You sure we're in October? The weather is scorching today for the visit of apptly named pub team AFC Stella from Portsmouth. Gaffer Smith puts the rotation policy to good use by naming Roscoe, Andi & Dixie hale in the starting line-up replacing himself, Mark Thomas and Mr Home-alone. The start of the game is delayed due to the ref forgetting his whistle which his mummy kindly dropped off for him.
The game starts at quite a frantic pace with Stella looking to get the ball wide at every opportunity but our fullbacks stand up to the task well. 1st real chance falls to us with the ball dropping to Rich about 8yrds out but can only stab the ball wide.
Stella were pushing and probing but the back 4 led by Capt Donoghue held firm and kept them at bay with the Highlight being Farmer "accidentaly" headbutting their striker.
Chances we few and far between with a couple of goalmouth scrambles ensuing but nothing coming of any of them.
Half time came and we were pleased with the 1st half efforts, only thing missing from being a complete 1st half, was some goals.
2nd half started as the 1st began with Stella's wingers switching sides and attacking down the flanks. Our chances weren't really testing the keeper with shots going high, wide & handsome.
The opening goal came through unfortunate circumstances. The Stella left winger got free from Andi and his cross was put into the roof of the net by.....(sorry, was asked not to reveal the unlucky og recipient). 0-1
The game started getting a little feisty after that with a potential 3 penalty appeals being turned down by the young ref. 2 for us with Rich seemingly being fouled in the box with a corner given and then being pushed over in the box and me "accidentally" tripping the Stella winger up, but on all 3 occasions the ref waved play on.
The 2nd goal came about when the left winger again attacked the box and his cross found the number 10 who shot into the corner of the net to make it 0-2.
1st change comes with Mark T replacing Rossi meaning a slight change with Mark going to LB and Taff going to left wing. The 3rd goal is sloppy by us. A corner was hit to the back post where the Stella rises the highest and puts the header intot the far corner. 0-3
3 became 4 not long after when a long throw isn't cleared and the big midfielder heads it in beyond the keeper. 0-4.
2 more changes with Gaffa Smith & Manning replacing Taff & Walker but even that extra fresh legs couldn't help breach the Stella line with the effort and weather taking it's toll on the Boro side, and only some last ditch tackles by tommy stopped Stella from scoring again.
And that's how it finished. An unlucky defeat in someways as we matched them for the majority of the game and only an unfortunate slice of luck on our behalf helped them take the lead. But the age showed as they were primarily a uni side so full of youngsters, but we can take positives, can put the hants cup behind us and concentrate on the league with a tough game against top of the table, unbeaten Bosc looming on the horizon.
