Back on track
Having experienced the bitter taste of defeat the previous week - only their fourth in 37 games - the Lepers were keen to make progress up the league, with fears of a Newcastle-esque title collapse on the cards.
Unfortunately many Lepers were still absent - Webb on a "sabbatical", Drake on a rolling around in mud exercise, Jerzak sleeping on his sofa, Phil still scouting for junior talent - and so the Lepers once again had to make do with a makeshift side. Harvey Snr. was drafted in to partner his ever-present brother, in a lively attack. While a first start in two months for Matthew Ames saw him reunited with Spike at the back. Matt Turner was player six, making his third Leper performance.
A slow, grinding start to the match saw neither side given many chances, although the Lepers were slightly edging it. It took about 9 minutes for the breakthrough to come. A long throw through the centre to David Harvey saw him flick the ball to his unrushing brother, Jonathan, who passed the ball under the oncoming keeper.
Not long after the Lepers scored again. Spike doing something (magical?) to capitalise on poor defending to make it 2-0. However, with seconds remaining in the half, an error from Ames saw Ecuador's big man, very similar to Augustin Delgado, with an opportunity to shoot, the ball squirming under keeper Sheen.
A half-time regrouping didn't seem to make much difference to the pattern of the game with little space afforded to either side. One passage of play saw the ball stay "in play" for about 8 minutes, despite the fact that two Lepers were unable to walk!
The Lepers finally got the breathing space they were seeking when Spike unleashed an unstoppable strike under the keeper. The relief was clear for all to see. Hallelujah.
In a rather unusual incident keeper Sheen was threatened with a sending off for intimating that the Equator House goalkeeper threw the ball out overarm. Such serious crimes by Sheen are fast gaining him a reputation. It is hard to see how he was allowed to stay on the pitch in this instance.
9.20 kick-offs are rubbish! Barely any time to spend at the Master Gunner!