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With the friendlies out of the way, the pre season training done, all that was left was for us to kick the new season off. Friday night was a fantastic event for those of you who didn’t make it. A real good team bonding sessions; but hey I believe we have a really good team this year, and the last thing we need to do is start bonding. Next minute you’ll be taking your top off in club and dancing around as if you were a pole dancer. Remind you of anyone chav boy.

Anyway back to the game. The first team selection was always going to be an interesting one. With so many options in the team now those making the starting XI know they have a fight on their hands to keep their place. The desire was there from the get go, the square game defiantly helps us come out of the traps fast. Within the opening minutes they were already starting to be penned back. As pre season showed us, if we keep the ball the chances will come. The first 15 mins flew by; at stages we were camped in their half, you could see that we were the better team. What they did was get two banks of four back to try and frustrate us. For all of our pressure we were resorting to long range efforts that weren’t really troubling the keeper.

On 25 mins disaster strikes, with the ball bobbling around our box a defensive error allowed them in to score. Hard luck on us but we are our own worst enemy at times. Back we came continually pressing forward looking for chances probing away. Just before half time Nick Marrable brought the ball out from the back, a rode a challenge and played out to Alfie wide on the left. He then set it back to Justin Caesar who wiped in a ball for Lil John to guide home on the volley. Great goal and we were back in it. Half gave us the chance to regroup, a couple of changes were made and we were back out there rearing to go. Within a couple of minutes of the interval, Lil John picks the ball from Hassan, and then hits a drive from about 20 yards straight in the bottom corner. The supremacy and confidence was now starting to flood back. The third goal proved this in abundance. Jey Siva picked the ball up beat his defender and sent over a Gerrard like ball from the left, for Andy Saunders to thump it in on the volley from 12 yards. Our tails were now up and we should have coasted to victory. Newbury Forest doesn’t like doing things the easy way, and we ended up giving away a sloppy 2nd. It lead to a tense last couple of minutes, but we weren’t really ever under enough pressure to lose the first three points of the season.

Now for the ratings

Graham “Safe Hands” Tritton GK
To be fair to him he didn’t have much to do, but did the simple things well. Hopefully he won’t have much to do all year. 6/10

Dave “Del Boy” De Rijk RB
I know the skipper would have wanted to start in midfield, but with the animal Wallbank injury he slotted in well to show us how vital he is to the team. 7/10

Nick “Chav Boy” Marrable CB
Back from injury, and hasn’t missed a beat gave us a whole new dimension with bring the ball from the back and into midfield. If he learns to shoot he’d be dangerous. 8/10.

Justin “TNT” Ceaser LB
Set up the first goal, with an excellent cross to Lil John. Didn’t think he got the ball enough on the left, so found it hard to make an impact. 6/10

John “The Kaiser” Hassan DM
What you see is what you get, and that’s a good performance from the balding eagle. Won everything in the air, to a point of it just being plain ridiculous. Kept the ball moving in the middle of the park. 7/10

Dave “Mr Vegas” Zarcaro AM
Was at fault for the first goal, but was always probing when going forward. Felt he would have got better as the game wore on due to his trickery. 6/10

John “Lil Pol” Galligan AM
He’s started the season as he means to go on. The boy wants honours, and with two fantastic strikes he gets the MOM for the game. Well played. 8/10

Luke “Mojo Monkey Baby” Mardle WR
Always looking to make things happen chases down all the time. Felt he looked bit more comfortable in the middle of the park once move in the second half. 7/10

Jey “Flake” Siva WL
Always looking to commit a defender, and then try and deliver. Got to get him further up the pitch so he can do even more damage. 7/10

Alfie “Mpenza” Egembah CF
Should have scored a hat trick with the changes I had, bit of an off day in front of goal, shut up John. Worked hard to lead the line and give options. 7/10

Subs

Andy “Thanks for turning up” Saunders WR
Came on and ran his heart out, took his goal very well, shame about the celebration. 7/10

Tom “Welshy” Starling LB
Came on and first didn’t even know where the touchline was. Grew in to the game and ended up get forward well. 7/10

Dave “Ginger Lover” Ademakinwa AM
Didn’t have much time to come on and affect the game. 6/10

Scorers
John Galligan 2
Andy Saunders

Assists
Justin Caesar
John Hassan
Jey Siva