Close Encounter

A first outing for the Saturday side down at Woodley Warriors saw the newly formed side toppled two nil in a game that ebbed and flowed and could quite easily have gone the other way.

Four debutants, ten familiar faces and a joint management team in the mould of Cloughie and Taylor. Or perhaps more glamorously, Bobby Gould and Don Howe. The 88 Cup Final comparisons didn't stop there. Bertie was Hampton's Vinnie Jones, Madden was Dennis Wise and Kaya was Eric Young, only missing the head band and Singaporean birth place.

Nil nil at half time with the first half highlight being a sparkling move involving Madden and Kinchin, with the latter crashing the volley against tips of the keeper's fingers and then the bar.

A scarcely deserved one goal deficit saw The Tinkerman, AKA Kinchin Senior, switch to a three man defence. We had no choice as we could still smell victory. It seemed to work well with more chances created for the hard-working colts and wave upon wave of attack (?!) Until it didn't. Two nil. Boo. Harsh.

MOTM was shared between Sam Robert and Francis, though it could have gone to any number of players. All debutants acquitted themselves really well and we will expect good things from this side. Effort, cohesion and just a little luck in the final third would have yielded an altogether happier journey back up the M3. Next week is Ascot and this side shouldn't take too long to register a first win. Very encouraging.