Sick as a Parrot Strikers Institutionalised !

Oh the world is so cruel. We were going to take them down. Their unbeaten record would lie in tatters at the feet of the Mighty Strikers. We'd even got new kit for the occasion! Well that was the pre-match prediction, sadly Duncan had forgotten to inform Fulbourn of his masterplan. To be fair they have some great little players and it was flipping cold - but we didn't have enough gloves.

 Anyway Jake takes the ball down the left, beats his man and is in on goal - shoots just wide. Of course they come back up our end, win a corner and score. Boo! 0-1 But are we down-hearted? No! There's a great break. Ollie brings it down the left. It's four on one - we have to score. Nooooooooo! not this time. And they nick another one on the counter attack. 0-2. They are definitely taking this too seriously ! We strike back but it's just a goal kick - from which their terrific little inside right scores a great goal after some dazzling footwork - to give him his credit. (I suppose) End of the first quarter. Come on Duncan weave some magic.

 Second half kicks off. Subs Matty P and Oliver take it. A quick couple of passes between the two and Oliver drives it into the back of the net. Blimey, Duncan's done it again. Ha, Ha. They weren't expecting that ! 1-3 Normal service is resumed surely? The team is re-jigged and George is having a storming match in defence. The shutters have gone up and Fulbourn are locked out. Mrs Laing turns up to cheers the lads on. "3-1 then?", "No, 1-3" "Chuffing Heck!" or something similar is the fragrant response! It's good to see supporters with a passion for the game. We're more assured and passing better now. Mark's playing well. He slots the ball through to Oliver who breaks though with Ollie and Ed. It's three on one - we have to score this time. But the footy Gods are with Fulbourn and the ball is skied over the bar. Doh! The quarter runs out at 1-3. Still that's 1-1 in quarters, isn't it?

The third quarter ebbs and flows. There's lots of good work from Joe and Matty S, whilst Matty P is surprisingly energetic. He wins the ball out wide on the right, comes infield and cracks a left footed shot which draws a great save from the goalie. Regrettably, this give the F-Team the chance to attack and despite a great save by Ed they scramble another one over the line. 1-4. Oooh, this isn't going at all well... This is swiftly followed by a speculative punt from the half-way line by their giant No 6 which pings off a defender and unsights the goalie making it 1-5.

Into the last quarter and we abandon all caution. From the kick off Oliver gets another glorious chance and shoots well, but inches wide. Then Matty P wins the ball in midfield. He beats his man and unleashes a blistering piledriver. The goalie saves, but Oliver is following up and smacks the rebound home Oh Yes ! 2-5. We can still do this.

But actually we can't. Fulbourn come back up our end and score again. 2-6. We go back at them and a great move frees Oliver with only the keeper to beat, but the keeper somehow keeps the ball out. In rapid reply Fulbourn nick another couple of goals with some skillful play but I won't trouble you with the details. Everything they do is turning to gold and we are more and more frustrated. Eventually it's a relief to end on 2-8 with the cold and freezing fog dampening everyone's spirits. Nevermind.

The best team on the day won and we learned a lot. Like how great is the hot chocolate the canteen team are whipping up these days? That certainly cheered us all up and it was nice to have a post-match wind down in the "players lounge". Other lessons learned? Well, get your bacon butties early. You never know when the electricity is going to run out !

Squad: Mark, Ed, Jake, Joe, Matty P, Matty S, Oliver, Ollie.
Scorers: Oliver (2)