Playing a team that had won its last 6 games could have proved difficult compared to the last two matches. Minerva play at the same ground as Schooners, Marine (Bournemouth Beach) Park, so we knew what to expect.

Bucket & Spade at the ready we decided on a more serious warm up routine. It had rained most of thw eek so the sand was still relatively damp. Great for building sand castles!!! The only good news was the rain had washed away the multitude of white lines which was so confusing the week before.

A different set of officials too. Thank God! Although the linesmen were both broader than Steve Honey and Martin Varney put together. I just hope their eyesight was good.

New to the back four this week was Rudi - the German - 6ft 6 and a brick outhouse. He had returned from injury, 2 broken ribs!! How big must that person have been to inflict such damage on him?! Rudi proved an inspiration and playing along side Sergio we were inpenetrable. 2-0 up at half time and things were looking good.

The next goal was going to be the most important as Minerva had some fresh legs up front. A striker with more grey hair than Chris Butler (including his pubes), but faster than Ben Johnson on drugs. Coupled with a Ben Johnson look alike I felt we would have some serious defending to do. A penalty, hotly disputed by the Minerva coach, gave us a 3-0 lead and could it be game over?

Off comes Rudi, at 49 his stamina was waining and in comes Gulio. First tackle, Giulio is yellow carded. Here in the US a yellow card is followed by a 5 minute spell in the sin bin. We hang on and score a sublime 4th. Chad jinxing around the defence and laying a square ball for Haluk to tap in.

With 15 mins to go, our coach decides on his usual 10 player shuffle so the defence can score, which proved succesful when we hit our last goal of the game. 5-0. But Kellys clean sheet has to wait again for another week when a Minerva cross was met by Chris Butler look-a-likey and glanced of his bald spot and into the bottom corner. Final score 5-1.

Three wins from three games. May my run continue!!

More next week when we play Hermosa Beach 3rds!!

take care

Peter

wider than me and varney christ i feeeeeeel gooood

glad to hear things are going well mate

Well done Pete, keep the reports coming.