Wanderers seen off by Barely

Barely Athletic 4 Westbury Wanderers 1

Goal: Steve
Defence: Rich B, Tom P, Phil, Andy
Midfield: Sam, Jim, Jacko, Mani
Attack: Richie, Ioan

subs: Ian, Paul

Ioan Williams will be the name on John Toshack's lips this morning as the Wales national team's manager searches for a striker to end his world cup woes. Could a diminuative tab-puffing middle-aged veteran be the answer? If Toshack had witnessed yesterday's display by the Barely marksman the answer would be a categorical yes, and Earnshaw would be out on his ear again. What's going on with Earnshaw? Why do people keep paying him money? I know he can run fast, but that doesn't seem to do Dwain Chambers any favours.

Anyway Ioan took the deserved plaudits for a stirring hat-trick, but Williams himself would admit the whole team turned in a really good day at the office - as though instead of congregating around the water cooler on a Friday afternoon gossiping, the workforce knuckled down at their desks and forced through that sale everyone said was a stone-cold lead balloon. That kind of arse-licking can get you noticed by the top brass, and sure enough other Casuals League teams may well be rubbing their eyes at the scoreline and feeling the stir of anxiety within their chests. The Barely Beast awakens.

After an opening couple of games that had seen our heroes looking somewhat less than heroic, one might have forgiven the team for hesitancy against a big (but it must be said, fair) Westbury Wanderers side. However Richie had spent many a sleepless night telling himself not to worry, and whilst staring at the ceiling he also managed some tactical jiggery-pokery, which resulted in a changed line-up. Andy reverted to defence and Sam and Mani to midfeld. Richie pushed himself up as an attacking midfielder just behind Ioan, with a mind to drop deep whenever Westbury had the ball. With Rich Batten at right-back, Barely's most durable engine rooms were placed at optimum positions - both full-backs and attacking midfield. Though reward was not immediately evident, the promise was - and Barely grew in stature as the game wore on.

Barely were already shading things in the early stages, though they were grateful that Phil and Tom were alert at centre-back, as Westbury looked to attack through the middle. But after Ioan deftly diverted an Andy shot past the keeper to give Barely the lead, the team never looked back. Not when Westbury forced an equaliser somewhat against the run of play just before half-time. Not when both Tom (clobbered by the only Wanderer who seemed intent on crossing the line physically, and to be fair he was swiftly reined in by his captain) and Jacko (with a recurrent strain) were forced off with injury. Their replacements in Ian and Paul performed beyond the call of duty, Paul chipping in with a goal as he broke from deep in the game's closing stages.

By that time Ioan had his hat-trick, a side-footed finish and a stooping header both converting crosses from Richie making the game safe. Ioan also missed a sitter and hit the post from a narrow angle, though 6-1 would have been harsh on Westbury, who never stopped competing. Man of the Match was a cakewalk for Williams.

Paul then tragically marred what should have been a great day by modelling his lucky pants - harrowing enough on their own but when seen in-situ, the stuff of nightmares. Andy confirmed he has already put in a request for counselling, and Bob was seen driving away ashen-faced and shivering.

But Barely will have to try and block out the flashbacks and concentrate on repeating this kind of display until it can justifiably be called good form. Not every team will grant them the space Westbury did, but if Barely play to their potential as they did yesterday, they will always be in with a shout of some points.