At one time, this could have been a potentially tricky W*s Cup-tie against a side relegated from the Premier Division last season. However, despite playing on a ploughed field/bog, somewhere in the North of Sheffield, and with an incompetent ‘Scottie-dog’ for a referee, I think we showed what a resilient side we are becoming. We may have been intimidated in the past by sides like these, but when I saw Steve Jackson’s eyes glaze over as he squared-up to their non-stop whinging, kicking, spitting, gouging No6 I knew things had changed and changed for the better! Moving on to the football, I was at first annoyed, yet later pleased, when my initial instruction to play simple ‘knock it over the top and chase’ football to counter the conditions was totally ignored in favour of a continuation of our ‘passing game’, which despite a few scary moments proved to be ultimately just too good for them! In the first half, a shot superbly placed right in the bottom corner by a “fired up” Stevie Holcroft (Cliff shouted at him) and a glancing header from ‘play me up front boss’ Knaggsy set us on our way. In the second half, superior fitness and quality showed through and the 4–0 scoreline flattered them in the end.
Next stop a Quarter-final against the Acorn that takes us back up to High Green/Hoyland. Who knows eh?
Al ‘4 matches unbeaten/it’s a funny old game’ Clow