Sunday 2nd March - vs FC National at Kennington

The games are coming thick and fast as we head into the fixture congestion nightmare that is the Alliance's March and April calendar season 6. We're bottom of the league and we're playing FC National who beat us the other week and really shouldnt have. So we due to put that right.

Another makeshift team - with a host of people helping us out to get us 11, or 12, or 13, or even 14 by the time of the KO.

Mickey is reffing as John Hall has dropped out on the day with flu. Neg.

So we line up (I think) with Eddie in goal, me, Colin G and Dai at the back (see first half - on how to defend in an organised manner by the Northern Alliance), with 5 across midfield including Woody and Matt Balls, courtesy of Paul, Iain, Jeff and Steve, with Paul and Micah up front. Plus Colin S, Reza and Tommy on the bench.

In the first half we played some really good stuff, composed at the back with Colin G marshalling me and Dai well. This gave me quite a lot of space and time to exploit as we pushed for a goal. Some great inter-linking play and some stout defending meant we could play high up the pitch. It's a week ago since we played so really the only moment I can remember was the one involving me! Coming from defence, reading the play well and intercepting an FC National pass I stole through as the game opened up for me. And rather than passing, I took a shot from over 20 yards out and was narrowly foiled by the far upright with the keeper beaten. It was a matter of inches. I tend to find it always is. We deserved to be a goal up after our first half - we were the dominant side playing the best football and they had sat back and soaked it all up.

Bouyed by the first half performance, we kept the 3-5-2 formation as it seemed to be working but in pursuit of victory, we lost our shape, and with FC National frustratingly defending well, gaps started appearing at the back. The organisation and confidence of the first half had disappeared in the second, and with two smart breaks down the right FC National sucker punched us with a couple of neat break aways. 2-0 and there's no way back. Mickey did an excellent job of refereeing despite getting quite a bit of stick from both teams.

A short match report as I cant remember much of it - I do remember Dai playing well though, so he gets the MOM award this week.

Until next time.