Match Report

Championship winning teams are so successful because they can get three points after a mediocre performance and on Saturday we did just that.

After numbers looked perilously low last week, the squad was a bit healthier for our encounter with Heath. Ivor was back for a pre-op outing, while Colin retuned to left back, accompanied in defence by myself on the right with Todd and Paul in the middle. Our midfield four was a good mix of youth (Alex and Richard C) and experience (Steve and Shep), and provided support to the strike pairing of Chris and Richard T. The two Bens were on the line. Hungry.

Pre match I was a bit worried that Chris had tangled with the wrong Grandma in Jazzmins the previous night… He looked a bit shell shocked and smelled of potpourri and denture adhesive, but he assured me that she was a very tender, kind lady who he respected far too much to defile with his notorious love moves.

We started very slowly, inviting Heath onto us, soaking up ten minutes of pressure before Steve and Rich C started to break up their play and win some valuable possession. The first goal came after a corner broke for Chris to shoot, his mind now cleared of last night''s conquest, into the bottom left corner. Although slightly against the run of play we built on the lead when Richard C got on the end of Chris’ corner, rising brilliantly to glance the ball into the far corner. After the initially lethargic start we finished the half 2 – 0 up and well in control.

Although in the second half we went through protracted periods of defence and not much else, they never really looked like scoring. With Todd and Paul cutting out everything in the middle, Colin tracking a lively winger with the help of Alex (whose gleaming white boots served as excellent distracters) and me soaking up all the requisite abuse from Todd while running up and down a bit, we were more than capable of containing them and eventually sealed it with a very well taken goal from Richard Taps; his 7th of the season and 4th in two starts. Chris made way for Ben D, and Shep for Ben T. They both made excellent cases for inclusion in next week’s starting line up, running hard and battling well.

Ivor had a solid game in goal, making a great save to tip a shot round the post and staying fat, sorry, big, as always when faced 1 on 1. Good luck this week Ivor and get well soon.

I don’t know who MOM was officially, but I voted for Steve for all his hard work at centre mid. When I’m 90, I hope I can run half as much as Steve does! Although mention should also go to Richard C for another great game and Alex for choosing footwear that makes me doubt his motivation for playing football. I know you get to see us all naked Al, but that doesn’t mean we fancy you!