A scoreline that didn't do the performance justice in a pretty one sided game that for the first twenty minutes saw Ian Castle out moan Kirky Reynolds by some margin - on realising this however the man that is Kirk Reynolds rightfully regained his number one status as our champion of the tonsils (something his private life longs for).

Now some would say that a depleted squad meant a change in line up, however I would like to congratulate Wol's visionary move to elect for the power house that is myself Steve Smith to replace Mike Pickett up top. The new combination of Smith and Harris had been likened by some to Dalglish and Rush, unfortunately Kelly and Jennifer was the comparison most were thinking.

South Bank started with what was a young looking side, however with our average age bumped up by Paterson, Bennett, and Reynolds, the Scottish Commonwealth Crown Green Bowls team would look like a minors outfit.

On to the serious bit, and our left hand side looked very strong with Chris French and Ricardo Bennett working tirelessly and dominating their respective zonal areas. It has been said that if you took Benno's left foot and swapped it with Frenchies left then you would have a very good player ....... however what would be left over is too frightening for any footballer to conceive. Alongside C French, Lee Byrne and Johnny Wilks also battled hard. It was a scrappy first half with not too many chances but we looked comfortable at the back and dangerous with Tyrone on the right. Tyrone's football didn't look dangerous but with that gang bandanna he wears, nobody was going to upset him.

A  pitch described afterwards by Wol, ( in between holding his breakfast down), as, "big as Wembley!", saw half time come as a much needed chance to get our second ( third in some cases ) wind.

A couple of changes saw "holiday" Dave Fenton and Tom Ritchie replace Byrne and Wilkinson in an attempt to add some creativity alongside the hustle. This almost paid dividends midway through the half when a Ritchie free kick could only be parried by the keeper with the rebound inches wide from an almost impossible angle from Smith who was hurt in the attempt, a challenge that would ultimately see the powerhouse subbed but not before his willingness to carry on through visible pain would be rewarded.

With around 15 minutes left on the clock the breakthrough was made. Some good work by John Harris on the left saw Chris French jink to the byline where his cross was emphatically powered home by the impressive Smith with a stunning piece of left footed poaching, giving Wol an attacking headache when Pickett retur! ns, but it's a nice problem to have.

As usual when we hold a slender lead we tend to sit a bit deep and allow the opposition to attack but the defence held strong with worthy mention to Tom Prowse and a fine double save from Ian Castle from a one on one situation.

So the final score a 1-0 win, on any other day Ian Castle would get man of the match but I have to give it to Chris French who although tired towards the end worked as hard as I've seen this season in the middle of the field and a bit more fitness and less fags would see his defensive duties improve also.

A satisfactory win that has seen my striking credentials as well as my journalistic ambitions improve, a glimmer of promotion hope and more belief that the cup could be ours this season.