam in and deflect the ball into the roof of the net.  It was a very good goal, but Bob, as my left back couldn't believe I'd owned up.  He wasn't cross, just disbelieveing.  We pressed for another equaliser but just a couple of minutes later the final whistle blew.

Sitting in the bar after the match, Bhavik, our Man-of-the-Match asked me if I'd own up again in a critical league match and after a moment's pause, I said I would.  Winning is good, or at least avoiding defeat, but for me the way the game is played is important too.  I'm afraid therefore that I can envisage being voted Donkey again.