It was the start of a new season, our first match since a near 7 month pause in the fixtures (due to you know what). We had 7 players (Goose, Jake, Joe, Matt, Phil, Martin and Andy), though a last minute drop out meant a late replacement (thank you, Martin), but how would they fare? Had they gone to seed or had they gone the extras mile in keeping fit? All would be revealed.

We did at least start with 7, even Phil (lastminute.com) Rigby arrived JUST before kick off. Our opponents started a man down due to a late arrival who turned up after 3 or 4 minutes. By that stage we had scored our first goal of the season, Jake chipped the ball up to Phil who was in space on the edge of the area, he had time to take a touch, turn and then fire the ball past a despairing keeper. Great start.

FC Gulp came into the game and proved that they hadn't lost it, except for the ability to consistently get the ball on target. We lost count of the number of shots and chances that sped 10 centimetres or 10 metres past the post or over the bar. Anything that was on target was effectively dealt with by Goose. Joe and Jake largely managed to minimise the FC Gulp attack threat. As the chances went begging, Gulp frustration increased. A couple of enthusiastic challenges, a discussion with the referee about his eyesight and an FC Gulp player invited to take a 5 minute break off the pitch.

The second half was more of the same (though at least FC Gulp managed to complete it with 7 players throughout the period). Wave after wave of Gulf attack, Phil, Matt, Martin and even Andy working hard to deny and frustrate opportunities and combining to launch counter attacks when we had an opportunity. Someone asked the ref how long there was to go, "9 minutes". Could we hold on?

Well, yes and no, we could hold on for 9 minutes, but the ref didn't blow the final whistle for another 10 minutes and with almost the last action of the game, Gulp scored with a flick header. We kicked off, there was 10 seconds played and the final whistle was blown. Frustration.

Sand City Strollers   1 - 1   FC Gulp