The magic of the cup

After last week's debacle, Iscape found some form at last in the latest cup game last night. For the first time we were drawn to play a team in our division and never looked to be in trouble. Whether that reflected our great play or their inadequacies can be debated but they did beat us last time out in the league.

No Kev or Dave meant a starting and finishing line up of: -

Hen Dom Dom Matt Matt Dougie and myself

We started well finding lots of space and unusually, one of our own team when passing the ball. In something of a revolution Dom and Matt I had plotted a change in formation over the weekend with Matt C pushing forward to boost our goal threat. He is our only goalscorer in the league after the opening two games. Perhaps Kev's position is in jeopardy following this decision but it certainly paid off.

The first goal came from a slick passing move involving most of the team and saw Dom smash home from an acute angle from close in, a tidy finish which went in off the far post. Surprisingly the opposition fought back albeit from a slight mistake in midfield by us. Dougie mistook a call of time for an instruction to trap the ball five yards away from himself and in the direction of our goal. The striker found himself unopposed in front of goal and beat Hen to his right. For a few moments the game was more equal and Hen had to save smartly near the end of the first half.

In the second half we were awarded a dubious penalty for a kick on Matt C as both palyers went in for a high ball. Taking responsibility, Matt duly hit the ball to the keeper's left and found the pace and height to beat him comfortably. More good fortune followed with a long ball contested in the 'D'. Sandwiched between two defenders, I hope I contributed to the one nearest goal heading home into his own net. From thereon in it was plain sailing. Dougie had plenty of strikes on goal as we passed and moved as if we'd played before. I think actually having a couple of games in a row has helped, the weeks off were doing us no favours.

The final goal saw another assist from Matt who headed clear at a corner with just minutes remaining. You'll have to believe the following on trust but Matt says it happened. I picked the ball up in our half and waited for the defender to come closer before lifting the ball over him. I actually outpaced him!!!!! and showed some strength to power toward goal before hitting home with aplomb. The referee was very pleased as always to see us win.

On the other hand, Glen's first game in league 1 saw Rossgarth lose 6 - 1. They competed well for the first half, only 2 - 1 down then and playing well against a good side. Their class told though in the second half but hopefully the boys will have learnt a lot against a team who finished fourth last year.