OC 3rd XI v Old Hamptonian 3rd XI (h)

AFA Cup: Round 1

Result: 3-0



This season's cup campaign started with a bang. Within 2 minutes, we were 1-0 up in classic 3s fashion. "Long Throw George" loaded up the gun show and Al Fenton rose like a smoked salmon sandwich to nod home. But then, as if someone had switched the channel from Match Of The Day to Casualty, all hell broke loose. As did the opposition captain's shinbone. Rising like a much larger smoked salmon sandwich that was some way past it's sell-by date, their skipper was knocked off balance by Mark and came down awkwardly. The result was not great. Ambulance job and a 40 minute delay to the game and an indefinite delay to his career you'd suspect.

But there's more. During the hiatus, Al Fenton - believing that his practice shots were being laser-tracked by Norris McWhirter for the next Guinness Book Of Records - slammed another shot at Jenks. Ambulance job number 2. Suspected broken finger and early bath.

So, after what seemed like a cliché, we were eventually back playing. Angus Procter kindly stepped up to take the gloves and proceeded to keep faultlessly in the style of a flame-haired Matthew Prior.

The second goal followed shortly before half-time. Dolly won the ball on the edge of our box, carried it across the halfway-line like it was an unexploded bomb, fed it to Frenchy on the right who squared it to Al to lash in his second disdainfully. 2-0 half-time.

The second-half saw us gain even more control on the game. We kept possession much better and created some great moves. Mark was denied a perfectly good goal for an incorrect offside decision, Dolly was denied a perfectly good goal because a killer instinct eluded him. It was left to the stand-in skipper to put the game to bed with 10 minutes left on the clock. Another square ball from Frenchy and another disdainful lash home that just sneaked in under the bar.

3-0 final score, in the hat for the next round and no less than we deserved.

Performances all round on Saturday were great. Ben won everything in the air and put out fires all day, Dolly carried the ball forward with great composure. The defence were excellent - Mosser put in a great shift at left-back, Ryder was faultless again on the right and the quadruple-barrelled centre-back pairing of C-B and C-R gave nothing away all day. There was also time for a great half-hour from Harry Palley on debut making some ranging runs forward from left-back.

Another good day for the attacking unit as well. Mark worked selflessly all day and Al took his goals brilliantly. Frenchy adds another couple of assists to a great start to the season.

But MOTM this week I think must go to Angus. Stepped up in our hour of need, put the gloves on, and totally bossed it. He also showed a lot of class in just 10 minutes outfield and will be a great addition to this season's squad.