Old Challoners V Cardinal Manning Old Boys IIs
Saturday 4 February

Team: Van Nistelgoalie, Lancaster, Bevins P, Lord, Weidner, Smith, Dann, Dias, Rae, Thomas, Fitch. Sub: Beauchamp, Foster and Lowes

Score: 1:4
Scorers: Fitch

Having been knocked out of the cup the week previously our only hope for silver ware this year was the league so this match against league favourites Cardinal Manning was crucial.

We started well and managed to put Manning under some early pressure but without forcing a save from their keeper. As the game went on Manning came into it more and more and we found ourselves as usual defending deep and trying to hit them on the break. Dann was forced off due to an ear injury and was replaced by the returning Beauchamp to the biggest cheer of the day. After 30 mins we took the lead Lordy unmarked from a delicious Beauchamp corner forced the keeper to parry straight to Fitch who gleefully forced the ball home. Almost immediately however Manning equalised with a neat finish on the volley and so we went in at half time 1-1.

The effort again was good across the pitch but only the occasional threat meant that we needed to double our efforts if we were to win. By this time the referee was becoming more and more erratic and prone to some poor decisions. Disaster struck and a defensive mix-up allowed Manning in to take the lead. We were now chasing the game and with Weidner off injured the half...no quarter fit Foster on in his place gaps for the opposition started appearing all over the place. From one such gap Foster fouled the centre forward who took exception to this and slapped Arjen Foster and as a result the referee had little option but to produce the red card and book Arjen for presumably 'simulation'?

Having done his job, the clearly struggling, Foster was replaced by Lowes and with 15 mins on the clock we had a good chance to get back into the game. We pressed forward but with a change in formation panic set in and nobody really knew where they were supposed to be playing and we suffered the sucker counter punch albeit a tremendous finish that Jamie could do little about. In the last minute we conceded a very soft fourth which made the score line look a bit flattering to Manning but in the end they were worthy winners and are clearlyt he strongest side in the league.

Man-of-the-match difficult to award this week so sharing it the return from injury of Beauchamp and for his contribution in a short 10 minute period which almost got us back in the game Foster.

THE LANCASTER VERDICT:
The pressure is off, expectation levels have dropped, lets go out there and enjoy it again and hopefully performances will pick up and we can end the season on a roll and who knows what could happen.