Venue - Blackpool Airport Runway
Opposition - North West Kitchens

A typical Common Edge Sunday morning greeting us, along with a pumped up North West Kitchens side, Pitch 8 was the venue and again a healthy turnout from Excelsior. I don't think I need to go into what has gone on the last couple of weeks but those events meant we were promised a fiery and eventful game against our new rivals.

With Lizzie and Carey on the missing list from last week we lined up Ross in the sticks, same back 4, Nico, Marc Green, Per and Neil, middle of the park right to left
Mercer, Fiss, Truby (only joking Mr Hall!), Hopes and Smudger, up top Woz and fit again Sean. Warming the bench, Dezzy Worral, Gaz Jakins, Johnny Evans, Jimmy and Ryan.

As we left the calm of the pre-match dressing room we could almost hear the battle cries from the NWK dressing room, Russ sending his troops out for war, main target chief wind up merchant Mercer then take a piece out of any Excelsior player that comes near you. The game started as I expected with plenty of meaty tackles and for me personally quite a few off the ball kicks and abuse.It wasn't just me who got the treatment,plenty of strong tackles were flying in in the middle of the park from both sides. I got the feeling that in this game 'anything goes' and that was the refs view until booking Fiss for an inocuous challenge 20 mins in. This was a laughable decision after what had gone on before that, especially from the Kitchens left back. The Kitchens left midfielder left the pitch after 20 mins after one off the ball swipe too many. Back to the football... oh there wasn't any being played. We weren't bothered though in fact it was good to see plenty revelling in it. I couldn't help feeling this game would have been made for Truby!!

Still 0-0 and no real chances to speak of although most of the game was being played in the Kitchens half. The breakthrough came 10 mins before half-time,a great dink into the box by Woz played in Sean who ran on and lobbed the on rushing keeper with his head. Almost staight after it was 2-0 Excelsior. A long clearance found Sean on the break after great work he pulled it back to Mercer who steered the ball on the angle from 20 yards into the corner. To say it felt good was an understatement.

NWK pulled one back with a dubious goal right on half time, after playing the offside trap successfully all half I think the liner was affected by the constant moaning and abuse from the Kitchens players and didn't flag, although it seemed the striker was a good 3 yards off. He ran through unopposed and slotted past Ross, 2-1.

Second half and NWK had the breeze at their backs and were confident of turning us over. I was glad to see the left back was carrying on where he left off with his own form of banter, I wont embaress the poor chap as his vocabulary was some what limited. Again the game was scrappy and the football was taking a back seat. Excelsior were in control for the most part and should have made it 3 on numerous occassions until a good move started down the left and ended with a good ball from Smudge being finished by Hopesy on the penalty spot. 3-1. NWK tried to get forward a little more and had a chance cleared off the line from Neil before
scoring their second in injury from a bullet header from the sub. The ref after apparently playing 5 mins of injury time blew up and the players shook hands which was good to see.

Not much in the way of football but it showed we can win ugly and won't be intimidated by teams intent on kicking their way through the game. A big impovement as only 3 weeks ago we were turned over by Brun Grove who used similar tactics, to a lesser degree.

For all the NWK reading and I'm sure the ones who can will be, I hope you've enjoyed the report and not taken any jokes to heart too much, you battled well and made it one of our hardest games of the season, we look forward to playing you again soon, feel free to join in the debate/banter below.

Ratings:

Rosscoe - Can't remember him making a save, kicking better this week and communication good - 7
Nico - Solid as ever, not a foot wrong - 7.5
Per - Great game, mopped up well and ushered the backline well - 7.5
Greeny - best game for a while, looked in control all the time - 8
Neil - Alot of dodgy moments and air shots this week,looked pissed!!Good clearance off the line made up for it - 6
Smudge - Not much first half as alot of the game was in teh middle, second half a good outlet - 8
Fiss - Relished the battle and came out on top, great leadership - 8
Hopes - Another impressive game for the man we now call lego head - 8
Sean - Never stopped battling, good goal, good assist, great workrate - 8
Woz - Didn't score but played his part, worked harder and always looked dangerous. NWK defence were scared shitless of him. - 8
Daz Worrall - Great 10 minutes - 7
Gaz Jakins - Not enough time to do anything - 6

Lets have a few more joining in this week.