24 September 2005 - League
Darkside 0 - Victoire 2
Team: Adrian, Alan, Andy, Ant, Ben M, Ben S, Craig, Dan B, Dan S, Errol, Ian, Mike, Phill, Tim
Goals: / Assists: / MOTM: Andy/ MM: Adrian

With the third game of the season came the shattering of the Darkside illusion of an Arsenalesque 03/04 season, unbeaten. Not the greatest match to spectate, "Its just headball, not football" was the cry from one adoring fan. True enough. The first half saw little action at either end; the highlight possibly being the lost ball on the railway side of the fence. Darkside saw little possesion up-front and found it difficult to retain the ball for long. Victoire was little better.

The breakthrough came late on, with fewer than 15 minutes left on the clock. Tanna unsure about making changes in a balanced match at 0-0, reacted immeadiately after Victoire took the lead, throwing on his three replacements within 5 minutes. At one nil down late in the game, the substitions made little difference, if any and with the inevitable gaps left at the back whilst looking for an equaliser, Victoire hit again to put the match out of grasp for a disappointed Darkside team.

Earlier in the first half things could have been so different. A great effort by Kingston came back at speed from the crossbar, falling kindly for the Victoire defence. Another effort, this time by Mole, trickled uphill towards the goal line, but was cleared by an alert opposition. At 2-0 up Darkside would have been home and dry themselves, but it wasn't their day.

Man of the Match had to go to Andy in goal for a brave display an a fine string of saves and edge-of-the-box clearances, which kept Darkside in the match for 75 minutes. A comical moment in the last 5 minutes, when an attempted headed flick on by Boyd resulted in the ball rolling down his back in a lying down position, was enough to win him Monkey Moment and a trip to the pizza shop for his troubles. Heads up; still top of the league by goal difference!

Match report by: Ben S