Wanderers M6s 0 - 3 Cheam M3s

Report by Evan Davies
Spelling and Grammar corrected by Dom Beales

This match was scheduled at 9.45am, probably the earliest push back time any of us have ever faced. Needless to say nobody made it to the pitch in time for the 9.15 meet time. In the driving rain the few of us there watched a full strength Wanderers team going through a coordinated warm up followed by passing drills and short corner practice. We hit balls at the keeper and hoped we'd have 11 players there by push back. We didn't.

Starting with 10 players meant we had to begin cautiously, and be disciplined. An early through ball caught our defence napping and left a rapid opposition forward one on one with the keeper. Mike dealt with the situation superbly, rushing quickly off his line and going to ground, a well timed tackle with his favourite Obo goalie stick (FAT BOYYYY!) taking the ball off the forward. Crisis averted. Defence woken up.

Good work from Richard Coleman soon led to the opening goal, taking the ball of a Wanderers defender and calmly beating the keeper for 1-0. We spot our remaining two players arriving. We're back up to 11, with a sub to spare. Things are looking up. Why won't it stop raining?

After letting a 5-2 lead slip to a 6-5 defeat the week before we needed a good result this week. Ted and Brandi back in the midfield were playing with a calm composure that inspired confidence. Dom's replacement and doppelgänger at the back (Oddy) was showing the precision distribution that Dom dreams about. Chris B and Jonny at left and right back were dominating their wingers and getting forward at every opportunity. Mike was getting bored in goal.

The forwards continued to exert pressure, with Fisty, Mario, Gaz, Bender, and Goalman breaking through the opposition defence with a growing regularity. A second goal was inevitable, and Goalman duly delivered with an emphatic finish for 2-0. The search continued for a third goal. At this point the unthinkable happened. A short corner, Goalman stops, we wait for his inevitable strike at goal, our one and only short corner routine, old faithful, opposition keeper ready to repel the strike as is customary. Then...he passes it, a slip left to Gaz, who calmly threads the ball through a crowd of players into the far corner, 3-0. Time to shut up shop.

This was a solid 3-0 victory against a good team, and a great way to bounce back from defeat the week before, defeat that cost us our 27 game unbeaten run. Chris B was voted man of the match, and Goalman was voted DotD, but was driving, so Mike did a drink in his place, a vile combination of baileys, tequila, and Guinness. On the face of it, it looked harsh for Mike to take on this punishment, but it was handed down for his performance in the match. Aside from that early save, he really just didn't get involved.