25 September 2004 - Friendly
Darkside 0 v Hersham RBL Res 0
Team: Andy B, Andy R, Ben E, Chet, Dan, Emmon, Errol, Jim, Mark, Steve C, Steve S, Stu, Tim
Goals: - / Assists: - / MOTM: Andy R / MM: Andy B

Shock, horror, Andy Cole... a 0 - 0 result for the Darkside. This must surely be a first. Somebody check the record books! What will come as no surprise though is this was a game dominated by the two sets of defenders and an ice rink surface.

Although Darkside dominated the first half a Hersham back five and slippery conditions prevented them taking a lead they certainly deserved. Shots by Andy B, playing his first league game since returning from injury, and Dan up front were saved by the Hersham keeper or put just wide. On a normal day the service they received from the midfield may have produced a hat full of goals but the slippery surface left more skid marks than on the inside of my pants after a night on the curry.

At the other end the Darkside keeper was hardly troubled thanks to a solid performance by the defenders in front of him, especially Jim and Andy R who would go on to win Man of the Match (The only time an Andy will win Man of the Match!) Stuart was as vocal as usual and Emmon swanned around the back line looking mighty cool as the female fans cooed his every touch (of the football that is!).

Darkside started the second half in much the same way but it wasn't long before Hersham started to realise a single goal would win it and picked up their game hitting the post twice. Darkside weathered the storm and ended up with possibly the best chance of the match coming from Dan. He lobbed the out coming keeper from a tight angle only to watch the ball agonisingly bounce off the cross bar. It was destined to stay 0 - 0 and then a freak left footed slice from Andy B just inside his own penalty area flew towards his own goal in the dying seconds only to bounce off the cross bat and into the arms of Ben in goal who held on to it like they were his very own crown jewels.

All in all it was a good performance from Darkside and although they were the more positive of the two teams 0 - 0 somehow felt the right result.

Match report by: Andy B