04 September 2004 - Friendly
MMB XI 2 v Darkside 1
Team: Alan, Ben E, Dino, Emmon, Errol, James, Jim, Nikin, Paul, Phill, Stuart
Goals: Paul / Assists: - / MOTM: Ben / MM: Nikin

It was a blistering hot afternoon as Darkside FC returned to Weston Green Sports Ground the scene of last seasons harrowing 14-1 hammering by Molesey Villa, this year it was the turn of the Milk Marketing Board to try and humiliate them.

There was an air of anticipation in the dressing room mixed with the aroma of Deepheat and sunblock a sensible precaution introduce by some of the older and wiser heads in the squad not to mention balder and more likely to burn. The new socks and shorts were available for the game and this seemed to lift the moral of the team, especially Emmons. There was a more familiar starting line up than the previous friendly, with only three summer signings in the squad, Stuart in midfield and debuts for Paul Dixon and Alan up front. Due to injures and players on hoilday or working or it was just to nicer day to play football there was the more familiar numbers crisis and with no one on the bench Darkside could not afford any injuries.

And so the whistle blew, the milkmen kicking off, minutes later Dino went off injured, down to ten men Darkside rallied. With wave upon wave of attacks coming from those cow lovers, the Darkside defence held strong, last ditch tackles, blocks and headers from the back three combined with Errol in inspirational form playing in goal, prevented an opening goal. The cow herders forwards where not the only ones being out done, their midfield where beginning to take a pasting with Ben and Stuart winning the middle of the park battle and James and Nikin terrorising the wings. This lead to chances now being created at both ends, with Paul, nursing a hang over, firing a half chance over the bar and calling the keeper into action on more than one occasions. Final the breakthrough came, Stuart put the ball through to Alan who shot rebounded of a defender into the path of Paul who calmly lofted the ball of the keeper to score on his debut (or something like that). The half time whistle came not long after, and Darkside went in one nil up.

Weary but defiant Darkside took to the pitch in the second half with several position changes, Jim replacing Errol in goal, Errol changing with Nikin and Nikin taking Jims position. If this didn't confuse the calcium boys it seam to confuse the Darkside midfield who could not work out if they where playing a 3-4-2 or 4-4-1, it turned out to be a 4-3-2, but by this time the score had change to 2-1 in favour of the dairy girls. The over whelming advantage in the midfield had lead to a lot of pressure and final a quick break away after the midfield where caught in possession lead to the defence having little chance of stopping the first goal. The second was some what different, an attempted 20 yard clearance over the bar by Nikin dipped just shy and pinged of the underside of the bar then rebounding off Jim and dropped over the line. Yet still Darkside battled on and created some half chances to equalise but the heat and lack of numbers have taken its toll on the midfield, who where unable to supply quality ball to the front two. However it was a testament to a great team effort that the score remained at 2-1 with some last ditch defending, even when a penalty was awarded for a dive in the box Jim was a match for the spot kick. Not deceived by the speed of the in coming ball Jim drop to the ground making sure his body was behind it and picked it up in one swift movement, textbook stuff. Although the penalty kicker may have passed it back in agreement with the Darksides claims of a dive.

When the final whistle blew ten knackered players walked off the pitch, towards Dino and his knackered knee. All eleven players had given it there all, in a game which may have lacked touch, skill, communication and luck it did have a great team performance.

Match report by: Ben