14 players turned up and with a distinct lack of old farts in the left hand changing rooms (only three!) Mike lost the toss so with first pick i had a feeling that it could be a good night to get a win in the first leg in the Owen vs Statham pairing. As the captain i led by example and put on the goalie gloves and  set up a solid defence of Evans, Austin and Greenall in front of me and a classy attacking midfield trio of McKay, Southern and Parker, with McKay acting as the furthest forward focal point. They also had some players running around doing some stuff!

We started well, as i had hoped passing the ball around and keeping some good possession. But as possession counts for nothing we were punished by a piece of great skill taking advantage of some horrible goalkeeping. As it was a cold night i decided that playing as a sweeper keeper would be the best way to keep myself busy. Sylvain obviously noticed this and on the first opportunity audaciously chipped the ball over me and into the top corner. And to rub salt into the wound did it for a second time, this time without even looking, the next time he got the ball. Now he was taking the piss, and it was 0 - 2. The whites carried on with some of the flowing and passing football and were finally rewarded with a goal finished neatly by Richie at the far post.

But again despite good white possession the yellows were potent when ever they were attacking and grabbed a third goal to bring back the two goal lead. At this point Mark took sympathy on me and went in nets. No sooner had i come out that i managed to shin a corner into the goal and the score was 2 - 3. And it stayed like this for what seemed like an eternity as we had chance of chance which included hitting the post or bar four times and Ben, who is on shooting practice for the rest of the season, putting several wide of the mark. And the wastefulness was eventually punished by another couple of quick counter attacking goals. One with Mark in the middle of a wardrobe change and only wearing one glove. We did manage to pull a consolation goal back which may prove crucial in the second leg, but on the night the yellows were more clinical in front of goal and took all the points.