Rushmoor Sunday Reserves 0 v 4 Rose and Thistle      (Division 3 League Match)

With only 6 games left every game is a potential banana skin. When you play aginst one of the bottom teams you always worry that 3 points will go begging, however the teams determination ensured this wasn’t going to be the case.

Again, a full squad to choose from, in fact the last training session saw 22 players turn up of which 20 were signed on. From this only 16 could be chosen and then only 11 play. The squad - Conetta, Oakey, Leach, Gray, Marsden, Gadsen, Lindley, Harris, Holman, Waygood, Milburn Subs - Winnard, Trigger, Sutton, Bunce, Marshall, Goacher, Miller. Following the worst performance of the season several changes took place. Davison dropped for his abysmal showing, not even in the starting 16, Milburn up front, Scales on the bench.

The pitch was far from good but in a much better state then the Crossley one. For once we seemed to have a ref with a bit of common sense. Teamsheet handed in, team sheet given to the other team, no excuse this week.

1st Half - Thistle looked slow out of the blocks again, playing uphill on a small pitch. The lads were testing out the pitch to see where the puddles were and the defence looking to settle down. As the half wore on the defence were a bit shaky with some back headers causing trouble for Conetta as well as the pitch causing some trouble for his kicks. Rushmoor were the first to get the ball into the back of the net with a nice long throw into the box and the burly Rushmoor defender to head in past our keeper. They celebrated well into the night before realizing that the ref had blown for a push in the area. That was to be a wake up call for the lads and soon they were finding their passes and working off the ball. With Waygood and Milburn linking up together a goal for Thistle had to come and sure enough it did. Good play up the right found the ball being cut across the goal with who else but Shinner Waygood, he shinned it home, bobbling into the corner of the net 1-0 Thistle. The two full backs were having a fantastic game, linking up well with the wingers, Oakey in particular sending over some of his now trademark pin point crosses into the Rushmoor box. Half time came and so Thistle 1-0 up.

At half time no changes took place despite some unrest from the subs before the break.

2nd Half - Now kicking downhill life became a bit easier. Knowing that only 1 goal wasn’t going to be enough Thistle built wave upon wave of attacks hoping one would breach the home defence and increase the score. Lindley had a great chance for a shot but elected to pass, Holman and Hollywood showed off their diving techniques, but to no avail. However it must be said that Hollywood’s was much more authentic than Dick Holman’s, but then again Hollywood has the thespian training! The break through did come via Shinners shorts. A scramble in the area forced the home defender to send the ball towards the net only for Shinner to swear it came of his shorts, 2-0 Thistle. A substitution found Harris off and Bunce on. A certain Clive “The Cat” Bunce was proudly watching his son from the touchline until the RAC van turned up to open Graeme’s car, he had locked his keys in. Whilst this was happening Buncey junior was playing well and found himself in front of goal 1 on 1 with the keeper. A cool head and Keepers wet gloves meant the ball found the back of the net and a rather bemused Buncey claiming a goal. Clive on the other hand had just thanked the RAC for unlocking Graeme’s car only to find the spare set had been locked in as well and his son had scored and he missed it. Graeme will be doing a piece on the web site telling us how it is only right to keep both sets of keys in your car at the same time! 3-0 Thistle, and Rushmoor still plugging away. Thistle’s full backs ever increasing with confidence kept Rushmoor at bay and turning defence into attack whenever they could. The final goal came from a clearance and who else but Capt Waygood picked up the ball. With the Manager shouting for him to run with it towards goal he set off and fired a stinging ball past the keeper 4-0 Thistle. OK it wasn’t actually stinging but a shot that the keeper fumbled, it went over the line but Waygood followed it up kicking so much water up in the air no one could actually tell he touched it over the line - he said he did but then he would wouldn’t he? Towards the end Scales came on for Lindley and the lads ran the clock down to pick up a nice three points.

M.O.M - The best performance by this guy by far, exactly what the Manager wanted. Well Done Sean Oakey, his first MOM of the season.