Black Mark for Barely

Red Star 4 Barely Athletic 1

Goal: Tom

Defence: Colin, Jim (2), Ian, Andy

Midfield: Sam, Mike, Dave, Bats

Attack: Mani, Lefils

Sub: Kel

Missing more first choice players than you can count on a radioactive centipede's feet, Rich 'Bats' Batten was forced to call on the 'Groinstrain Three' of Andy, Colin and Sam as well as drafting in emergency cover in the shape of Jim (who started at centre-back and swapped positions with Tom at half-time) and Kel, who began as sub.

Red Star are a good side and unsurprisingly began the game on top. Tom had already pulled out a couple of saves as the Barely back line was breached by the time Barely began to get a foothold on the game, as Mike started winning headers and challenges in the centre of the park. It looked like an inspired choice by Bats to play him there. Barely even started to put some attacks together but, as is often the case, the final ball wasn't quite there. Sam felt he might even have had a penalty as he was felled in the box but as the only person who agreed with him was his assailant, the game proceeded indifferently.

The first half was actually a pretty even affair with 'Hungover' Dave industrious in midfield and Andy and Bats combining well down the left. But Red Star went into the break two goals ahead - firstly when their left-winger outpaced Colin into the box to finish well, and secondly as Lefils argued over an offside call Red Star broke forward and scored a splendid counter-attacking goal. As guilty as Fizzy was for arguing, the rest of Barely were equally guilty of telling him to shut up rather than focussing on the game. So they felt a bit hard done to, but their was no arguing with the scoreline.

After a prolonged and confusing team shuffle Colin went to right wing and Kel (who had come on for Dave in the first half) went to right-back. It was a better balance to the team by and large but by the time they found the net - Tom heading in Lefils' corner - they had conceded a third as a cross-shot went into the Barely net off Jim's hands. And despite Lefils dropping into midfield to bolster Barely's play, there was time for another weak goal from a Barely point of view when a Red Star corner went directly in with no assistance other than the crapness of Jim and Sam on the line.

So a fairly sorry Barely put up a fight but were outpunched but a strong Red Star team. Man of the Match - apparently - went to Sam 'for turning up' but your correspondent would put down Ian as Barely's outstanding performer, with notable nods to a few others: Kel looked a very composed player, and Lefils, Dave and Andy kept battling until the end. The Barely Reporter actually felt Lefils was on the wrong end of some decisions as the fiery Frenchman used his strength to turn defenders or win the ball, but in fairness Red Star played and refereed fairly in the big picture. Hopefully Barely can get some rest -and some more players - before their next game .