After three straight defeats, confidence in the dressing room before Saturday's game was surprisingly high, despite the fact that Chairman Von Dutch was in charge and Big Sam was to play in goal with a broken toe!!  The fact that three young lads from the fives were guesting for us and would be able to last the full game was probably the main reason for our confidence.

Resplendent in new boots (ticket sales for the Club Dinner were obviously higher than expected, for who buys new boots in March?!!) Chairman / Captain Von Dutch won the toss and decided to change ends, attacking with the sun and a strong breeze at our backs - a move straight out of the total football coaching manuals made famous by the Dutch.

Within SEVEN, yes SEVEN seconds this master tactical stroke had paid dividends!  A comical mix up in the Poly defence (it doesn't only happen to us) saw Chairman / Captain Von Dutch roll the ball into an empty net, so christening the new boots and giving us the lead.

The conditions were playing havoc with the Poly keeper and defence and they were finding it increasingly difficult to clear their defensive third of the pitch and it was only a matter of time before we added to the score.  And we did with three goals that were almost identical.  Each time the ball was half cleared and, in no particular order as I cannot remember, Gavin, Chris M and Chairman / Captain Von Dutch lobbed the ball back into the net from well outside the box.  Three quality goals.

Poly pulled a goal back from a free kick which Sam said swerved a great deal, then changed his mind and blamed his broken toe!!  But before half time Lockey from the fives added a fifth with a good finish to put us 5-1 up at the break.  The team talk at half time was for us to not worry about the ever increasing gale, try to play the ball out from the back and not to panic - at which point Norm panicked.

But credit to everyone as we played the conditions almost perfectly and restricted Poly to only half chances and managing to score one more ourselves through Lockey with his second of the game.

So a good 6-1 victory against a side which admittedly might be more veteran than us but was played in the right spirit.  Our defence, especially in the second half, was excellent and the midfield worked hard at both ends.  Mick Briggs did well to last a full game for the first time this season and the two forwards deserved a couple of more goals each.   Chairman / Captain Von Dutch would have had a hattrick but for a blatant jug avoidance miss, blaming the blisters caused by the new boots.

Thanks to the three lads from the fives who I think were all called Matt, for helping us out.  It certainly makes a difference having some younger legs in the team.

Something to build on for next week ?  I fear not, as a post Club Dinner match against Maori is next, although stranger things have happened.

Shed Bloke