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With the smell of freshly cut grass, deep heat and rolls and rolls of tape around the ankles. Oh yes the new season is upon us and we can’t wait. With the league title of last year a distant memory, it was now back to the weekly task of winning league games. As with any new episode of Dream Team the new season always brings in loads of new faces, as well and the age old bus crash of plane crash that kills off half the team. Thankfully we haven’t had to deal with the latter yet, but we have had some great new additions to the team.

Pre season has been a good success; we have played a lot of teams and got a lot of good results. As with Newbury Forest and the Kaiser, we’re never really happy with what we do and end up wanting more, which is a good thing. Team spirit and morale was high as we entered into our league game of the season. 

As some of you may be aware we do tend to start games slowly, but this wasn’t the case today. The boys may have been quiet during the warm up, but once the first whistle went it was all hands on deck. We were moving the ball around well and looked good in possession. Trust Goal machine Andy to get the first goal of the season. This was quickly followed by an absolute screamer by Lil Jon from another corner! This is a contender for goal of the season already. Going forward we looked the part forceful running by Joe Mariani down the right  and the trickery Jey Siva down the left meant we were always a threat. However the problems from last year started to raise their ugly heads again.

The goals conceded were all due to errors made by ourselves, and that is a problem we need to fix. We defend so well sometimes that it means that the only way a team will score against us is either by a net busting screamer or by a silly mistake by us. At least three of their goals could have been stopped if we didn’t give the ball away cheaply or make a mistake. As soon as we all stop this, I can see it being a very successful year for us.

Starting Line Up:

Now for the ratings

Graham “Newbury’s No1” Tritton GK
Was at fault for one of the goals, but is getting back into the swing of things. 6/10
                              
John “Lil Pol” Galligan RB
Played out of position and still managed to shoot from a corner. Took his goal well and gave a solid defensive display. 7/10

Nick “Chav King” Marable CB
Getting a good relationship with his new defensive partner, good on the ball but stills needs to talk more. 7/10
 
Kye “Baby Daddy” Braithwaite CB
First official game, and slipped in like he has always been there, even got a goal on his debut (only cos of the baby don’t get any ideas). 7/10

Tom “Pretty Boy” Starling LB
Started slow but got grew as the game went on. Wasn’t his normal attacking self. 7/10

Brad “Collars Up” Gates DM
Another debutant who put in a good shift, very neat and tidy and was unlucky to have one disallowed. 7/10

Tom “Neo Wannabe” Gibbings AM
Another comfortable performance by Gibbo, didn’t reach the dizzying heights of last week, but kept the ball moving well. 7/10

Toch “Seba Veron” Singh AM
Played with an injury and had to come off early in the second half, but still showed signs of class. 7/10.

Jey “BIG TIME” Siva WL
One of his more quiet games, but still managed to set up a whole heap of chances 7/10

Andy “Goal Machine” Saunders CF
Started the season like you would want him too, looked sharp and ready to pounce on everything. 8/10

Joe “Penalty Winning king” Mariani WR
Another solid debutant, score a hat-trick but should have had 4. Worked extremely hard up and down the flanks. (By the way has the wooden spoon at the moment) 8/10

Subs

Alfie “Mr Money Bags” Egembah WR
Look lively when he came on, but still not at his best. 7/10

Goals
Andy Saunders 2
Joe Mariani 3
Kye Braithwaite
Jon Galligan

Assist
Jey Siva 3
Joe Mariani

Man of the Match
Andy Saunders