Wombles 0 Grasshoppers 2

1. Linesy
2. Nase
3. Bugsy
4. Skipper
5. Flaser
6. Truss
7. Jo
8. Lewy
9. Ady
10. Cat
11. Nathe
12. Micky

MOM : Jason Owen – Another excellent performance from the resurgent skipper.

The Wombles welcomed high flying Grasshoppers to Dally Park with the pitch in an even worse state than usual having been drained due to the recent weather, leaving the surface having the same complexion as Nasal’s face circa 1995. There was also a strong wind which would make playing football difficult.

The Wombles were short of a few key squad members but were set to field a strong squad until the no show of leading scorer Eason threw that into disarray – Cat stepped up in a like for like change so there was still a confident feeling going into the game. The first half was an even affair with the home side perhaps edging it with Ronnie Johnson going the closest with a towering header and two free kicks one of which hit the post.

The Wombles defence and midfield were performing well but were a bit far from the front 2 who were left isolated and with Cat getting brutally raped everytime the ball was in the air (which the ref seemed to like!) they were left with few clear cut chances.  Grasshoppers had the better of the second half and opened the scoring when Jase left the ball for Krissy who had stayed at home and the oppositions big stopper hooked home an unstoppable shot – a moment of indecision had cost the Wombles again.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Ressies and the away side made it 2 shortly afterwards when a punch from the home keeper fell to a player at the edge of the area who did well to turn it home. The injured Truss was replaced by Mickey and the Wombles should have had a penalty when a weaving run from Ady was brought to an abrupt halt by the defender, the ball fell to Bugsy who was too busy shouting “refee pen dog” to have a shot on goal and the home sides last chance was gone.

Grasshoppers look like they are set to win the title this year and I’m sure we’d rather they won than Heathfield but we can still make it interesting by beating the Grasshoppers at their place something we are more than capable of doing if we can cut out silly mistakes. Notable mention goes to Flase and Jase who were again very solid at the back, ably assisted by Cafu and Roberto Carlos at full backs (have two full backs ever got forward less?), and the midfield were solid throughout. The only downside was that we didn’t manage to get the ball wide to put some crosses into the box for the strikers as the opposition keeper looked a bit suspect on crosses.

Finally a kind word for keepers / striker Krissy who held his hand up for blame for the goals although this reporter would suggest that there were a number of mistakes leading up to both. To be fair he’s been outstanding this season and has saved us on more than one occasion from a drubbing, some of which we have managed to turn into victories. We win and lose as a team, and hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy the fruits from a long hard season in Benidorm.