Scorer - Tony Martin

LOBS 2nd XI - Do not read on if you have a head for heights.....

....this is due to the fact that the LOBS 2nd XI are top of the league. I don't believe it I hear you mutter. This is a lie some may say. However, after another superb team effort the twos held on to beat the previous league leaders, "Cholms 2nd XI" by a solitary goal to nil. The lads were up for it from the start and were boosted by the returns of Phil 'Safe Hands' Goulstone and Laurence 'Scum' Hannam. Goulo' return meant that Wig started in the middle alongside the slightly taller Cop with Luke and the Scummer leading the line. The goal came 10 minutes before half time, Luke slid an immaculate ball through the defence and Tony M was onto it at pace, he swung a muscular leg, kicked the ground, his foot bounced up and made some contact with the ball which bobbled over the fooled keeper and into the empty net.

The second half was about hanging on, we hit the cross bar twice and a post once whilst the oppo also rattled the woodwork. The highlight of the period being a 70 yard run by Guy McBransby culminating in a flying save from their keeper forcing the ball for a corner. The team' celebrations of Guy forcing the corner were so great the oppo thought we had scored. We explained our europhia with the simple comment, 'He has never won a corner before'.

Anyhow, to the ratings:

1. Goulo - Great to have him back in goal. Not much to do but what he did do he did well. Good distribution from the back and used the fullbacks well. 8.
2. Guy - Defensively sound with a lot of hastling of his man and putting a lot of work in around the pitch. Great 70 yard run earned him.....Man of the Match. 9.
3. Billy - A couple of late nights were evident in the ginger stubble. Joyful at the fact he thought he had pulled a female the previous evening however this is yet to be confirmed by an independent source. Played very solidly before begging to be pulled off early in the second half. 7.
4. Dalbs - Solid as ever from the big man. Great to have a man on your team sporting a bandage. This was earned after a domestic accident after his first ever attempt at doing the washing up. Along with Ian the Cholms forwards were never going to get any change. 8.
5. Ian - A man who can play anywhere on the pitch. Tackled, headed and marshalled to great effect. One surging run and strike saw him clip a post. Pipped to MOM by Guy' glory run. 8.
6. Cop - Big, strong, razor like and leaps higher than a Russian gymnast. Awarded the challenge of the day for a huge tackle on the oppo' number 7 - who was big! Not that I was scared of him. 8.
7. Wig - Smaller, not quite as strong or razor like and leaps like a man with lead in his boots but still covered a lot of ground. 7.
8 - Oli - The Papa was as solid as ever. His relationship with Guy grows stronger with every game. But away from the shower chat he never let his man get away and eased the pressure with a couple of forrays down the right flank. 8
9. Tony M - Another man close to MOM. Great anticipation, run and finish for the goal. Threw his body on the line for the LOBS and took one in the knackers for his efforts. Although, by his own admission it was the only thing to have touched his nuts in the last 6 months so he quite enjoyed it. 8.
10. Lukey - First game of the season and good to have him back. Led the line brilliantly. Worked hard, chased everything and it was his ball that sliced open the oppo' defence for Tony to run onto and score. 8.
11. Scummer - first game for a while and defied his own expectations and lasted the full 90. A couple of sweet efforts that showed he can still bend it like Beckham. Switched to left back for last 30 minutes and contributed to a great clean sheet. 7.
12. Simon - coming on after playing a game of hockey in the morning and took a while to get into 5th gear. After a slow start he helped to peg Cholms back, rattled the crossbar and had a goal disallowed for some reason that I cannot remember. Good first appearance. 7.

Highlights of the day
First starts for Luke, Goullo, Si and Scum.
Tony' great goal - proving a revelation on the left wing.
Guy' run and celebration at winning a corner.
Beating the top team and of course........

England beating the Aussies.

Teas: Getting better although we wont be having scotch eggs again.
Ref: Not the best but a bloody nice bloke.
Noise of the day: The full time whistle.

Great effort again lads. Top of the league for now with the next league fixture on the 20th of October, Westminster at home - fortress Nescott. Next week we have the London Old Boys Cup against Old Sedcopians.

Please let me know availability for next week. Lets keep this unbeaten run going lads.