Alltraders v 34 C's

After the end of another hard working day, Alltraders gathered tonight to face their latest opposition, the 34 C's. It wasn't to be the most promising of meetings - Kevin and Barry had been working solidly all day, and Paul looked like he'd rather be somewhere else. Who wouldn't. I can think of several better places to be at nine o'clock on a Friday night...

The opposition, just for a change, looked pretty keyed up and ready for action. Not something Alltraders wanted on another muggy evening. The only thing that may have helped would have been a supply of neat oxygen, and maybe a zimmer frame for Tim.

As expected, the game started at a furious pace. Alltraders tried hard to make headway in the early stages, but 34 C's were very strong and positive in their approach and started to find gaping holes in their defence in the first few moves of the game.

Again, Warren Fiveash excelled himself, finding himself in the thick of the action right from the start and making more than one excellent stop to keep his team in the game.

Alltraders were quite clearly unprepared tonight. Their passing was inaccurate, the running off the ball non-existent. After five minutes the opposition were in full control of the game...

It was only a matter of time before the opposition found the gap required to open the scoring. A disorganised Alltarders defence allowed an unmarked 34 C's attacker the space to cooly slot home number one.

Kevin, Tim and Barry are caught napping as Warren is beaten for the first time this season.

Where was the marking?

Not wishing to look to knackered, Alltraders continued to press as best they could into 34 C's half, but the aggression and fitness of the opposition blocked the way each time.

It was beginning to turn into a very scrappy game - raw aggression was beginning to stifle any move Alltraders attempted to put together.


Another huge hole in the Alltraders defence	Kevin goes down with a knee injury

The game turns into a match of aggression as Paul is chopped from behind again..	A 34 C's attacker hits the ground as Kevin hacks the ball away from his body, accidently stamping on his groin.

Things went from bad to worse when Kevin went down with a nasty knee injury just before half time. With no substitute on the bench, it wasn't looking too be the best of nights for Alltraders. Not only that, when Alltraders did eventually carve an opening in the 34 c's defence, Paul Burton's hurried shot skimmed off the side of his foot and out for a throw. If I had a pound for every time Paul has scored from this position in the past, I'd have three pounds now.

With two more goals conceded in quick succession, and Kevin limping around the pitch in clear pain, it started to get to the point where Alltraders were praying for the final whistle to put them out of their misery. Unfortunately there was still time for 34 C's to take the score to 4 - 0 before we were allowed that blessed relief...

It may be a bit early to say that Alltraders are out or the competition after just two games, but with Caledonian, 34 C's and Jamies team (B and Ce) both winning their first two and looking strong, in reality there isn't that much hope of finishing in the qualifying position. From now on we play for the enjoyment of the game!

For the first time ever, the man of the match goes to the same player on two consecutive games. Warren Fiveash yet again saved the team from and even more embarrasing defeat with several excellent saves in the early stages. The rest of the team were crap.


Number two is conceded	Paul tries his luck

Number three is conceded	Kevin is crowded out again


Kevin lines up his shot - back to the same oak tree	Warren makes another great block


The net bulges for the fourth time tonight -	34 C's were too strong for a lack-luster Alltraders.

Alltraders v 34 C's Pitch 2 - 03/06/1999 - 21:00