Monday make bleak Wednesday for Barely

Easton Monday 3 Barely Athletic 1

Goal: Steve

Defence: Rich B, Tom, Quentin, Andy

Midfield: Nick, Sam, Jacko, Mike

Attack: Manrouf, Lefils

Subs: Phil, Danny, Richie, Ioan, Chris

All good things must come to an end - things like the Sopranos, the cadburys creme egg window, and the funniness of Steve Martin. And last night at Fairfield School Easton Monday ended Barely's unbeaten league record with a performance of rare panache that Barely, try as they might, couldn't quite equal.

They had their moments. After a shaky start when the defence seemed to be doing most of the work, Barely edged their way into the game as they strove to keep the ball on the ground and engineer some chances for their strikers. For a while the game looked fairly even but then Monday eased up a gear and began bossing things - and this period of pressure led to the goal, as Tom, sick to the eye teeth of winning the man of the match award, deftly nodded the ball past his dad for an intended easy catch but a resultant own goal. Monday politely declined to celebrate over-exuberantly.

Richie made changes - despite having a gammy eye (the reporter hereby prints a full and frank denial that we alluded anything else on the night of the Chelsea - Liverpool game) the boss brought himself on in midfield and moved Sam to the wing. Richie's frenetic energy gave Monday something else to think about, but Barely could still not exert any real authority, and they got the scores level thanks only to Lefils' persistance and some ludicrous ball-patting by the defender as, lying prone, he pushed the ball away from Fizzy's feet with his hand. Initially hesitant, the Monday ref gave the spot kick after some impressively indignant changes of octave in the Barely larynxes.

At this point we should say that, penalty reluctance aside, the reffing from the Monday players was commendably fair-minded.

Lefils battered in the penalty for his seventh goal of the season and Barely were back in the game. However, neither side were able to take a lead before the break and this was due to the obstinacy of both defences and the cat-like reactions of Steve, who was playing through injury after taking a blow on the hand. Jacko had a shot from distance saved and Fizzy saw a couple of chances go whistling just wide of the far post as Barely enjoyed their strongest spell of the half.

So; half-time. Steve took a turn on the bench as Danny came on at right-back for Mike in a tactical reshuffle. Barely resumed play looking slightly better balanced and, every now and again, breaking forward in numbers as they began to put some moves together. But they always foundered on the rock of the Monday defence, with the keeper pretty much untested. And at the other end Nick was busy, but he could do nothing about a first-time half-volley that was swept beyond him to give Monday the lead. It was an uphill struggle for Barely here on in, with Monday looking comfortable in possession and playing an unhurried game that they could not be hassled out of. Barely tried though. Another Jacko shot - Andy shot high. Fizzy was brought down on the edge of the box and, after a lung-busting scream of pain, got up and belted the ball over the bar. And Steve almost found himself with a heading chance at point-blank range, but the ball bounced agonisingly over his head. Richie made a last throw of the dice with Ioan coming on for Mani for a spell up front, but the Welsh wizard was stifled by the big guns of the Monday defence.

All that said, Monday looked good for the win, looking always the likelier scorers despite impressive defending by Barely, especially Phil (on for the hamstrung Quent), who caught the eye with a series of tackles. When the home side scored again with the last kick (neé header) of the game from a corner, it did not flatter them. Barely's hardest game of the season, played in sapping heat, ended with their first league defeat, though there was no shame in losing to the likely champions. But it would be nice to end the season next week with a result - something the return of co-manager Jim can only help.

In a wide spread of votes, Steve and Jacko shared the man of the match vote, though the clincher for Steve was the fact Tom already had it at home.