Venue: Boundary Park

The big day was here. The weeks of waiting were over; today Excelsior took to the stage for the biggest game of the clubs history.

We lined up 4-5-1. Mills returned in goal. Back four of Steve Mac, Ross, Andy Mac and Neil Harropp. In the middle of the park; Mercer, George, Scholes holding, Me and Danny makes way for Wozzer on the left flank. Leading goal scorer Sean Lonsdale all alone upfront.

There was a nip in the air but the sun was shining. The lads were in great spirits warming up, watching the crowd around our pitch gather. A slight sense of nerves among some, Scholes for one left a strong smell of raw nerves in the changing rooms.

As I stepped up for the toss I could not help but notice their captain was full of nervous energy, he was practically chewing his lips off. I laughed to myself as we exchanged hand shakes. We kicked off, with Progress playing in to the sun.

It was a scrappy start but we seemed to have the better of the opposition. A loose ball rolled out of the box on the right flank which I just hooked straight back in the mixer and found Lonsdales head. Sean executed his trademark starfish style jump and dispatched the ball off the cross bar and into the back on the net.

1-0 us.

Then it happened. On around 10 minutes the ball fell to me, I went for the clearance with two Progress players closing me down. Bang, bang, both of them took a studs up chunk out of me and down I went. It hurt like fuck. I bushed myself off and carried on.

One nil up and moments before half time we conceded a corner. The initial corner was half cleared and dropped to the Progress skipper. Unchallenged he nodded the ball goal bound which was helped into the back of the net by a lad that clearly grew like a sunflower during puberty.

One each and in for half time. We were pretty exhausted, it had been a battle for 45 minutes and a few knocks were taking there toll on the players. The psychology of losing a goal moments before half time effected us all. Steve gave all he could to spur us on and off we went.

They got us started and their managers words must have been ringing in their ears. They came straight at us from the off and kept the pressure on. An unorthodox formation outfoxed us again. Before we knew it we had conceded 3 killer goals. A couple of sloppy ones which could have been helped but when it's not your day, it's not your day.

We did manage a consolation. Lonsdale made the most of a nothing chance and finished well. We gave all we could in the dying minutes but it was never enough. Even with the extra man we struggled in the last third.

Final Score 2-4

Man of the Match – Sean Lonsdale. Two good goals and gave his everything for the team. Forced himself into a game where scraps were all that was on the menu. We lost the game but Sean can be proud of his performance. Steve Mac was a very close second, stuck to his game plan and didn't give Tubs Tubson a touch all game.

Well all I will say is, we are not dwelling on this result. We had some bad luck and injuries on the pitch. We did not play our usual game, no passing no short game at all. Come Sunday we will be back to winning ways.

I have to mention Alan O'loughlin (whatever he's called) - Progress right winger, right minger. How can someone with only one head be so ugly? This lad got a red card 60 minutes in, didn't care that it was a cup game or that the score was still tight.

He took the walk of shame doing some sort of fake laugh. What an idiot. I hope you read this Alan and hopefully you read, learn and alter. He mentioned – “Come to my house for a fight”, so what are the directions to fraggle rock? Then he went on to say “Come to my house and I will shoot you”.

Make your own opinions from what you have read. Mine is that the lad is a bell end. Funny how a few of the Progress players were also of the same opinion.

About my injury. At the end of the game I went to do my usual thing and remove the tape from my socks, I was very curious to see the damage from my first half knock. It had been smarting all game, every time the ball or another players boot touched that area a cold tingle flowed through my body.

My sock felt sticky around the ankle area, a quick look at my fingers the sticky substance was confirmed as blood. Next stop Victoria Hospital. Check out the pictures to the horror that greeted me and Dr. Zach. The Doc thinks it was done on purpose, make up your own mind. If it was who ever did it is pathetic and would love to see you on a Judo night.

After some stitches and some bad news (no footy for 3 weeks) I joined my comrades in the Excelsior. Great to see everyone in there, family and all.

Here are a couple more pictures (they are graphic so I have linked to them, please be warned before you click).

Before Stiches
After Stiches

Massive thank you to everyone who gave us their support today. Sorry we could not repay your loyalty with a win.

An even bigger thank you to Andy Mac's treacle, Lisa. Looked after me and got me some 1st class treatment on my leg. A real Florence Nightingale.

Another sorry to Lee Rooney. I would feel better if I could say 'we all did all we could Lee' but that just is not the case with some players lacking in the bottle and hunger department when it really mattered. I am sorry to Lee and Steve Gaffer, it is my job to extract that out of players as captain and I just couldn't do it on the day. I hope your support and management for us continues and I can give you my word that I will always give 200% for the cause and do my everything to repay the loyalty you have shown us.

Fiss