Double header

Easton Monday 5 Barely Athletic 0

Goal: Nick

Defence: Rich B, Ian, Danny, Luis

Midfield: Andy, Jacko, Sam

Attack: Dwez, Mike, Richie C

Subs: Mani, Steve

The game that was played as a double header for both league and cup ties ended badly for Barely Athletic, with them out of the cup and on a goal difference of -5 in the league. In a horrifying echo of last season's travails, manager Rich Batten found himself down to the bare eleven 24 hours before kick-off, and that was with Simon 'Dwez' Dwerryhouse drafted in to play upfront. Taking on the resident Casuals champions, it didn't bode well for the boys in yellow and fading black-to-grey. However, perhaps inspired by circumstance, or feeling he had nothing to lose, Rich went for a crazy 4-3-3 formation with Dwez, Mike and Richie leading the attack. And by God it nearly worked.

For over half an hour Barely took the game to the champions, and forced two or three saves from the keeper as well as 4 or 5 corners. But like a surgeon trying to perform an appendectomy with a spatula, they had no cutting edge.

In turn, Easton Monday didn't get where they are today by spurning chances, and when a cross from their right winger went over the collapsing limbs of Ian and an Easton attacker, it fell invitingly for the man at the far post who rifled in, against the run of play to be fair.

Barely's house of cards then collapsed, as in quick succession Easton added two more before half-time, one the type of goal that makes Alan Hansen wake up screaming for his mummy, as a long punt from the goalkeeper cleared the whole Barely team and with one bounce the attacker had the easiest of chances to stroke it in past Nick.

Half-time and everyone was inevitably a little forlorn - it had been a cracking opening but nobody could honestly say they felt Barely were still in it, as they'd not taken their chances when on top. Rich moved the team around slightly, swapping Nick and Luis over and himself with Andy. Richie dropped deeper too as after the restart Barely struggled to maintain possession. Though the second half saw them only concede two more goals, they were thankful to Luis that it wasn't more, as he turned in a decent half between the sticks. But the game was over a long time before the final whistle, and Barely need to lift themselves for the next one - if they can play like they did in the first half (without letting in the silly goals) there's no telling what they can do this season.

Man of the Match was Richie with Luis, impressive outfield and in goal, runner-up.