Once the opposition had locked up their scooter convoy and taken to the pitch, LMB produced a superb team display to see off RTR Motorcycles and claim their first win in Division One. After the scrappy opening stages, Olympique LMB started to dominate possession and move for each other, and Luke finally opened the scoring when he prodded home Sicky’s pass. Further good work from Luke, who was able to hold up the ball in attack as his marker gave him too much time, allowed Sicky to break free and he whacked home the ball from distance. RTR only threatened through their big one-trick pony, but with LMB slackening off he was offered too much time on the ball, and thumped home two shots after turning his marker, the second strike dribbling agonisingly through Paul's legs and over the line to equalise. Nevertheless, with only 7 men available, LMB began to pick up a good rhythm with the substitutions while the opposition began to flag, and Neil set up Luke to retake the lead, before great work from Griffiths on the right presented Taylor with a simple chance to finish (which he chose not to backheel this time!) RTR got another 'turn and shot' goal back which gave LMB a slender 4-3 lead at half time.
Although RTR equalised again at the start of the second half, the movement and quick, simple passing of LMB proved too much for them as the lead was retaken and steadily increased. Chibbert, who had a fantastic game in defence, laid the ball into the path of Crozier and he finished easily, before Hulk presented the ball to Luke who completed his hat-trick with an incisive finish. Despite LMB missing a number of glorious opportunities (Griffiths being the worst offender) they still found the net regularly, and Griffiths and Neil both ended fluid moves with smart finishes (assists from Luke and Griffiths respectively), before Man of the Match Luke hit his second hat-trick of the game in the final ten minutes, accurately slotting home two passes from Crozier and curling a left-footed beauty into the far corner after good work from Sicky. Although LMB were defensively excellent for most of the game, with Paul producing some great fingertip saves and Chibbert and Sicky marshalling the line well, tiredness and the unassailable lead left LMB a little relaxed and exposed in the final few minutes and RTR, buoyed by the presence of their energetic keeper who had gone outfield, got back a few consolation goals as players weren't tracked.
Overall, however, it was a great team display, and Patto openly admitted that the price of admission (making sure the kitty was enough for LMB to play) was 'the best £2 I've spent all day (up to this point)'.
