...standard Saturday football 5 cry offs in the morning (in fact one 20 mins before KO) on top of 4 unavailable players from the week before this was going to be tough!

With the back ups drafted in we managed to have 16 finest athletes ready to pull on the famous FCFC and battle for the cause, but like an Alzheimer’s convention it was always going to be difficult people still learning each other’s names!

Starting team Mart the cat, Hannah drafted into Right back with Ad and Thommo forming a new central defence partnership, Rick in at Left back with a midfield 5 of Duncs right mid al left mid Brian sitting in front of the back four with fran and Graeme supporting the lone striker Jonah!

The lack of preseason and basic lack of not knowing each other’s name showed as we tried to play an offside in the first 5 mins which the ref wasn’t having, the striker had a free run on goal and slotted nicely into the corner, heads dropped and two quick goals followed and it looked like the massive change of personnel would be costly!

With Fran recruited by our strong scouting team, basically me thinking he was going to nick our balls last week all eyes were on what he could bring to the team. With 15 minutes gone, Graeme surrounded by no one ran through the middle of the park passing the ball out wide and tumbled like he had been shot by a sniper and fell to the floor! Graeme’s FCFC debut ended in disaster as the ref carried him off with Brian never to be seen again! (Anything to get out of paying his subs). On come Frans mate Kev and with 25 minutes gone we started to learn each other’s name and it was like the medication was kicking in as we remembered to play, the defence looked solid and we had few nice moves Duncs and Al getting down the wings, Jonah linking in with Kev and Fran and we were unlucky not to score and get back into the game. Rick was replaced by spud for his debut and looking more like a wrestler from WWE all eyes turned to see the bearded wonder play well as left back! Another debut just before half time was the manc Damo who replaced Robbie whose studs had fallen off his boots.

Half time 0 - 3

A couple of changes at half time Gaz came on for Brian in the middle and Rick was on for Jonah pushing Al into the middle. After last weeks half time team talk turned us from 2 -1 winners to 7-2 losers, something clicked this week as we started to control the game and Lynchy who came on for Fran had a great chance one on one with the keeper but he pulled off a great save! Not long after Al in the middle had the same chance but didn’t miss and all of a sudden it was game on! (Managerial genius putting Al in the middle I heard someone say) We started to press well and Al had another great chance flicking it over the defenders head like a Norris green Pele but it hit the side netting! They managed to get a break and hit a sweet shot from outside the box and it flew in giving Mart no chance! A mention has to be made for Martin in the second half even though we played better and controlled the game he pulled off one world class save which I can’t even describe, I was standing on the end the of the box and don’t know how he did it but certainly it was something to behold!

We huffed and puffed but could get another goal, but the spirit and general all round team play was excellent!

After 25 minutes I thought we were in big trouble but the way we got back into the game and some of the football considering it’s only game 2 was once again pleasing, and with most going for a pint afterwards you can feel the team spirit growing!

Full time result 1 - 4

MOM Duncs come close again. As did Al especially for his goal, but Thommo at centre half after not playing for 14 years was superb next to Adam - Thommo MOM

Tw@t of the match - Robbie come close with losing his studs, but Graeme after being told all summer how we going to get fit and do well to hobble off after 15 minutes on his debut was a sight to see, hope it’s not too bad mate and your back with us soon!